Canada Trip Revisited

 I have 2 bucket list travel destinations on my radar this year: Newfoundland and Alaska.  The former will complete my Visit all 10 Canadian provinces goal.  What about the territories?  Unlikely to visit any of them, especially not Nunavut.  They are too cold and simply too remote.  Alaska would complete Round 2 of Visit all 50 states and wrap up some unfinished business from the first trip.  I missed out on Denali State Park and the Fjords National Park.

I cannot afford both in the same summer and Canada feels like the better fit for this year.  The fact that the Blue Jays will be home over the 4^th of July sealed the deal.  I have a few changes of plan since the first post on the subject. 

Instead of flying out of Atlanta, I will probably opt for Birmingham.  Either way, I’ll have to get up early, but the Birmingham option requires 3 flights instead of 2 and greater chance of a missed connection.  However, the big advantage is that I can get from Alabama to Newfoundland in one day.  I won’t have to take an overnight layover in Toronto or stay in an Atlanta hotel to catch an early flight.  I’ll get to Newfoundland just before 7 PM local time if everything goes off on schedule.  This will enable 2 nights and one full day.  Even if there is a SNAFU and I don’t make it until the next afternoon, I should still qualify for the strict standard.  All I need is a walking tour of downtown St. John’s and at least one meaningful conversation at a local bar.  The latter will not be a problem and I’m sure that my southern accent will create a buzz.

EDIT: The Blue Jays are home on July 3 and July 4th then they go on the road.  That means I must do Toronto before Newfoundland.  Come to think of it, I like that idea better.  I will only have one connection to Toronto, probably in Atlanta.  I will have to go to Terminal T but that's accessible via the tram.  There is no need for a rental car with the public transportation system in Toronto.  I'll get there just after noon if all goes well.  I want to see the Hockey Hall of Fame, the CN Tower, Waterfront, Nathan Philipps Square and a Blue Jays game.  A day and a half should be enough time.  I can see a night game on 7/3 or a day game on 7/4.  On 7/5, I'll take a morning flight to Newfoundland.        

I initially planned on renting a car in Newfoundland but am currently leaning against it.  Word on the street is that rentals are awfully pricey and with the one-way streets, I will NEED a navigation system.  There is no guarantee that it will be included or even available.  Instead, I’ll take a taxi to my hotel from the airport.  There are plenty of restaurants and bars within walking distance.  The only real disadvantage is that I’ll miss the sunrise at Cape Spear, which is the easternmost point in North America.  Oh well.  There are plenty of scenic spots within walking distance.  I’ll plan on walking tours and possibly a short hike the next morning.  Early July is the best chance to get decent weather but even still, it could be rainy, windy and chilly.   

It seems like the best option is a 3 hour bus tour of the city as well as Cape Spear.  I’ll try to schedule it for the afternoon in case there is a SNAFU the previous day.  I’ll have another night on the town.

Day 5 will be the trip home.  With the holiday, I will only miss 2 days of work barring a SNAFU.  It will be 3 flights.  The first will be to Toronto.  From there, my connection to Birmingham will be whatever is most convenient.  I'd much rather have a delay going home than the alternative.

Training 5/20-5/26

 5/20-AM- I am not going to do better with or without interval testing.  I already know the outcome.  Instead, I will try to stretch out the distance.  Today was a brutal 1.5 miles in 17:15 (11:30 pace).  Good news was a strong negative split (8:46-8:29), which is almost always a sign of improvement on the horizon.  Took 2 Liver pills and certainly would have done better on more.  I'll take 2 more in the afternoon and may be back out 

PM- Lakeshore 2.5 in 25:43 (10:17 pace).  Splits were 12:55-12:48 so the pace was more even.  At any rate, this was MUCH better than this morning.  I would have been over 35 for 5K just 12 hours earlier.  Now, I'm probably under 32.  I predict that I will get down to 27 by the end of the week and will be less dependent on the Liver.  BUT, I will see an intense candida dump and/or adrenal spike.  Then, the cycle repeats itself.

Distance-4.0

5/21- Split decision.  2 miles in 21:12 (10:36 pace) with even splits despite the back half being slightly uphill.  A lot better than yesterday morning but a step backwards from the evening.  I know why too.  I only took 2 Liver.  Mega doses will result in quick gains but I'm leaning towards a more gradual approach this time.  Perhaps the adrenal spike will be less severe.  That's it for today.

PM- Impromptu intervals because I felt a shift this afternoon.  Opened with a 1:54.  Improved to 1:45 on the Liver, which is significant.  Popped a Thym Adren and was down to 1:31.  Added a cool.  These were done at Montreat so even the last one was only a 9:06 pace.  I am faced with a double whammy.  I still need the Liver pills and my adrenals have spiked again.  I predict that I will soon be less dependent on the Liver but the adrenal spike could be stubborn.  

Distance-3.0

5/22- Facing the double whammy, test intervals were the only choice.  Opened with a pitiful 4:16 at Montreat (12:48 pace) but improved to 3:31 (10:33 pace) on 6 Thym Adren.  This was not a surprise.  What I wanted to know was how dependent I still am on the Liver.  I fared no better (3:32) but that was because I took NAC with it.  I was worse on the confirmation dose.  

I figured that I get the Ceruloplasmin from the Liver without the unbound Copper thanks to the NAC.  BAD CALL.  NAC simply depleted Copper too much and a doctor won't help.  I had no apparent trouble with the Curcumin.  I finished that bottle and won't re-order.  I'll have to do this again tomorrow.  Argh!

Distance-1.0

5/23- Opened with 6 Thym-Adren in 3:23 (10:09 pace).  Only slightly better than yesterday.  On 3 Liver pills, I improved to a 3:08 (9:24 pace).  On 6 Liver pills, I improved to a 3:03 (9:09 pace).  Not a significant gain.  Yes, I still need the Liver but that need is beginning to diminish.  The adrenal spike is another matter.  This one is a MONSTER and I don't see it going down any time soon.

PM- Lakeshore 1 mile in 10:25.  Splits were 5:19-5:06 so that's a good sign.  Had to take 3 more Thym Adren this afternoon.  This spike is MURDER 

Distance-2.0

5/24- Step backwards probably because I "only took 6 Thym Adren".  1 mile in 11:10 but did manage another negative split (5:44-5:26).  If I had taken the full 9, I bet I am slightly better than yesterday.

PM- More than slightly better than yesterday.  Improved to 9:08 with splits of 4:38-4:30.  I still say it's RIDICULOUS that 3 pills make THIS MUCH difference.  Perhaps the adrenal spike will die down in a few days.  From now on, I will take the full dose in the morning.  I will try to cut it to 8 then gradually reduce.  However, in the past, it flips overnight.  One day I need at least 6 to function then the next day, I can only tolerate 2-3.

Distance-2.0

Ceruloplasmin and Candida

 Ceruloplasmin is a liver protein responsible for binding and carrying copper throughout the body.  In short, bound copper is good.  Unbound copper is bad.  I believe the Taurine and Glycine were effective in reducing the unbound copper and I now have a Zinc excess.  Zinc and copper must be in a proper ratio.  It's better to be mildly deficient in both than have one normal and one low.  A rheumatologist CANNOT help with this!  

 The new supplement is Liver Beef.  I took in regularly in 2014-15.  Yes, it did raise my low ceruloplasmin level but after just a few months on it, I developed a SUDDEN and SEVERE intolerance.  Just a few specks of it was enough to trigger severe fatigue and sore muscles.  I know now that this was an autoimmune reaction.  That should not happen now with the Cytokine and Lactoferrin.  The new pills will arrive in 2 days.  

It's possible but unconfirmed that the TRS depleted my Ceruloplasmin.  I needed to get those toxins out but the unforeseen consequences have been disastrous.  I believe that the candida was bound to the heavy metals.  Once I detoxed, the candida was free to wreak havoc like never before.  A normal ceruloplasmin level may have prevented this from happening.  ARGH!  

According to Analytical Research Labs, copper is a natural fungicide but it must be bound by Ceruloplasmin to be effective.  Perhaps, this is the final piece of the puzzle to kill off the candida. I predict the usual pattern.  After an initial shock reaction, I will develop an insatiable need.  When that calms down, I could see a candida dump but definitely an adrenal spike.  When that calms down, something else will likely pop up.     

Training 5/13-5/19

 5/13- AM Vestavia Mile in the rain and got about what I expected.  Improved by 51 seconds to a 10:59.  It took a late rally to get under 11 but I will take it.  Splits were 5:31-5:28.

PM- Began feeling better as the day progressed.  Repeated the time trial and did better than expected.  I was banking on a sub-10:30 but improved all the way to a 9:48.  This was done without extra pills.  Well paced again.  Both halves were 4:54 with only a 5-6 second spread.

Distance-2.0

5/14- Repeated it a 3rd time and my time is down to 8:38.  Splits were 2:07-2:12-2:14-2:05.  Still feel awfully overstimulated from the adrenal spike.  Room for much improvement and I am within 68 seconds of a PR

PM- Predicted bad weather so that's it for today.  Again, in a curious finding, I don't feel much immediate effects from the pills but do get better in the afternoon.  Evenings are a little rough and I'm ready for bed early.

Distance-1.0

5/15- Adrenal spike is over and I now must face the ill-effects of the overshot.  It will take a few days to reach equilibrium.  2 miles in 20:48 (10:24 pace) and it was ugly 

Distance-2.0

5/16- DISASTER.  1 MILE in 12:10.  Awful first half, marginally better on Taurine.  Significantly WORSE on Zinc.  WORSER on Curcumin, which I took just to finish the bottle.  I suspect that I am low in Copper and especially Ceruloplasmin.  I suspect that Curcumin depleted Copper.  If that's true, it's not an autoimmune reaction.  A Rheumatologist won't help.

PM- A little better.  Half mile in 5:15 plus a half mile cool.  Colostrum is no longer effective.

Distance-2.0

5/17- Not a big surprise.  I discontinued the Curcumin and the adrenal spike kicked back in.  Only did 1 mile on Lakeshore.  First half in 5:28 with 2 Thym Adren pills but improved to 4:56 on the back half after popping 2 more.  MINUS 64 per mile.  That is definitely enough to be considered significant.  The Liver Beef should arrive tomorrow

PM- Much better as the day progressed.  Improved to 8:21 at Vestavia.  Best time since the adrenal spike by 17 seconds.  Decent splits.  2;02-2:09-2:10-2:00.  Were the Curcumin issues related to the autoimmune condition or the mineral imbalance?  I am about 80 percent sure that it's the latter.  That will be confirmed shortly after the Liver pills arrive.

Distance-2.0

5/18- Hoped to run 4 this morning but settled for 2.5 in a time of 23-flat (9:12 pace).  Power cut off at 1.75 miles and the last half mile was a pitiful 5:02.

PM- Initial reaction to the Liver was sharply negative.  Slipped from 1:37 to 1:53 at Montreat.  PLUS 96.  However, that often means that come tomorrow, I will NEED IT!

UPDATE:  It's still evening and just 6 hours later.  The script has already flipped.  I NEED the Liver.  Good news is that the Curcumin is tolerated again.  The bad reaction to it was NOT an autoimmune issue and a doctor WON'T HELP!  I only have 8 of those pills left.  I'll finish the bottle and be done with it.  The big question is whether or not the bound copper will kill off the candida once and for all?

Distance-3.0

5/19- 4x400 at Vestavia.  Opened with 2 Thym Adren in 3:21 (13:24 pace).  Popped 2 more and was only slightly better at 3:17 (13:08 pace).  The need for Liver cut off the adrenal spike for the time being.

On 2 Liver pills, I was all the way down to 2:35 (10:20 pace) then another pill got it down to 2:13 (8:52 pace).  That's a MASSIVE gap.  It will close starting tomorrow.

Distance-1.0

Training 5/6-5/12

 5/6- AM Thinking about a 5K race on Mother's Day but I am too unstable.  Vestavia Mile in 7:53.  Not a collapse but certainly a disappointment.  If I had gone longer, it would have been a disaster.  Started tying up around 600 but still passed halfway right on schedule at 3:43.  Died in lap 3 then was no better on the final go round.  Added a cool.  Probably caffeine withdrawal and I just have to deal with it for a few days.  Most likely, that's it for today.

PM- It was indeed caffeine withdrawal.  The morning at work was brutal but it did get better by afternoon.  Adrenal spike hit by the evening but extra Thym-Adren improved things.  Did a half mile worth of intervals with the expected results.  Significantly better with each pill.  If I do the same thing tomorrow, it won't work.

Distance-2.0

5/7- Unplanned rest day.  Intolerant to Glycine.

5/8- AM- 1 mile in 10:15 at Montreat with a slight negative split.  By the afternoon, it was apparent that I NEED Glycine.  Flip flop flip.

PM- Vestavia Mile in 11:35 with splits of 5:24-6:11.  OUCH!  

Began feeling better after dinner so I tried an impromptu Mile at Montreat.  Improved to 9:43 with splits of 5:01-4:42.  I know the pattern.  Extreme need for Glycine will fade but I could see an adrenal spike or candida dump 

Distance-3.0

5/9- Adrenal spike did hit last night but it was over by noon today.  2 miles on Lakeshore in 19:03 (9:31 pace).  Sub-60 pace for 10K with a negative split (9:38-9:25).  In THEORY, I am in the clear.

Distance-2.0

5/10- Repeated the 2 mile distance on Lakeshore and my time is down to 18:10 (9:05 pace) with splits of 9:08-9:02.  Solid improvement over yesterday.  I might try for the sub-60 tomorrow.  Today's pace was over 30 seconds faster than the target and felt sustainable.  

Distance-2.0

5/11- FAIL.  I knew before I started.  Didn't even last a half mile and the pace was over 10 just 200 meters in.  This feels like an adrenal spike and a pill confirmed it.

PM- Opened with a 3:53 lap at Montreat (11;39 pace) and 2 Thym Adren pills got it down to 3:26 (10:18 pace). MINUS 81.  This spike will not go down easily.  I don't think it will last 20 days but it could last 10-14.

Distance-1.0

5/12- Full mile at Vestavia in 11:50.  Splits were 5:48-6:02.  Did more intervals in the afternoon.  This adrenal spike won't go down so easily but I will see steady improvement next week.

Distance-2.0