Another LOST week of training. ARGH! Guess I'm somewhat used to it by now but I really don't know what to do about it. I do have a couple things I'd like to try but have little confidence that they will be effective:
1. Juice Plus- I ordered from Amazon. It's a 2 month supply. This is supposedly the next best thing to eating fruits and vegetables and my diet is a bit deficient in that area. It was NOT tolerated in the past because of the toxins but this time, I expect it to be a non-factor.
2. See a Conventional Doctor- Again, I still give it about an 85% chance that they will find nothing wrong and will try to push anti-depressants on me. I'm not going down that road again and the doctor who suggests it will be fired. Likely a waste of time and money. One piece of good news is that the Pituitary glandular is now tolerated and the Lithium is pretty much a non-factor. Whatever did flare up is likely no longer an issue. I am pretty sure that the lowish T4 level is/was due to the toxic metals.
3. Remove and Replace Dental Implant- That's really a last resort option and it's also likely to be a waste of time and money. In this case, it will cost me a lot of money. A hair test could rule out Titanium toxicity. Again, I really didn't go sharply downhill until about 18 months after I got the implant.
4.Trust the Detox Process- I did expect that it would get worse before it got better but I didn't expect that I'd still be worse off 6 months into treatment. Good news is that I am no longer horrible without the TRS and can go several days without other supplements. However, I still need mega doses of TRS to feel anything close to normal. I remain completely intolerant to caffeine and if I do cross that line, I'm basically laid up for 2-3 days. It's possible the the toxic metals are causing the Beau's lines but I had hoped that they'd be going away by now and that doesn't appear to be happening.
Now let's shift gears to the remaining states:
I think I am going to enjoy the New Hampshire/Canada trip. That will put me up to 44 states. Can I do 6 in 2020 and finish the challenge? Let's consider it.
45. Maryland- Either Salisbury or Ocean City in April works for me. I have historical ties to both areas and it's been way too long since I last visited.
46. Utah-Cottonwood in either May, June or September though I'd lean towards May.
47. Minnesota- 2 options. Fergus Falls in June or Detroit Lakes in September. Both are near Fargo and would allow me to knock out Manitoba and Saskatchewan. That would leave me missing only Newfoundland for Canada.
48. South Dakota- Heart is pretty much set on Spearfish Canyon in July though there is another near Mount Rushmore in October. This is the only state that I visited as a child but not as an adult.
49. Maine- Heart is set on something in Bar Harbor. There is a race in July, September and October. It would be wise to wait until Fall because it can be very crowded in the summer. Even in July, it's likely too cold to swim up there.
50. Hawaii in November to close it out.
Can I do this? I suppose that I could if I do NOT go to South Africa for my 40th birthday next September. Odds are that I will choose 3 or 4 next year plus Cape Town and finish in 2021. I only hope that my health can hold up until then.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Northern New England/Canada Trip Plan
Only 2 weeks out and I sure hope I can get some half decent workouts in by then. These last 2 months have been my worst ever training wise and otherwise. Here is the plan:
My original race was Mount Desert Island in Maine. I waited too long to sign up and now it's sold out. That's okay. I have a family commitment the weekend after the original race so that would be too much travel within a short time frame. The new race is simply called the New England half marathon in Concord, New Hampshire on October 13. If I can finish, it will be state #44. It's important to finish this challenge as soon as possible because I have a feeling that my days as a runner could be numbered. I've just got to hold on until November 2021.
10/11- Take an afternoon flight on a Friday. I get in late but that's okay. I fly from Birmingham to Manchester, NH. I'm paying a little more but it's worth it in order to avoid the Boston traffic or having to spend a night in Atlanta. If I wait until the next day and there is a delay or cancellation, I miss the race.
10/12- Sleep in as long as I want. I'll pick up my packet and probably go to the coast, which is only an hour away. It will be much too cold for a swim but I still should enjoy that. I may even cross into Maine just for the sake of doing it. I could also do some driving in the White Mountains near Mt. Washington. Going to the peak itself is doubtful as the weather is notoriously bad. Foliage ought to be near peak by this date. UPDATE: I'll likely stick to the coast this day. There is a scenic road that runs along the coast from the Massachusetts border to Maine.
10/13- Race day. Head north toward Canada. I figure it will be too hard to reach Ottawa (6.5 hours) and I'm leery about driving in a strange Canadian city in the dark. Instead I'll stay in either Burlington, Vermont or Plattsburgh, New York on the other side of the lake. The scenery is very nice. On a clear day, you can see the Adirondacks. UPDATE: The plan is to stop in Burlington but spend the night in Plattsburgh.
10/14- Tour Ottawa. I definitely want to see the Parliament and the Canadian History museum. The latter is actually across the river in Quebec. Bonjour y'all! I hope to catch up with an old college friend who now lives there.
10/15-Train from Ottawa to Montreal. I've heard that driving in Montreal is a nightmare and the signage is all in French with many one way streets. Add to that, my Garmin won't work in Canada. It's inconvenient but probably a smart call. I want to see Mount Royal Park and the underground city. UPDATE: I think I'll be okay driving to Montreal. My hotel is less than 1 kilometer from the Interstate with no turns according to Google maps.
10/16- Leave Montreal and go back to Manchester for the flight home early next morning. It will be scenic ride through the White Mountains and the lake country.
My original race was Mount Desert Island in Maine. I waited too long to sign up and now it's sold out. That's okay. I have a family commitment the weekend after the original race so that would be too much travel within a short time frame. The new race is simply called the New England half marathon in Concord, New Hampshire on October 13. If I can finish, it will be state #44. It's important to finish this challenge as soon as possible because I have a feeling that my days as a runner could be numbered. I've just got to hold on until November 2021.
10/11- Take an afternoon flight on a Friday. I get in late but that's okay. I fly from Birmingham to Manchester, NH. I'm paying a little more but it's worth it in order to avoid the Boston traffic or having to spend a night in Atlanta. If I wait until the next day and there is a delay or cancellation, I miss the race.
10/12- Sleep in as long as I want. I'll pick up my packet and probably go to the coast, which is only an hour away. It will be much too cold for a swim but I still should enjoy that. I may even cross into Maine just for the sake of doing it. I could also do some driving in the White Mountains near Mt. Washington. Going to the peak itself is doubtful as the weather is notoriously bad. Foliage ought to be near peak by this date. UPDATE: I'll likely stick to the coast this day. There is a scenic road that runs along the coast from the Massachusetts border to Maine.
10/13- Race day. Head north toward Canada. I figure it will be too hard to reach Ottawa (6.5 hours) and I'm leery about driving in a strange Canadian city in the dark. Instead I'll stay in either Burlington, Vermont or Plattsburgh, New York on the other side of the lake. The scenery is very nice. On a clear day, you can see the Adirondacks. UPDATE: The plan is to stop in Burlington but spend the night in Plattsburgh.
10/14- Tour Ottawa. I definitely want to see the Parliament and the Canadian History museum. The latter is actually across the river in Quebec. Bonjour y'all! I hope to catch up with an old college friend who now lives there.
10/15-Train from Ottawa to Montreal. I've heard that driving in Montreal is a nightmare and the signage is all in French with many one way streets. Add to that, my Garmin won't work in Canada. It's inconvenient but probably a smart call. I want to see Mount Royal Park and the underground city. UPDATE: I think I'll be okay driving to Montreal. My hotel is less than 1 kilometer from the Interstate with no turns according to Google maps.
10/16- Leave Montreal and go back to Manchester for the flight home early next morning. It will be scenic ride through the White Mountains and the lake country.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Jersey City Trip Report
I opted to fly direct from Atlanta to Newark. That went off without a hitch. Getting to Jersey City from the Newark airport was another matter. I thought it would be a quick ride on the PATH train with a single transfer. Nope. Here was the route:
Air Train to NJ Transit
NJ Transit to Newark Penn Station
PATH Train with a transfer to Newport
With delays, it took nearly 2 hours to travel the 12 miles from the airport to my hotel. To put that into perspective, I can almost get to Atlanta from Birmingham in the same amount of time. That still beat having to rent a car and fighting that notorious traffic. Fortunately, it was only a 5-10 minute walk from the Newport PATH station to my hotel and not much longer to the race start.
The weather was overcast all day but with pleasant 75 degree temps, I did not complain. Race day was sunny and 80 however so that’s not the best conditions. It was around 1:30 when I arrived at the hotel, but my room was ready, so I just left my bag then headed back outside. My first stop was the Hudson River waterfront. I had read that the best views of Manhattan are actually in New Jersey. The views from the area near my hotel were decent but unspectacular. You have to go to Liberty Park to catch the epic views posted above but I would be running through there tomorrow.
By mid-afternoon, I took the PATH train to 33rd street in Manhattan just a couple blocks from the Empire State Building. That was a smooth ride. It may be easier to get to NYC from Newark via the NJ Transit than it is to get to Jersey City via PATH. Soon, I was up on the 86th floor with views of both the Freedom Tower and Central Park in the distance. Pretty awesome.
From there, it was a little over a mile walk to Trump Tower for dinner then I attended church at St. Patrick’s. No need for a subway ride in comfortable weather conditions. It was now getting dark, so I took a short detour through Times Square just to take in the vibe and energy. It was definitely a different feel than during the day. It was a smooth ride back to Jersey City and I got a couple night shots of Manhattan.
I knew the race would be horrible, but I did improve upon my PW at Connecticut last month. I managed to keep the pace respectable through about 4.5 miles then had to Gallo-walk it in. I went with a 4:1 jog/walk ratio. I probably could have managed a 9:1 but once I knew I would be over 2 hours, I didn’t care if it was 2:01 or 2:15. I just wanted to remain as comfortable as possible and take in the sights. In that respect, there was a lot to like. After a 5 mile tour of downtown Jersey City, we turned into Liberty Park and the Riverside. The views there were epic. I got a close-up view of the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan. In some spots, you can see the skyline of both NYC and Jersey City. The latter is not too shabby either. I wish I had brought my camera. Being a minute slower to take a couple more pictures was a price I would have been willing to pay. Once again, a finish is a finish and state #43 is done. I may or may not run Maine next month. We’ll see how it plays out over the next 2-3 weeks.
Final Thought:
I made the best of it. The only thing I would change would be to allow more time in Liberty Park.
Thyroid Test Results and Reaction
Tested My TSH and Free T4
TSH- 1.54 (near perfect)
Free T4- 0.87 (borderline hypo). Ref range is 0.82-1.82
UGH! This is NOT good news. Lab values can vary by 5-10% depending on lab error and the body’s natural fluctuations. If it was re-tested, there is a chance, albeit slim, that my T4 would be flagged as low. As it is however, almost every conventional doctor would call this normal and of no concern. Well, it does concern me! A lab value of 0.83 would be fine but 0.81 would be flagged and there will be no regard for how the patient is feeling. I was in a similar situation at age 18 when my TSH and T4 were both on the low side but still within the normal range. I was given a prescription for Synthroid. I got better for about a year, but it turned out to be disastrous for my adrenal fatigue. I am most definitely NOT going down that road again.
WHY THE HELL HAVE I BECOME DEPENDENT ON LITHIUM WHEN MY T4 BORDERS ON HYPO????
My only explanation is that Lithium is somehow involved in heavy metal detox. A low dose of Lithium the previous day probably did not affect the results much, if at all. My reaction to other adrenal and thyroid suppressants such as Thym-Adren was only slightly negative. The SBF at low doses and short distances was a non-factor. Meanwhile, reaction to stimulants such as Tyrosine is MUCH WORSE! I know exactly what will happen with the Lithium. It will be the same as any other new supplement. The initial large gap between the ceiling and floor will close but the ceiling will remain awfully low. The floor has already improved from a 13:30 pace to a 10:33. Soon, I’ll be able to manage a 6:45 without it but only a 6:30ish with it. That’s not even close to respectable.
What if my T4 was low enough to be flagged?
A low T4 coupled with a high TSH is a clear diagnosis of hypothyroidism. Now, what if the low T4 is NOT accompanied by an elevated TSH? Optimal TSH is about 1.6-1.8 so I am right there. It would have to be over 4 to be flagged as high so mine is not even close. I’m convinced that TSH is not a problem. I did read that it could be a problem with the pituitary if it’s a low T4 and normal TSH. If both are low, it could be adrenal fatigue again, but I don’t think that’s the case because my TSH is nearly optimal. If it had been south of 1.0, that would be a concern. I’m most definitely NOT hyper-pituitary and it seems unlikely that I am hypo either. I had a TERRIBLE reaction to a pituitary glandular. Hyper pituitary function is usually caused by a benign tumor that requires surgical removal. If that was the case with me, I’m quite sure that my numbers would have been bad enough to be flagged.
Should I see a conventional doctor?
I’m still considering it. The worst case is that it proves to be a waste of time and money. The doctor will order additional tests. I’ll give it a 90% chance that all of them will come back normal, or at least within the lab’s normal range. Then again, there is that slight chance that something will be flagged and it turns out to be the key to my recovery. If everything does come back normal, I will just about guarantee that I will be given anti-depressants and a referral to a quack psychologist. I’ll have to field ridiculous questions such as whether I hear voices in my head or if I have any magic powers. NO! I am not a schizophrenic or a megalomaniac. I am depressed only because my chemicals are out of whack and the only way to get better is to get in balance.
Trust the Detox Process?
I was told that it could take 2 years on TRS before I see the full benefits and did expect that it would get worse before it got better. That said, I have been on it for nearly 6 months now and I really did expect to be doing better than I am now. What to make of the thyroid tests? I know very well that toxic metals are no friend of thyroid hormones so there is a good chance that my T4 level was suppressed by the toxins. Perhaps if the T4 was tested several months earlier, it would have been worse. I have heard that layers of toxins come out one at a time so it's quite possible that the most toxic and dangerous stuff was hidden deep in my organs and will be the last to come out. Bottom line is that I really don’t know what to do now.
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Thyroid and Pituitary Questions
It’s been an interesting round of experiments. Anything stimulating will trigger a SWIFT negative reaction. That was true with Yasko’s Black Bear. B12+ molybdenum is clearly a NO but I was better after taking some extra plain B12.
Pituitary Glandular- STRONGLY NEGATIVE
Adrenal Suppressant- SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE
Calcium- MODERATELY POSITIVE
Lithium- STRONGLY POSITIVE
Now the results of the trials:
Thym-Adren (Adrenal suppressant)
-4:36 before vs 4:48 after. Roughly 4.5% slower over a distance slightly less than 1 kilometer. Probably enough to be considered significant. Felt slightly more sluggish but still able to do a basic workout. This is exactly what SHOULD happen when you take a low dose of a pill that moves your chemistry in the wrong direction. You want enough difference to be noticeable so you know to make a change but it should not trigger a full scale relapse unless you take mega doses. Adrenal function is likely okay. Reaction to adrenal stimulant is worse.
Calcium
-2:51 before vs 2:36 after over a 1/3 mile loop at Montreat. MINUS 45 per mile, which is most definitely enough to be considered significant but it took 3 pills to do it. A single pill likely would have resulted in only a modest 15 second improvement. Calcium supplements slow the thyroid and reduce K level in the hair. A positive reaction to Cal is evidence of hyper-thyroid or elevated K levels.
Pituitary Glandular-
Body immediately tightened up after just 1 pill. No need to run to test it out. It would have been over 10 minutes per mile. I am most definitely NOT hypo. This is evidence of hyper function. Strangely, because adrenal and pituitary function are closely related, I would have thought that if my pituitary is hyper, I would benefit from an adrenal suppressant. That did not happen.
Lithium-
-2:38 before vs 2:19 after also at Montreat. That’s just shy of a full minute per mile despite taking just 100 mcg. I can go up to 300 or even 450 if need be and probably still see continued incremental improvements. This is STRONG evidence of hyperthyroidism. I’ll still get my numbers tested. It is possible that I felt better because Lithium improved B-12 and folate absorption but it seems unlikely to me. I used to take Yasko’s Lithium Orotate and my hair test showed Lithium to be at the top of the range so I stopped using a stand alone product. My ADHS (adrenal modulator), which I still take daily, does contain a small amount of Lithium, which should be enough to keep my levels from slipping too badly.
Blood Testing:
I want to test at least the T4 and TSH. Here’s what I’ll be looking for:
High T4 with low TSH- Hyperthyroid.
High T4 with high TSH- Hyperpituitary.
Normal= Toxic metals still in play or another systemic issue. I will not accept going undiagnosed.
Treatment:
I would really prefer to manage it with supplements or even drugs.
Hyperpituitary would require surgery to remove a growth that is driving the hyper function. With the thyroid, it’s even less desirable. Most patients get the thyroid removed or inactivated. Then, they will become hypo and take synthetic hormones for life. No thanks.
I believe it is quite possible that the toxic metals have played a role. Perhaps, the toxins pushed the thyroid into overdrive, and it will eventually calm down. It’s also possible that I’ve been hyper for years and the toxins suppressed those hormones. In any event, I’m taking Lithium and/or SBF as long as it is effective. If I develop a sudden intolerance to LIthium, it is not necessarily because I've gone hypo. It could be an ATP deficit.
Monday, September 9, 2019
Training 9/9-9/15- Race Week
9/9- AM- Felt decent early then crashed after coming through the 1st mile in 8:15. I still need the DIM. Simple fix and I was better by the afternoon. Tacked on a half mile cool.
PM- Gold's 3 in 24:45 (8:15 pace) plus a cool. Even pace (12:21-12:24) but this was presumably with a stacked deck and I was just about full throttle out there. Compared to yesterday, it was MINUS 21, which is not bad but I was hoping to see closer to 30. It's becoming increasingly clear that there is a systemic illness in play here. I'm betting on either thyroid or pituitary. Does DIM have anything to do with this? Yes, it does modulate the hormones. Whether I am hyper or hypo, it will relieve the symptoms. This is only Day 3 off sugar so there is still room for some further improvement. If I'm not under the Mendoza line tomorrow, I'm in trouble.
Distance=5.0
9/10- Molybdenum is a NO. Managed just 1 mile at Lakeshore in 11:06
PM- Experimented with Thym-Adren. Slipped from a 4:36 to a 4:48. It's a NO but this is what is supposed to happen. No severe reaction unless a mega dose is taken.
Distance=2.0
9/11- Experimented with Calcium. Improved from a 2:51 to a 2:36.
PM- Took a lot more Calcium during the day. Gold's 3 in 24:24 (8:08 pace). Faded a bit on the back half (12:02-12:22). I've cheated on the caffeine but intend to get back on track. At least I haven't binged.
Distance=4.0
PM- Gold's 3 in 24:45 (8:15 pace) plus a cool. Even pace (12:21-12:24) but this was presumably with a stacked deck and I was just about full throttle out there. Compared to yesterday, it was MINUS 21, which is not bad but I was hoping to see closer to 30. It's becoming increasingly clear that there is a systemic illness in play here. I'm betting on either thyroid or pituitary. Does DIM have anything to do with this? Yes, it does modulate the hormones. Whether I am hyper or hypo, it will relieve the symptoms. This is only Day 3 off sugar so there is still room for some further improvement. If I'm not under the Mendoza line tomorrow, I'm in trouble.
Distance=5.0
9/10- Molybdenum is a NO. Managed just 1 mile at Lakeshore in 11:06
PM- Experimented with Thym-Adren. Slipped from a 4:36 to a 4:48. It's a NO but this is what is supposed to happen. No severe reaction unless a mega dose is taken.
Distance=2.0
9/11- Experimented with Calcium. Improved from a 2:51 to a 2:36.
PM- Took a lot more Calcium during the day. Gold's 3 in 24:24 (8:08 pace). Faded a bit on the back half (12:02-12:22). I've cheated on the caffeine but intend to get back on track. At least I haven't binged.
Distance=4.0
Sunday, September 8, 2019
Any options left?
I briefly scanned the past 3 years of this blog and as I've suspected, this is BY FAR MY WORST YEAR EVER at least when it comes to running. Even as recently as 2 years ago, it was common for me to rally for a few days with tempos in the 21 minute range for 3 miles. Now, a good day is under 25 minutes. The Mendoza line, which represents to me, the minimum workout to improve my fitness is 24 minutes flat. In other words, my bad days are just as bad as they've ever been but I'm not getting any good days or even relatively decent days anymore.
Let's first take a look first at what is going right:
Thanks to the Maca and TRS, the sensitivity is GONE! This is true at least when it comes to supplements. Caffeine is another matter. Now that the need for TRS has diminished, I can get away with not taking ANY supplements for about 2-3 days and I'll barely even notice. If I take a pill that moves my chemistry in the wrong direction, yes I'll notice. However, unlike in the past, the ill-effects are NOT severe unless I take mega doses, as I did with the Thym-Adren last week. I do believe that if I do everything right, which means no more questionable experiments, no caffeine and no sulfur, I SHOULD NOT relapse again. Like I've said many times, all I want is a stable cocktail with at least decent energy every day. I may very well have achieved part 1 but not part 2.
Expected Level of Performance:
About 5 years ago to this day, I set my last PR, which was a 5K in 19:09. This was 4 seconds better than I managed in high school. Now that I am pushing 40, it is too much to ask to be able to maintain that level. Even a sub-20 would be a tall order. BUT even with a somewhat diminished fitness level, I really should have no trouble getting below 21:00 unless it's very hilly course and/or tough weather conditions. I'm not even close to that nor do I feel anywhere near as well I did on my symptom-free days. That's a big reason why I've upped my caffeine consumption. I often just want a small boost even though it's temporary. That's stopped as of 2 days ago. I believe I've also exhausted the market on supplements so this could be as good as it gets. How much can I improve with steady training and no relapses? I'm really not sure. I'm hoping to make it at least 30 days without one. That will give me a good idea.
Beau's Lines:
For the last 3-4 years, I've had horizontal ridges up and down the center of my thumb nail. All the other nails look okay. Everything that I have read suggests that this is a sign of a systemic illness. I really thought that they would go away after several months on the TRS but that is simply not happening. I have NO DOUBT that my overall health DID benefit from the TRS but it will not be enough to reach even my modest goals. According to Chinese medicine, the thumbnails represent the neck and mouth. I'm betting that in all probability, I am suffering from a systemic illness but it is contained to the neck or mouth. I do have a cyst on my upper back but since it's soft, I'm not worried about it. A hard lump could be cancer but I'm virtually certain that is not the case.
Best Plan of Attack:
I'm afraid that I will have to see a conventional doctor. It is possible that I will improve from being off caffeine and it's possible that the Beau's Lines will grow out. I'm doing the hard mode, which is water only for 30 days. After that point, I should both see and feel changes IF it's working. I may even be willing to give it 60 days. I've tried this before but never stuck with it because of the relapses, which occurred because of the toxic metals. If I never used caffeine regularly, I don't think it would have made much difference. My good days may have been better but the relapses would come just as frequently. My race calendar is empty from November-March so I do have the option of taking 6-8 weeks off in hopes of a reset. That may not be a bad idea.
Testing and Supplements:
My best guess is a problem with the pituitary gland. I am willing to try one last supplement, which is a pituitary glandular. After that, I'm DONE with the experiments once and for all! I can't predict the results but I do know that if I react badly to it, my system is likely over-active. I do want to test my thyroid and Growth Hormone through Request a Test before I see the doc. Would I ever consider taking substances banned by anti-doping agencies such as Testosterone or HGH? If I am using only a small dose to correct a legitimate deficiency, I see nothing unethical about it. I'd test regularly to make sure I'm not taking too much. I'm not going to win anything major except maybe a local age group award. Doses to enhance performance when my baseline level is already normal? That's another matter and my answer is HELL NO!
Possible Treatments:
If the caffeine abstinence fails to achieve my goals, I'm still planning to stick with it. I might have an occasional beer, tea or lemonade after the 30-60 days but no Coke or Red Bull. That stuff is not good for me even if I don't feel any immediate ill-effects. I'll be up front with the doctor that I will NOT accept a diagnosis of depression or middle age. If my pituitary function is low, the treatment is pretty simple and I can probably avoid any drugs. I'll take the glandular or HGH/testosterone. Unfortunately, my gut feeling is that it is more likely to be high than low. I've been told that I look taller and have put on a fair bit of weight. In that case, the above treatments will actually make things WORSE! I will have to either manage it by taking a prescription drug every day or have surgery to remove a growth that is the cause of it. Fortunately, even if I do need surgery, it will not be life-threatening if left untreated. My energy will simply go lower every year. I want to be CRYSTAL CLEAR on one point here. A need for surgery is NOT the worst case scenario. Being UNDIAGNOSED when something is clearly wrong is!
Dental Implant:
I'm now leaning against having it removed and replaced. I contacted the Atlanta office and explained my situation via e-mail and got no response. Although I was in rough shape after I got the implant, I did have a bit of a resurgence the next year and did not really fall apart until about 18 months after I got the implant. I also ordered a hair test kit, which test Titanium and it has not arrived. Seeing the doctor is my best bet. If I get the implant replaced, it will cost me $2,000-3,000 with no guarantee of improvement. I will only pursue this path if I do go undiagnosed by the doctor.
Let's first take a look first at what is going right:
Thanks to the Maca and TRS, the sensitivity is GONE! This is true at least when it comes to supplements. Caffeine is another matter. Now that the need for TRS has diminished, I can get away with not taking ANY supplements for about 2-3 days and I'll barely even notice. If I take a pill that moves my chemistry in the wrong direction, yes I'll notice. However, unlike in the past, the ill-effects are NOT severe unless I take mega doses, as I did with the Thym-Adren last week. I do believe that if I do everything right, which means no more questionable experiments, no caffeine and no sulfur, I SHOULD NOT relapse again. Like I've said many times, all I want is a stable cocktail with at least decent energy every day. I may very well have achieved part 1 but not part 2.
Expected Level of Performance:
About 5 years ago to this day, I set my last PR, which was a 5K in 19:09. This was 4 seconds better than I managed in high school. Now that I am pushing 40, it is too much to ask to be able to maintain that level. Even a sub-20 would be a tall order. BUT even with a somewhat diminished fitness level, I really should have no trouble getting below 21:00 unless it's very hilly course and/or tough weather conditions. I'm not even close to that nor do I feel anywhere near as well I did on my symptom-free days. That's a big reason why I've upped my caffeine consumption. I often just want a small boost even though it's temporary. That's stopped as of 2 days ago. I believe I've also exhausted the market on supplements so this could be as good as it gets. How much can I improve with steady training and no relapses? I'm really not sure. I'm hoping to make it at least 30 days without one. That will give me a good idea.
Beau's Lines:
For the last 3-4 years, I've had horizontal ridges up and down the center of my thumb nail. All the other nails look okay. Everything that I have read suggests that this is a sign of a systemic illness. I really thought that they would go away after several months on the TRS but that is simply not happening. I have NO DOUBT that my overall health DID benefit from the TRS but it will not be enough to reach even my modest goals. According to Chinese medicine, the thumbnails represent the neck and mouth. I'm betting that in all probability, I am suffering from a systemic illness but it is contained to the neck or mouth. I do have a cyst on my upper back but since it's soft, I'm not worried about it. A hard lump could be cancer but I'm virtually certain that is not the case.
Best Plan of Attack:
I'm afraid that I will have to see a conventional doctor. It is possible that I will improve from being off caffeine and it's possible that the Beau's Lines will grow out. I'm doing the hard mode, which is water only for 30 days. After that point, I should both see and feel changes IF it's working. I may even be willing to give it 60 days. I've tried this before but never stuck with it because of the relapses, which occurred because of the toxic metals. If I never used caffeine regularly, I don't think it would have made much difference. My good days may have been better but the relapses would come just as frequently. My race calendar is empty from November-March so I do have the option of taking 6-8 weeks off in hopes of a reset. That may not be a bad idea.
Testing and Supplements:
My best guess is a problem with the pituitary gland. I am willing to try one last supplement, which is a pituitary glandular. After that, I'm DONE with the experiments once and for all! I can't predict the results but I do know that if I react badly to it, my system is likely over-active. I do want to test my thyroid and Growth Hormone through Request a Test before I see the doc. Would I ever consider taking substances banned by anti-doping agencies such as Testosterone or HGH? If I am using only a small dose to correct a legitimate deficiency, I see nothing unethical about it. I'd test regularly to make sure I'm not taking too much. I'm not going to win anything major except maybe a local age group award. Doses to enhance performance when my baseline level is already normal? That's another matter and my answer is HELL NO!
Possible Treatments:
If the caffeine abstinence fails to achieve my goals, I'm still planning to stick with it. I might have an occasional beer, tea or lemonade after the 30-60 days but no Coke or Red Bull. That stuff is not good for me even if I don't feel any immediate ill-effects. I'll be up front with the doctor that I will NOT accept a diagnosis of depression or middle age. If my pituitary function is low, the treatment is pretty simple and I can probably avoid any drugs. I'll take the glandular or HGH/testosterone. Unfortunately, my gut feeling is that it is more likely to be high than low. I've been told that I look taller and have put on a fair bit of weight. In that case, the above treatments will actually make things WORSE! I will have to either manage it by taking a prescription drug every day or have surgery to remove a growth that is the cause of it. Fortunately, even if I do need surgery, it will not be life-threatening if left untreated. My energy will simply go lower every year. I want to be CRYSTAL CLEAR on one point here. A need for surgery is NOT the worst case scenario. Being UNDIAGNOSED when something is clearly wrong is!
Dental Implant:
I'm now leaning against having it removed and replaced. I contacted the Atlanta office and explained my situation via e-mail and got no response. Although I was in rough shape after I got the implant, I did have a bit of a resurgence the next year and did not really fall apart until about 18 months after I got the implant. I also ordered a hair test kit, which test Titanium and it has not arrived. Seeing the doctor is my best bet. If I get the implant replaced, it will cost me $2,000-3,000 with no guarantee of improvement. I will only pursue this path if I do go undiagnosed by the doctor.
Monday, September 2, 2019
Training 9/2-9/8
9/2- Lakeshore 5 in 49:45 (9:57 pace). Pleased that I was able to last 5 miles without a total blow up. I was at 24:36 at the half then finished with a 25:09 but couldn't last much longer. Can I hit the minimum standards with steady training? I really don't know because I seem to relapse every week.
Distance=5.0
9/3- Back on Lakeshore for 5 more. Time is down to 46:37 (9:19 pace). Splits were 23:16-23:21. Satisfied with this one. Should be under 45 by tomorrow. Eventually, I will level off but when? 40 minutes or 35?
PM- Impromptu 3 at Gold's. Improved to 24:36 (8:12 pace). First half- 12:15, Second half-12:21. That's a BIG improvement. Even if 2 extra miles added 30 seconds to my pace, it still brings me home in 43:30 for 5 miles. No sign of a plateau yet. We'll see in a couple of weeks. PLEASE no more relapses.
Distance-8.0
9/4- Gold's 3 again plus a half mile cool. Time has improved only modestly today. Finished in 24:22 (8:07 pace). MINUS 5 compared to yesterday. Splits were 11:58-12:24 so the back half was actually slightly worse. Still, even a modest improvement is better than the alternative. It's possible that I was simply reeling from yesterday's double but more likely, the plateau is just around the corner. 3 miles in 23:xx is NOT acceptable.
Distance=3.5
9/5-AM- Loaded on DIM and Liver and felt noticeably worse. Not a relapse but definitely a step backward. Did only 1 mile at Montreat in 7:58 and it took a last lap rally to break 8. One one level, this is good. I took pills that took my chemistry in the wrong direction and I noticed it but was still capable of a real workout. I probably would have been in the 25s for 3 miles today. That's not a relapse. This is exactly what should happen and lets me know that changes need to be made before things get worse.
1- I still need Maca but I'm cutting the DIM. It contains sulfur and that's probably the culprit.
2. I'm switching back from Liver to synthetic B12. That was the plan all along. A rotation is the best way to prevent the zinc/copper ratio from getting too far out of whack.
On the negative side, the changes will most probably be helpful but I seriously doubt that it will be enough to get back to respectability.
PM- 1.5 mile junk run at Montreat. Just wanted to pad the mileage.
Distance=2.5
9/6- RELAPSE. I wanted a boost after taking the excess DIM and Liver and loaded on caffeine. It appeared that I could tolerate Coke and even Kickstart because they don't contain Taurine. Not so now. All sources of caffeine are BAD. 30 days of water only starts today at noon.
AM- 1.5 on Lakeshore. Started off around 9 minute pace but was over 10 by the end.
PM- Half mile at Montreat. MUCH worse after a can of Mountain Dew for lunch, which most definitely does NOT contain Taurine. Time was 6:20 (12:40 pace).
Distance=2.0
9/7- AM- 1 mile at Montreat. Time is down to 10:33 with splits of 5:25-5:08. Woopity Doo!
PM- 3 miles at Gold's in 28:24 (9:28 pace). Splits were 14:26-13:58. I've seen this movie hundreds of times. I'll see significant improvements for the next few days then plateau around 24 before the next relapse. There is only 1 more supplement that I am willing to try and that is a Pituitary glandular.
Distance=4.0
9/8- AM- Not a surprise. Day 2 is often worse than Day 1. In Day 1, the excess caffeine clears and you begin feeling better. In Day 2, the withdrawal symptoms kick in. Those often peak between 36-48 hours after the last sip. Opened with an 11:54 mile on Lakeshore with splits of 5:35-6:19. Waited about 3 hours and was already down to a 9:41 at Montreat. Splits were 4:56-4:45.
PM- Now more than 48 hours caffeine free, the withdrawal symptoms will continue to diminish. Gold's 3 and my time is down to 25:49 (8:36 pace). No sign of a plateau and I expect to be in the 24s tomorrow. Can I get below that?
Distance=5.0
-30 miles on the week.
Distance=5.0
9/3- Back on Lakeshore for 5 more. Time is down to 46:37 (9:19 pace). Splits were 23:16-23:21. Satisfied with this one. Should be under 45 by tomorrow. Eventually, I will level off but when? 40 minutes or 35?
PM- Impromptu 3 at Gold's. Improved to 24:36 (8:12 pace). First half- 12:15, Second half-12:21. That's a BIG improvement. Even if 2 extra miles added 30 seconds to my pace, it still brings me home in 43:30 for 5 miles. No sign of a plateau yet. We'll see in a couple of weeks. PLEASE no more relapses.
Distance-8.0
9/4- Gold's 3 again plus a half mile cool. Time has improved only modestly today. Finished in 24:22 (8:07 pace). MINUS 5 compared to yesterday. Splits were 11:58-12:24 so the back half was actually slightly worse. Still, even a modest improvement is better than the alternative. It's possible that I was simply reeling from yesterday's double but more likely, the plateau is just around the corner. 3 miles in 23:xx is NOT acceptable.
Distance=3.5
9/5-AM- Loaded on DIM and Liver and felt noticeably worse. Not a relapse but definitely a step backward. Did only 1 mile at Montreat in 7:58 and it took a last lap rally to break 8. One one level, this is good. I took pills that took my chemistry in the wrong direction and I noticed it but was still capable of a real workout. I probably would have been in the 25s for 3 miles today. That's not a relapse. This is exactly what should happen and lets me know that changes need to be made before things get worse.
1- I still need Maca but I'm cutting the DIM. It contains sulfur and that's probably the culprit.
2. I'm switching back from Liver to synthetic B12. That was the plan all along. A rotation is the best way to prevent the zinc/copper ratio from getting too far out of whack.
On the negative side, the changes will most probably be helpful but I seriously doubt that it will be enough to get back to respectability.
PM- 1.5 mile junk run at Montreat. Just wanted to pad the mileage.
Distance=2.5
9/6- RELAPSE. I wanted a boost after taking the excess DIM and Liver and loaded on caffeine. It appeared that I could tolerate Coke and even Kickstart because they don't contain Taurine. Not so now. All sources of caffeine are BAD. 30 days of water only starts today at noon.
AM- 1.5 on Lakeshore. Started off around 9 minute pace but was over 10 by the end.
PM- Half mile at Montreat. MUCH worse after a can of Mountain Dew for lunch, which most definitely does NOT contain Taurine. Time was 6:20 (12:40 pace).
Distance=2.0
9/7- AM- 1 mile at Montreat. Time is down to 10:33 with splits of 5:25-5:08. Woopity Doo!
PM- 3 miles at Gold's in 28:24 (9:28 pace). Splits were 14:26-13:58. I've seen this movie hundreds of times. I'll see significant improvements for the next few days then plateau around 24 before the next relapse. There is only 1 more supplement that I am willing to try and that is a Pituitary glandular.
Distance=4.0
9/8- AM- Not a surprise. Day 2 is often worse than Day 1. In Day 1, the excess caffeine clears and you begin feeling better. In Day 2, the withdrawal symptoms kick in. Those often peak between 36-48 hours after the last sip. Opened with an 11:54 mile on Lakeshore with splits of 5:35-6:19. Waited about 3 hours and was already down to a 9:41 at Montreat. Splits were 4:56-4:45.
PM- Now more than 48 hours caffeine free, the withdrawal symptoms will continue to diminish. Gold's 3 and my time is down to 25:49 (8:36 pace). No sign of a plateau and I expect to be in the 24s tomorrow. Can I get below that?
Distance=5.0
-30 miles on the week.
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Rant or Rave: Some People Change
My 20 year high school reunion took place last month. I did not attend but would be open to going down the road especially if I have a steady girlfriend and have my health problems under control. A nightmarish senior year left a bad taste in my mouth for a long time but I feel better now about my overall experience than I did when I graduated.
I did help plan and organize a reunion for my high school cross-country team, which took place every Christmas for 3 or 4 years. The first one was GREAT but it did start to get old towards the end. It was nice to see those guys again but realistically, there is only 1 that would still be among my best friends if we lived in the same area and maybe 2 or 3 others that I would talk to with some regularity. Sadly, there is also 1 or 2 that I would strongly dislike because of hateful ideologies and/or drug use.
If I did attend, I'd probably be a hit. My long-term memory is legendary and I could tell stories exactly as they happened word for word. One ex-teammate looked at me incredulously after I told a story of us getting kicked out of a team meeting and asked me: "How the f____ do you remember all that shit?" I'll bet that I would connect with people that I never or rarely talked to in high school but would be disappointed by some of the people that I had been looking forward to seeing. I have some idea of who I would click with because I maintain my no rejection policy on Facebook and see what people post.
I recently got a request from somebody who was 2 years ahead of me. I don't even recall meeting him at all but he had a reputation as one of the worst troublemakers in school and it wasn't harmless stuff either. I heard a rumor that he got drunk one night and pulled a gun on somebody, supposedly just as a joke. I'm not even sure if he graduated at all and I thought for sure that he would end up as a career criminal. Nope. At least as far as I can tell, he's turned out okay. He's married with children, works a steady job and has yet to post anything offensive. Another guy who was a sometime friend sometime enemy also appeared to be headed for prison. He quit drinking and using drugs more than 5 years ago. I messaged him to say that he's changed so much and all for the better. He thanked me and said he's embarrassed by the things he did in school and through his 20s. I'd actually consider hanging out with him if I have time when I go home in the future. I also read an encouraging story of a man who walked away from a Neo-Nazi hate group and endured painful procedures to get his racist tattoos removed. Nobody is irredeemable! Do you hear that Hillary Clinton?
Sadly, in my experience, change is not always for the better. At least 2 of my Christian friends have renounced their faith and have gone completely in the opposite direction. I've had to unfollow one of them for repeated left-wing rants and posts full of profanity. Tragically, 2 of my track teammates got messed up on drugs and did not live to see 30 years of age. Another died in an accident in which alcohol was likely involved. Such a shame too. One was a straight-A student with a bright future. The other was a decent kid who was popular and a good all around athlete with very nice parents too.
Think back to your best friends in elementary school. Chances are that you drifted apart in middle and high school though you may have re-connected as an adult. Also, it is quite rare that your best high school buddies become lifelong friends. Sadly, I've also drifted apart from my best college buddies too after that got married or in long-term relationships. I see this as a good reason to delay marriage. People do change at any age but a radical metamorphosis after age 30 is less likely. I have found however that the more time people spend together, the more alike they become. If one person is a smoker and/or heavy drinker while the other is an athlete, it usually doesn't stay that way. Both will be living similar lifestyles before too long. The only question is which way will they go? If I were faced with that situation in which a wife goes in an entirely different direction than me, I'd certainly be willing to make some concessions and try to save the marriage but if it crosses the line into an abusive situation, divorce is acceptable.
I did help plan and organize a reunion for my high school cross-country team, which took place every Christmas for 3 or 4 years. The first one was GREAT but it did start to get old towards the end. It was nice to see those guys again but realistically, there is only 1 that would still be among my best friends if we lived in the same area and maybe 2 or 3 others that I would talk to with some regularity. Sadly, there is also 1 or 2 that I would strongly dislike because of hateful ideologies and/or drug use.
If I did attend, I'd probably be a hit. My long-term memory is legendary and I could tell stories exactly as they happened word for word. One ex-teammate looked at me incredulously after I told a story of us getting kicked out of a team meeting and asked me: "How the f____ do you remember all that shit?" I'll bet that I would connect with people that I never or rarely talked to in high school but would be disappointed by some of the people that I had been looking forward to seeing. I have some idea of who I would click with because I maintain my no rejection policy on Facebook and see what people post.
I recently got a request from somebody who was 2 years ahead of me. I don't even recall meeting him at all but he had a reputation as one of the worst troublemakers in school and it wasn't harmless stuff either. I heard a rumor that he got drunk one night and pulled a gun on somebody, supposedly just as a joke. I'm not even sure if he graduated at all and I thought for sure that he would end up as a career criminal. Nope. At least as far as I can tell, he's turned out okay. He's married with children, works a steady job and has yet to post anything offensive. Another guy who was a sometime friend sometime enemy also appeared to be headed for prison. He quit drinking and using drugs more than 5 years ago. I messaged him to say that he's changed so much and all for the better. He thanked me and said he's embarrassed by the things he did in school and through his 20s. I'd actually consider hanging out with him if I have time when I go home in the future. I also read an encouraging story of a man who walked away from a Neo-Nazi hate group and endured painful procedures to get his racist tattoos removed. Nobody is irredeemable! Do you hear that Hillary Clinton?
Sadly, in my experience, change is not always for the better. At least 2 of my Christian friends have renounced their faith and have gone completely in the opposite direction. I've had to unfollow one of them for repeated left-wing rants and posts full of profanity. Tragically, 2 of my track teammates got messed up on drugs and did not live to see 30 years of age. Another died in an accident in which alcohol was likely involved. Such a shame too. One was a straight-A student with a bright future. The other was a decent kid who was popular and a good all around athlete with very nice parents too.
Think back to your best friends in elementary school. Chances are that you drifted apart in middle and high school though you may have re-connected as an adult. Also, it is quite rare that your best high school buddies become lifelong friends. Sadly, I've also drifted apart from my best college buddies too after that got married or in long-term relationships. I see this as a good reason to delay marriage. People do change at any age but a radical metamorphosis after age 30 is less likely. I have found however that the more time people spend together, the more alike they become. If one person is a smoker and/or heavy drinker while the other is an athlete, it usually doesn't stay that way. Both will be living similar lifestyles before too long. The only question is which way will they go? If I were faced with that situation in which a wife goes in an entirely different direction than me, I'd certainly be willing to make some concessions and try to save the marriage but if it crosses the line into an abusive situation, divorce is acceptable.
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