Idaho Trip Report

 Prior to this trip, Idaho was one of just 5 states that I had visited only once under the strict standard.  The other 4 are Alaska, North Dakota, Kansas and Nebraska.  I hope to check those off my list by the summer of 2024.  My first Idaho trip came in 2011 for the Coeur D’Alene half marathon.  Aside from CDA, I saw little of the state aside from the I-90 corridor and did not venture beyond the panhandle.  This was before I set the 50 half marathon states goal.  At the time, I merely wanted to visit all 50 states. A CDA race enabled me to check off Washington and Montana as well, which I accomplished on a drive from Spokane to Missoula.  I did return in 2017 for a photo op at a scenic spot just outside of Yellowstone but only stayed for a few brief moments so that does not count under the strict standard.  I felt that I had not done justice to the state as a large portion of it remained unexplored.  I considered a February visit but opted for Palm Springs, which proved to be a good call because the road that I would travel was closed at that time plus it would have been very cold. 

4/22-

There was some drama on the fights.  The flight to Denver was delayed by 30 minutes so I ran/walked as fast as I could to the connecting gate at another concourse.  I arrived about 2-3 minutes after the boarding door was scheduled to close but found to my relief that the flight to Boise was also delayed.  You could say that I made the connection only because of the 2^nd delay.   At any rate, I was on the ground by 2:30 local time and on the road by 3:00.  I did have some slack time planned in case of a SNAFU so the trip would not have been wrecked if I was stranded overnight.    

I initially planned to go up Hwy 55 to McCall but cut it short by stopping at Banks, about 45 minutes north of Boise.  I found a pretty nice sand beach with views of mountain tops that still were capped by a bit of snow.  Of course, both the air and water were way too cold for a swim.  My hotel was on the outskirts of town about a mile and a half from the city center but still found a pizza restaurant and a bar within walking distance.  There, I was invited to join a group of people because one of them is from Dothan, Alabama.  Everyone at the table was very nice and my beer was put of their tab.

4/23-

Boise to Twin Falls via Hwy 21 and 75.  Hwy 21 is known as the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway through the Sawtooth Mountains.  It was the biggest driving day of the trip.  I did get a sunrise start and the first stop was a state park called Lucky Peak, which was an overlook with a nice sand beach down below along with mountain views above.  As you travel further north on Hwy 21, you gain elevation.  Snow began to appear just below 5000 feet but once you hit 6000, it was piled 10 feet high on the side of the road.  Stanley, at around 6250 feet looked like a winter wonderland.   

After lunch in Stanley, I picked up Hwy 75 South to Twin Falls.  I arrived around 3 PM and walked from my hotel to Centennial Park, which had awesome views of the Snake River Bridge and a couple of waterfalls.  At less than 4000 feet elevation, the snow was gone, and it looked like a different world even though I was only 100 miles south as the crow flies.  After an early dinner, I drove about 10 minutes to Shoshone Falls Park, which is often called the Niagara of the West.  The best time to visit is in the Spring just after the snow melt.  It did not disappoint.  With time to kill before sunset, I took a 40-minute drive south on Hwy 93 to the Nevada border and was rewarded with more snow-capped mountain views.

4/24-

Mostly interstate on I-84 back to Boise with a stop at Niagara Springs State Park.  With time to kill, I took another short detour this time to the Oregon border.  The plan was to hike up to Table Rock but that proved to be a bust.  There was no parking or vehicle access and strict No Trespassing signs.  Camel’s Back offers better views of the city skyline.  Go there instead.  After checking in, it was a walking tour of downtown.  I found it to be compact and one day is really all you need.  Just a few blocks from the city center, it’s all residential with tree lined streets.  In late April, trees were just beginning to bloom, and I got one shot of snow-capped peaks with cherry blossoms.  Cool.

4/25-

Junk run around a couple of city parks, which had more lakes and ponds with mountain views.  I hoped to check out the history museum, but it did not open until 10 AM, which did not allow sufficient time to catch my flight home.  The only thing that I would have done differently was to skip Table Rock in favor of the museum.  No issues on the flight home.  I had a close connection in Chicago but did not have to change terminals and got home at a decent hour.  A very good trip overall that can be done in a long weekend.  Next up is either Oregon/Nor-Cal or Alaska.

RANT: LGBT and Trans Issues

I hoped to remain silent on this issue but I can no longer hold my tongue after recent events:

 When growing up in the 1990s, I had no high school classmates who were openly gay though I heard through social media that a few of them did come out in later years.  Some were surprises, others were not.  Surveys show that among Gen-Z (age 18-25), roughly 1 in 6 identify as something other than fully heterosexual and cisgendered.  That is compared to only 1% among people my father’s age and about 4-6% among people my age.  About 20 years ago, we were told that it was all genetic.  You were either born that way or not.  I never really bought into that, and the recent increase is strong evidence that it is primarily due to environmental factors.  I believe that very few people are truly “born gay.” I have no firsthand experience but some believe it can be traced to imbalances during the mother’s pregnancy.   Some were sexually abused as children, but I do believe that more people are identifying that way because it’s celebrated in today’s culture.  I don’t know the exact percentage, but a good chunk of the 16% identify as bisexual.  I’m betting that they “mostly” prefer the opposite sex but choose to identify as something else because it’s cool to do so nowadays.

How would I react if a close friend came out as gay, bi or trans?  It would depend on their attitude.  Suppose they mind their own business and stay relatively quiet about what goes on in their bedroom?  I would not care, and it probably does not affect the friendship.  There is a difference between talking about going to dinner and a movie with your partner versus sex with your partner.  On the other hand, if you cannot make it through a day without referencing your sexuality and frequently talk about your relationship drama, I don’t want to hear it and I would think less of you.  That goes for straight people too.  I had a former co-worker who is straight, but her life was like a soap opera, and I did NOT want to hear about it.  Lastly, suppose that a church member acknowledges same sex attraction but chooses not to act on it and speaks out in favor of abstinence or at least monogamy?  I’d actually think more highly of them.   

Because homosexuality involves an action, I’ve always had a problem with arguments that equate it with racial discrimination.  If a person has a certain percentage of non-European DNA, you can tell immediately that they are a racial minority.  With LGBT people, you might suspect it in some cases, but nobody has to know unless they tell.  With that said, I know what it’s like to be bullied for being different than others.  I believe in treating all people with respect and civility.   I never have and never will mistreat anyone because of their sexuality. NO discrimination.  Tolerate but don’t celebrate.

For better or worse, same sex marriage is here to stay and I will not rehash the arguments for and against it.  The dirty secret that nobody talks about is that while there are exceptions to the rule, most straight couples seek monogamous relationships with cheating being a taboo that usually leads to a break-up.  Most gays are NOT monogamous.  There is also rampant drug and alcohol abuse in addition to promiscuity within the gay community.  RFK Jr, who is hardly a conservative icon, stated that drug abuse hastens progression of HIV into full blown AIDS, while many patients can live in good health for many years with HIV if they make good lifestyle choices.  Even with the advanced anti-retroviral drugs, current life expectancy among gay men is only 59 years with or without HIV.  By comparison, a 45-year pack- a- day cigarette smoker has a life expectancy of 63 years.  We certainly don’t promote smoking in schools.  When you are an adult, you are free to do as you please and I support laws that guarantee your rights.  Just don’t promote it to children.   If more people would remain abstinent until marriage and remain in monogamy, there will be fewer social problems associated with broken homes.  Why not promote that instead of LGBT issues?

I knew that the LGBT lobby would not stop with gay marriage.  I predicted that they would go after businesses and churches who would not cater to their agenda.  I also predicted that within a few years, they would push for legalized polygamy and polyamory on the grounds of discrimination against bisexuals.  I never saw the push for trans rights.  Nowadays, you cannot scroll your Yahoo news feed without seeing multiple articles promoting trans-rights, which are usually calls for “gender-affirming care” for children and allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports.  Riley Gaines, who spoke out against the latter was called vile names, violently assaulted, and barricaded in a room for 3 hours.  Books depicting gay sex in graphic detail are available to boys as young as 11 years old in middle school libraries.  As for drag queen shows, why are they so insistent on performing for children?  That should be strictly “adult entertainment.”  The term Christian nationalism, which I had never heard until recently, has popped up frequently in liberal news sources.  To me, this implies that opposition to the trans agenda put you on par with the nut jobs in Uganda or Saudi Arabia.  There are plenty of secular folks who agree that it should not be promoted to children.  Trans activists stormed the Capitol in Kentucky and Tennessee yet nobody on the Left called them threats to democracy.  For the radical Left, no matter how extreme their viewpoints, dissent will not be tolerated.    

As for gender-affirming care, let’s call it what it is.  Underage patients are allowed to have their private parts mutilated but cannot get a tattoo until age 18 or buy beer and cigarettes until age 21.  Word on the street is that “puberty blockers” are prescribed without parental consent or even notification but you need a permission slip to go on a school field trip.  I don’t believe that puberty blockers are safe.  In fact, studies show that the effects are irreversible if taken for an extended period of time.  Even though the transition is affirmed by their role models, mental health issues still persist and suicide rates remain extremely high.  Many go on to regret it and de-transition.  When that happens, they become a pariah in the trans community while the rhetoric is always to “express yourself as you please.”  What if that expression involves a southern accent, church attendance, hunting/fishing and driving a pickup truck?  I don’t think that lifestyle will be affirmed by the Left. 

Trans athletes can participate in sports, but it must be against the boys.  Suggesting that grown men who identify as women should be allowed to compete against biological women is just plain NUTS!  I never thought I would see this happen.  In most sports such as soccer and basketball, a National team of All-Star boys aged 15-16 can defeat a women’s professional team.  To their credit, Track and Field has banned biological men from women’s competition.  A woman who can run 400 meters in 50.0 seconds is a serious contender for an Olympic medal and probably ranked in the top 5 in the World.   Every year in the United States alone, hundreds of high school boys can beat that time.  Granted, hormone therapy will slow you down a bit, but you retain advantages of larger bone structure, muscle mass and greater lung capacity.  I can certainly envision a college man who runs 46.5 and thus, no chance of making it as a pro going on to dominate on the Women’s side.  A man who can run the distance in 45 seconds would be unbeatable in the women's division even with hormone therapy.  I fully support saving Women’s sports. 

RANT: Usage of the N-Word

 Several years ago, a South Carolina acquaintance casually dropped the offensive slur in the course of conversation and I could tell that it was a regular part of his vocabulary.  To my credit, I did speak up and told him firmly not to use that word.  He justified it on the grounds that it only applied to "lower class blacks" and denied that he was a racist person.  His response was something like this:  "I just don't have any tolerance for idiots.  Not all black people are n______ just like not all white people are rednecks."  

NO!  That is a filthy and disgusting word that should NEVER be used by anyone under any circumstances!  Yes, you are a racist.  Just hearing it in movies about segregation is enough to make me cringe.  I could never be friends with anyone who holds such hateful views.  

What about rap lyrics and black people who use the word as a term of endearment?  I don't like it but I'm not going to say anything.  The justification is that the word that ends in a has a different meaning that the one that ends in er.  Tupac Shakur came up with an acronym: Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished.  Think about all the people who were crammed on slaves ships and beaten by cruel overseers on the plantation while being called the hateful slur.  Somehow, I don't think that they would be pleased to hear their descendants using it to each other.  To be fair, I will admit that I am not offended by a redneck joke from Jeff Foxworthy.  However, if a comedian from Massachusetts or Connecticut told the same joke, I would be offended.  

How should we punish people who use that word?

I say it depends on the context.  I heard a story about a fire chief in Pittsburgh who called Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin a "no good n_____" on social media.  He was fired and rightly so.  No place for that kind of crap and I wouldn't want him as a co-worker.  

If you are quoting somebody else and use the whole word instead of the first letter, I'd be more lenient.  A football coach was forced to resign for reading aloud a note passed between players that contained the offensive slur.  I'd discipline him and tell him to offer a sincere apology but no, I would not fire him.  If he was caught on tape making a racist rant, that's entirely different.  

Two other instances that I thought were overkill:

A football recruit lost his college scholarship because of a TikTok video in which he rapped the n-word, which were song lyrics.  Also a girl had her college admission rescinded because a jealous ex-boyfriend posted a 3 year old video of her using the offensive slur.  IIRC, she was also quoting song lyrics.  

I would have sent them to mandatory counseling and/or make them do a service project but no, I would not deny admission to University.  

With the exception of sexual misconduct, there are few things more damaging to a person's reputation than being outed as a racist.  Would I give them another chance even if the context was extremely offensive?  Not right away.  I will say that some people change so don't give up hope.  If after a few years in which they show genuine remorse and repentance, yes I could be talked into giving them another chance.

Training 4/10-4/16

 4/10- AM- 3x 1 lap at Montreat.  Even on no pills, I was better than yesterday.  Opened with a 3:29 (10:27 pace).  Took some caffeine and actually improved to a 3:14 (9:42 pace).  MINUS 45 per mile.  Yes, that is enough to be considered significant.  On the full Thym-Adren, I improved to a 2:48 (8:24 pace).  Again, significant but not a night and day difference.  I'm baffled by this one.  During an adrenal SPIKE, I was BETTER on caffeine.  WHAT THE __________!

PM- 2 miles on Lakeshore in 18:53 (9:26 pace).  Not that bad.  Much better than yesterday and I CREDIT the caffeine.  Yes, the adrenal spike is still there but it has diminished.  I predict that I will get WORSE when I'm off caffeine.  Will it be a temporary blip?  When can I tolerate the ACV and Probiotics?

Distance= 3.0

4/11- It happened again.  I was BEYOND AWFUL without caffeine but significantly better with it and I need large doses to pull off anything close to respectable times.  I can't go on like this.  I must endure a few rough weeks without caffeine and hope that the adrenal spike eventually dies down.  Today, I was over 12 off caffeine but under 10 with it.

Distance=2.0

4/12- Rest day.  I have no desire to run.  This might be the end.  Adrenals remain spiked.  I need to take mega doses from now on.

4/13- Dreamed that I ran a 3:08 marathon last night and it was a vivid dream.  That's all it was however as today was one of my worst days on record.  Managed only a half mile at Montreat in 6:23 on no pills.  Took 6 at work and it had little effect.  Got home and crashed out in bed.  I was out cold for 2.5 hours.  I got up for another 2 hours then went back to bed.

Distance= 0.5

4/14- AM- Repeated the no pills half mile and my time was down to 5:58 (11:56 pace)

PM- Upped the dosage to 8 pills and I wasn't much better.  Lakeshore 1.5 in 16:54 (11:16 pace).  1st half -8:20, 2nd half- 8:34.  Not a terrible fade but it was a terrible performance.  It may get worse next week if I can stay off caffeine.

Distance=2.0

4/15- 1 mile this time at Railroad Park and I was beyond awful with a 12:16.  This was done on full pills but no caffeine.

Distance= 1.0

4/16- AM- 1.5 miles at Lakeshore in 17:24 (11:36 pace).  An improvement over yesterday and that's all I wanted to see.  I may be back out there this afternoon.

PM- 2 miles in 19:14 (9:37 pace).  MUCH better.  Splits were 9:53-9:21.  Adrenal spike may finally be dying down.  Still crashed out later in the day but got better after dinner.

Distance= 3.5  

-12 miles on the week.

Training 4/3-4/9

 4/3- I still don't know if yesterday's horrible performance was the adrenal spike or tiredness from rough surf the previous day.  Maybe it was a combination of both.  In either case, I was much better today.

AM- 1 lap at Montreat in 3:43 (11:09 pace) plus a short cool.  That's 23 seconds better than yesterday or MINUS 69 per mile.  Took 6 Thym-Adren at work.

PM- Back at Lakeshore for the real workout this time hours after the pills.  Repeated the 2.5 mile distance but my time was down to a less horrible 24:55 (9:58 pace).  1st half- 12:15, 2nd half- 12:40.  No real attempt to kick because I knew I had the sub-10 pace, which was all that I wanted.

Distance=3.0

4/4- Unplanned rest day.  Feeling worse today.

4/5- 1 mile at Montreat in 10:41.  I did manage an even pace but had zero strength.  3 Thym-Adren pills just won't cut it.  This adrenal spike is not going down so easily.  I need at least 6 of these pills, maybe more at least temporarily.  This could be good news in the long run.  A BIG adrenal spike probably means that I really did solve a long-standing problem (candida).  I'll go with 6 for the rest of the week.  May go as high as 9 for a couple of days.

Distance=1.0

4/6- MUCH WORSE!  I learned today that ACV INCREASES demand for adrenal suppressants.  I must lay off it for now then gradually re-introduce it if tolerated.  I turned around after I was over 12 minute pace through a half mile and getting slower.

Distance=1.0

4/7- Only slightly better but at least I am headed in the right direction.  2 miles on Lakeshore in 23:30 (11:45 pace) with splits of 11:28-12:02.  OUCH!

Distance=2.0

4/8- Unplanned rest day.  I've learned that Probiotics ALSO spike the adrenals.  

4/9- 1 mile in 11:23.  Nuff said.

Distance=1.0

-8 miles on the week.

Training 3/27-4/2

 3/27- Hoped to take a shot at the 5K PR of 29:13, which looks soft after the 7:48 Mile yesterday.  Came through the first lap on schedule at 2:15 but it felt as hard as sub-8 pace.  Fell off pace in lap 2 and just slow jogged another 2 laps naked.  Time for 1 mile was over 10 minutes, maybe even over 11.  Took the bottle of ACV to work and drank enough to induce diarrhea at the end of the day but the extreme need appears to be fading.

Distance=1.0

3/28- Hated interval workout.  Opened with a 3:32 (10:36 pace) then after a tablespoon of ACV, I did a 3:17 (9:51 pace).  Enough to be considered significant but not a night and day difference.  The adrenal spike hit HARD during the day.  Managed only a 3:56 (11:48 pace) on the 3rd interval after work.  This was done AFTER loading on Thym-Adren.

Distance=1.0

3/29-AM- Adrenal spike seems to have diminished.  1 mile in 10:27 with an even pace.  Neither the ACV nor the Thym-Adren seems to be making a significant difference.  IN THEORY, I've got it under control but it never happens in reality so I'm not getting my hopes up.

PM- Felt better during the day.  2 miles on Lakeshore in 17:49 (8:49 pace).  Hit the mile in 8:38 but felt a fade coming.  I still held it together for a 9:11 in Mile 2, which is faster than 5K PR pace.  I don't think I  had quite enough today but it would have been close. All I needed was another 1.1 at 10 minute pace but I was just about spent.

Distance-3.0   

3/30- 5K time trial at Vestavia and I was successful this time.  Finished in 27:48 (PR).  Improvement of 85 seconds and a pace per mile of 8:56.  Splits were 8:47-9:01-9:00 then finished with a 60 second last 200.  Didn't go nuts at the end because I knew that I had the sub-28 locked up.  1st half- 13:52, 2nd half- 13:56.  I'd say that's pretty even.  

Distance=3.5

3/31- Unplanned rest day.  Adrenal spike is back.

4/1- 3x half mile on the coast.  I was awful on just 3 Thym-Adren pills then slightly better on caffeine.  I was significantly better on 6 pills so I'm going with that until further notice.  Splits were 4:54-4:46-4:05.  Not real good.

Distance= 1.5

4/2- Opened with a 4:06 lap at Montreat on no pills (12:18 pace).  Did 2.5 on Lakeshore in 28:30 (11:18 pace) on 6 pills.  OUCH!  Is the adrenal spike that bad or am I tired from surfing?

Distance= 3.0

-13 miles on the week.  YTD- 135

Solution for Candida

 Is this a permanent solution?  Somehow, I doubt it but here it is:

Apple Cider Vinegar is the first MUST take every day.  BUT I can only tolerate a maximum of 1 tablespoon.  If I take more than 1 tablespoon, I'll be awful.  I can only say that it must be an overwhelming die-off reaction.  I thought that extra Molybdenum would help but it seems like I get no additional benefit beyond 2 of those pills.  

Also, if I go more than 1 day without it, I'll be awful.  Probiotics do help but it's not nearly enough.  Over a half lap, I was only 7 seconds better on Probiotics alone.  I gained 40 seconds after Molybdenum+ ACV.

Molybdenum is the second must take pill.  However, it's no good without the ACV.  ACV MUST be taken with the Moly.  ACV alone even in small doses will cause overwhelming die-off.

Add to all of this is the Auto-Immune side.  Without the Cytokine suppressant, I cannot tolerate EITHER the ACV or the Probiotics.

Formula:

ACV, Molybdenum, Probiotics, Cytokine suppressant.  

I'm not even sure if my dietary restrictions are necessary but I will at least try to stay clean for the next 21 days.  It will be much easier to do so if the formula is stable and I am improving steadily.

One of my non-negotiable standards is NO extreme dependence on any one treatment.  I've flunked that test BIGLY.  I can only hope that the dependence will fade in time and the tolerance will also improve.

UPDATE:

THIS IS MASSIVE!  I now NEED ACV AT HIGHER DOSES!  I predict that this need will diminish in time.

Training 3/13-3/26

 Here's the deal.  I need Probiotics and Apple Cider Vinegar to kill off the Candida infection.  I could not tolerate EITHER of them without the proper auto-immune treatment (Cytokine suppress).  The solution was right in front of me but I could not tolerate it until I addressed the auto-immune side.  The VERY stuff that was supposed to cure me?  Yet, because of the auto-immune issues, I could not tolerate the cure.  My reaction to it was intolerable.  THAT IS THE ULTIMATE IN CRUELTY!

3/13- Unplanned rest day.  I could not tolerate the Probiotics before.  Now, I have an insatiable need and cannot tolerate the Taurine, which I've learned can feed Candida.  Finished my forbidden drink at 8 PM.  No more for 21 days.  I had better be improving by that point.

3/14- AM Opened with a 4:48 lap at Montreat (14:24 pace).  That is my WORST showing on record.  I was actually faster with a sprained ankle.  On full adrenal and methylation support, I was only marginally better with a 4:46.  However, I did improve to a 3:53 (11:39 pace) on mega Probiotics.  That's still BAAAAUHD but it is a night and day difference (MINUS 2:45).  

PM- Took another Probiotic and improved to a 1:49 half lap then managed a 1:39 on Glutathione, which also supposedly helps kill Candida.

Distance=1.5

3/15- Unplanned rest day.  BRUTAL DIE OFF REACTION but I have not caved.  Day 2 is often the worst.  I've ordered Molybdenum to help with the die off.

3/16- Adrenal spike today but I still got out there and ran a Mile at Montreat.  Clocked a 12:24 but at least I made the full distance.  Splits were 6:09-6:15.

Distance=1.0

3/17- Repeated the Montreat Mile and my time is down to 10:35 with splits of 5:15-5:20.  I am now within 2:19 of a PR and I improved by 1:45 since yesterday.  At midnight, I will hit the 100 hour mark of drinking nothing but water.  It should get easier from this point on.  Why did I fail in the past?  The die off can make auto-immune symptoms worse.  Now, I have the proper treatment.

Distance=1.0

3/18- Not much better than yesterday but at least the need for Probiotics has diminished.  2 miles on Lakeshore in 21:43 (10:51 pace).  I stopped at the turnaround to take the Probiotics.  I hit the Mile mark in 11-flat and was only slightly better on the back half.  I have mixed feelings on this one.  When the process is working, I should NOT see a night and day difference from one day to the next.  It should be barely noticeable BUT steady.  I'm so far behind that it will take years to get back to respectability at this rate.  The Molybdenum should arrive tomorrow.  That might make a difference.

Distance=2.0

3/19- The moly did arrive last night and the reaction was immediately negative, but that turned into an insatiable need by this morning.  Half lap intervals:

0 moly- 1:57 (11:42 pace)  WORSE THAN YESTERDAY

1 moly- 1:39 (9:54 pace) MINUS 1:48

2 moly- 1:24 (8:24 pace) MINUS 1:30

I would have seen further gains if I had taken more but I chose to hold it there.  The gains were short-lived.  I was horrible again by lunchtime and got better only after popping more of those pills.  

Distance=0.5

Reaction:

The fact that I improved so much on the moly is confirmation that my symptoms are due to candida die-off.  The die off started shortly after I got back from California.  I need to stay with the plan but at least the ill-effects will be mitigated.  Problem is that it could take months to clear the candida.  I've now made it 6 days without sugared or alcoholic drinks.  15 days to go.  

3/20- 2 miles in 19:21 (9:40 pace). Splits were 9:38-9:43.  Repeated the Lakeshore workout.  Just wanted a significant improvement over last time (21:43) and I got just about what I wanted.  The moly has definitely helped and I am less dependent on it too.  I actually forgot to take it in the morning and still got through the day at work.  Unfortunately, I did cave on caffeine.  It was a sugar free energy drink so the no sugar or alcohol streak still stands at 7 days.  The caffeine must NOT become a daily habit.  This needs to be a one day blip.  The candida die off should begin to diminish after Day 10.  

Distance=2.0

3/21- 10,000 meters at Mountain Brook in 62:45 (10:05 pace) PR!  BIG TIME PR! That's more than 9 minutes better than last time.  This was better than I expected.  I thought I'd be in the 64-65 range.  I'm still short of the standard but I am now within 30 seconds per mile.  The watch did not turn to 60 until I had less than 500 meters to go.  I am more than 95% of the way there.  1st half- 30:57, 2nd half- 31:48.  Mile 5 was pretty ugly but I bounced back in Mile 6.  I might try to take down the 5K PR this weekend.

Distance=6.5

3/22- VERY sore and this does not feel normal.  Opened with a 1:58 half lap then was only slightly better on Probiotics (1:52) and it wasn't until I popped some Moly that I felt much better (1:21).  

PM- Felt no better on extra moly.  Only did a naked mile at Montreat.  Very slow pace.

Distance= 1.5

3/23- The culprit was discovered last night.  Too much Apple Cider Vinegar.  Moly did help but it wasn't enough to get me even close to normal.  It seems like 5 of those pills are no better than 2.  I have no choice other than to reduce if not eliminate the ACV.  Sadly, I caved again on the caffeine and later the alcohol. Kinda had to in order to get through the work day.   It didn't make any difference in how I felt.  Unfortunately, I am back to Day 1 tomorrow.  Hopefully, the withdrawal won't be severe.

Distance= 0.5

3/24- 1 mile at Vestavia in 11:35.  OUCH!  1st half- 5:10, 2nd half- 6:25.  I don't know what happened.  I took no ACV last night.  Just probiotics this morning.  I still need moly.  May have been worse without it.  Caffeine withdrawal?  I don't think so.  Probably, I just need to clear the ACV.  I'm staying off it for 5 days.  I sure hope I don't get in a situation in which I need it every day at a narrow window.

Distance=1.0

3/25- Awful on Probiotics alone.  Only slightly better on Molybdenum.  It was not until I took the ACV that I felt better.  It was MUCH better.  I ran a 71 half lap without even pushing hard.  I could have done close to 60 if I went all out.

Distance=1.0

3/26- Woke up awful even though I took some ACV last night.  Nothing helped until I took another tablespoon of ACV.  I thought about a 5K time trial but knew by the 2nd lap that I would not make it.  Settled for 1 Mile in 9:28 with splits of 4:38-4:50.  

2nd Tablespoon of ACV- I expected to be better but not by this much. Improved to 7:48 (PR).  That's a 28 second improvement over my previous time and it feels good to break the 8 minute barrier.  Splits were 1:53-1:58-2:01-1:56.  I left a few seconds out there.  By 600 meters in, I knew I would break 8 so I wanted to enjoy the back half.  I let off just a hair but that's okay.  That will make it easier to PR again.  Added a half mile cool.  As expected, it didn't take long until I needed ACV again.

Distance=2.5

-21 miles total.  YTD- 122

Road Trips 4: Deep South and Florida

Louisiana-

All over.  Cities that I have seen include Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria, Bogalusa, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, New Orleans and Grand Isle.  It's a good stopping point to break up a trip to Texas.  First visit came in 2003 to New Orleans.  I was nearly robbed but had a funny story to tell about it.  The police officer approached my new companion and said "Hey.  How you doin'.  Didn't know you were giving tours."  A better trip came in 2009 to Baton Rouge when I set a PR in a half marathon and placed in my age group.  I would race in New Orleans again in 2012 at the Crescent City Classic but it was not until my third visit in 2022 that I began to somewhat like the city. 

All the other cities listed were stop overs on my way to/from Texas.  I felt right at home at a bar in Bogaloosa but just an hour south, I felt out of place in Cajun Country.  I captured a beautiful sunset in Lake Charles and actually caught some waves in Grand Isle.   

Mississippi- 

Memphis suburbs, Jackson, Gulfport, Ship Island, Natchez, Greenville, Vicksburg, Tupelo, Meridian, Columbus.

Again, my first visit came in 2003 to Gulfport.  I was unimpressed by the beaches there but if you are willing to cruise to Ship Island, you'll find clear water that is good for swimming.  There's not much to see in Jackson but the northern suburbs are pretty nice.  That's where I raced in 2010.  Tupelo is one of my favorite small cities and I found VERY friendly people there.  Don't miss the Elvis museums.  Meridian, Columbus and Natchez are worth a quick look but I highly recommend seeing the Civil War battlefield in Vicksburg.  It's a pretty cool town too.     

Alabama- 

Huntsville, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Selma, Auburn, Mobile, Gulf Shores.

My home since 2006 and I think that I have stepped foot in every county even if it was only to get gas.  For tourists, here is what I recommend:  The beaches in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores are just as nice as the ones across the border in Florida.  There are some gripping Civil Rights museums in Selma, Montgomery and Birmingham.  There is also Space Center in Huntsville. My first visit here was in 1992 for a Junior Olympic race in Mobile.  

Florida- 

Key West, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Okeechobee, Tampa, Clearwater, Sarasota, Sanibel, Perry, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Apalachicola, Panama City, Pensacola.

First visit here came in the mid-80s to Disney World.  We returned in 1990 to Sanibel Island then again in 1991 to Disney again.  I began exploring this state on my own in 2004 with a beach hopping trip from Jacksonville to Panama City.  I've been all the way up and down both coasts from Ft. Myers to Pensacola and Key West to Fernandina.  I've also toured some off the beaten path areas such as the Big Bend and Forgotten Florida.  Both have more of a native vibe.  

Georgia- 

Atlanta, Savannah, Columbus, Valdosta, Brunswick, Macon, Tifton, Rome, Athens, Augusta.

First visit was in 2000 to the Columbus area.  It's a surprisingly diverse geographical state with beaches and mountains and the big city of Atlanta.  Savannah is one of my favorite cities to visit.  Its beaches are often overlooked because of neighboring Florida and South Carolina and though its mountains are not quite as high as North Carolina, there are still some beautiful spots in the northern part of the state.  Though both are solidly southern, the vibe in South Georgia is much different than North Georgia.

South Carolina- 

Greenville, Clemson, Anderson, Columbia, Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach

Lived here from 2003-2006.  I have probably visited every county here as well.  My first visit came in 1991 to Myrtle Beach and I fell in love with the state.  In Greenville, everything that I wanted to do was just a day trip away.  Mountains, beach, big cities.  All within 3 hours.  Charleston is one of my favorite cities and I spent many happy hours at Isle of Palms.  I haven't extensively toured Columbia but came away with a more favorable impression in 2022

Training 3/6-3/12

 3/6- AM- After just a TRACE of Apple Cider Vinegar last night, I got an IMMEDIATE negative reaction.  Even Auto Immune support did not help.  I must STOP both the Probiotics and the ACV at least for the time being.  I may try again on Wednesday when the stronger Auto Immune stuff (Cytokine suppress) arrives.   1 mile in 12:53.  OUCH!  At least there was no knee pain

PM- Improved by 1:45 down to 11:08 with an even pace and no attempt to kick at the end.  I should be better tomorrow.  OR not.  I did not turn to caffeine today.  I may have a mild withdrawal after last weekend but that should not last more than a day or two.

Distance=2.0

3/7- Unplanned rest day.  I need the Auto Immune support.  The only one that works is the Cytokine Suppress.  It should arrive tomorrow evening.  Tried to run but could not even maintain a 12 minute pace.

3/8- The pills arrived today.  Did a 2:01 half lap without and a 1:25 with.  Hardly a miracle but certainly a night and day difference.  In terms of pace, I dropped from a 12:06 to an 8:30 (MINUS 3:36).  Added a junk cool.  I've learned that there is an ingredient in energy drinks called guarana that relieves auto immune symptoms.  That's why it was so hard to quit those suckers permanently.

Distance=0.5

3/9- 2.5 on Lakeshore in 28:18 (11:19 pace).  No surprise.  This was about what I expected.  Come next week, I should do better.  Relatively even pace.  Never tired but could not pick up any speed.

Distance=2.5

3/10- Junk run.  Only 1 mile.  AWFUL

Distance=1.0

3/11- Unplanned rest day.

3/12- 1 mile worth of intervals.  Got down to 60 seconds after loading on Probiotics but collapsed later in the day.  

Distance=1.0

- 7 miles total.  YTD- 101

Before the Cytokine suppressants arrived, I could not tolerate Probiotics or ACV.  ACV is now tolerated and I have an insatiable need for Probiotics and complete intolerance for Taurine, sugars and alcohol.