1/27- Lakeshore 5 in 49:21 (9:52 pace). Good news is that I completed the planned distance. Bad news is that it sure was ugly. I have upped the mileage recently so I might just be adjusting. Slowed badly on the back half. Legs tightened up after 1 Mile.
Distance=5.0
1/28- Woke up feeling much worse. Clearly need a new treatment. I got it with Probiotics and Taurine to control the candida. Only did 3x1/6 miles at Montreat in the hated interval fashion.
Opener- 82.5 (8:15 pace)
Taurine- 70.9- (7:05 pace) MINUS 70
Probiotics- 63.2 (6:19 pace) MINUS 46
More sensitivity? I don't think so. Once my system gets used to it, the gaps will diminish. More to come in a separate post.
Distance=0.5
1/29- Gold's 3 in 23:48 (7:56 pace). Managed to sneak under the Mendoza line but it wasn't pretty. Splits were 15:32-16:16 so I faded again on the back half and really didn't feel strong after the first half mile. This was done after cheating again on purpose. Can't say this is anything to celebrate but it was a LOT better than it would have been without the new pills. Often, I feel okay on the cheat day but it hits me hard about 24-48 hours later. Come Friday, I'll have a good idea how this is going to play out. Let's hope the probiotics stop the withdrawal symptoms. Added a half mile cool.
Distance=3.5
1/30-AM- Intervals at Montreat:
Opener: 66.5 (6:39 pace)
Closer- 56.0 (5:36 pace)
The gap was 1:56 just 36 hours ago. It's down to 1:03 now.
PM- 3.5 on Lakeshore in 31:05 (8:53 pace). Not a good showing but I believe it would have been far worse without the probiotics. Took some more after the run and felt noticeably better. So far, everything is going as planned.
Distance=4.0
1/31- 3x8 laps at Gold's with added probiotics.
Opener- 5:42 (8:33 pace). Fading at the end. Likely would have been on par with yesterday if not slightly worse.
1 Probiotic plus Taurine- 5:18 (7:57 pace). Significant improvement but not a night and day difference. The gaps appear to be diminishing.
5 Probiotics- Even after loading, I improved only to a 5:08 (7:42 pace). Barely enough to cross the threshold of significance and it took 4 additional pills to do it.
Added a Taurine and managed a 3:45 half mile (7:30 pace). Again, slightly better but 1 pill will NOT make a yuge difference. Looking good. It will take time for the probiotics to do the job but I should NOT be sensitive to them.
Distance=3.0
2/1- Tried to run long today and FAILED! 1 mile in 11:37 at Lakeshore and I knew it would be a failure before I started. Guess what? The probiotics are the culprit and caused an adrenal spike. Not a surprise after solving a major problem. Took Thym-Adren and improved to 9:24 in the afternoon.
Distance=2.0
2/2- Intervals.
Opener- 3:49 (11:27 pace)
Trace of Probiotics- 3:17 (9:51 pace)
Full Pill- 4:12 (12:36 pace).
It appears that it will play out similarly to the last battle with the TRS. Tolerance will be very limited early but the sensitivity will soon diminish. I'll head to Utah TOTALLY unprepared.
Distance=1.0
-19 miles on the week.
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Puerto Rico Trip Report
1/17- Caught a 7:30 flight out of Atlanta and landed in San Juan around noon (lost 1 hour en route). No rental car this time. I simply took a taxi to my condo, right on the beach at Isla Verde. I found that there were several sit down and fast food restaurants within walking distance plus a CVS and convenience store, so no car is needed if you plan to stick to Isla Verde.
I got a quick burger at a nearby restaurant then put on my suit and hit the water. The water was a clear emerald green with light brown sand that almost bordered on golden with plenty of tall tropical palm trees. Very nice as expected. This was my first time below the Tropic of Cancer (latitude 18.5 here). Temps were in the low-mid 80s and quite humid away from the coast but the water temps were just about 80 degrees, which is just about perfect. Cool enough to be refreshing but not nearly cold enough to be uncomfortable. There were a few passing rain showers but none lasted for more than a few minutes and often, it was dry just a few hundred yards further down the beach. Days often dawned overcast, so I never got very good sunrise pictures, but it usually turned sunny by the afternoon.
As for the language barrier, Spanish is not necessary in tourist areas. Almost everyone can speak English well. When I did speak Spanish to locals, they could understand me but usually answered in English. However, I have heard that if you travel off the beaten path in Puerto Rico, you will be expected to speak Spanish and comprehension of English may be limited. The island was hit by several recent earthquakes around 6.0 on the Richter scale but there was no apparent damage in the San Juan area. Areas further south may have been a problem.
In terms of wave action, it was interesting. Isla Verde, where I stayed, is separated from Pine Grove by a rocky corner. On each side, the farther away that you got from the rocks, the bigger the waves became. That’s good for everyone. Families with small children could stay near the rocks while more adventurous folks caught the big waves. I experienced 1 knock down, several head shots and plenty of good long rides to the shore.
Unfortunately, on my last day, my inflatable boogie board deflated after just 1 hour. I figure that I must have punctured on a rock of hard sand. Too bad. I still managed to have fun that day though.
This was the weekend of the San Sebastian Festival in Old San Juan. I had planned to take a bus to check it out briefly but after waiting for about an hour at a stop no bus came by. Oh well, it was probably better. This festival is rumored to be on par with Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It would have been a total zoo scene with little chance of meeting a friend. I ended up stopping for beers at a Mexican restaurant where I enjoyed a conversation with a younger guy from NYC who also shares my passion for travel.
Final thought:
All in all, it was a good trip but given the short amount of time, I would have opted for Cancun or the Dominican Republic if I had it to do again. Puerto Rico has so much more to offer and you just can’t do it justice in a long weekend. Word is that Rincon in the west has epic surf conditions and there is a really nice rainforest (El Yunque) with mountain hiking trails plus the obvious tourist spots in San Juan. I’ll be back.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Training 1/20-1/26
Best news is that the TRS sensitivity has greatly diminished. In fact, I'm close to declaring it gone. The only thing that is bothering me now is forbidden drinks and I am betting that candida is the culprit. I recently read that candida "hides behind toxic metals to ensure its survival." Now that the toxic metals are out, the candida die off could be rough.
1/20- 1 mile sunrise run on the beach in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. Time was slow at 8:28 but I didn't care. Sand was soft in some spots so it's not the best beach for a run. Daytona wins that category.
Distance=1.0
1/21- I drank a Rum and Coke at the end of a long day yesterday (flight delay) and paid the price. 2 miles at Gold's in 19:56 (9:58 pace) with splits of 10:04-9:52. I actually feared even worse than this.
Distance=2.0
1/22- 3 miles at Gold's in 28:46 (9:35 pace). Improvement. The 2nd day off sugar is often the worst and today was significantly better. MINUS 23 and 50% longer distance. I'll take it. I'm doing all of this without pills or TRS. I expect to be significantly better tomorrow.
Distance=3.0
1/23- 3 miles at Gold's again (rainy day) but my time is down to 25:45 (8:35 pace). MINUS 60. A significant improvement as expected. If you look closer, the news is even better. I ran the opening mile in 8:34, took 3 sprays of TRS and hit 2 miles at 17:10 for an 8:36 split. Finally, I took the methylation pills and incredibly clocked an 8:35 split.
So, after 3 days off ALL pills, I go back on them and it's THE DEFINITION OF A NON-FACTOR! Just like I wanted! Effort was very even too. With the exception of mild pick up in the last 100 yards, I made no extra push to hit the splits nor did I hold back. In theory, the sensitivity is GONE and all I have to do is avoid sugared drinks and I should be in the clear. Again, this is IN THEORY! I would like to add that avoiding sugar is easier said than done. Because of the candida infection, I will crave it and 1 small slip up could lead to a full relapse. Maybe I can finish a long or longish run this weekend.
Distance=3.0
1/24- 2 miles in 15:43 (7:51 pace). Not a disaster but I was hoping for a little better than this. Hoped to get close to 15. Found that an 8 minute pace was difficult to hold with the exception of a fast start and fast finish. Still an improvement over yesterday and likely near the Mendoza for 3 miles.
Distance=2.0
1/25- 8 miles in 75:52 (9:29 pace). Good news is that I completed the planned distance for my longest run since October. Bad news is that I just wasn't feeling it at all out there. Early pace was around 9:15 but slowed considerably on the back half. I figure that in a 13.1 mile race, I would have had to Gallo-walk and probably finish around 2:10ish. 3 weeks out from race day. I've got a long way to go. Got back home and felt considerably better after taking an ADHS pill. That's okay. I've REALLY not been diligent about taking that stuff lately. I can most definitely get by off it for a few days and even several days off will not be a disaster.
Distance=8.0
1/26- Canterbury loop. 3.5 miles in 29:20 (8:23 pace). Hilly route and despite the slowish pace, I still felt considerably better than yesterday. I credit the ADHS. No real complaints. Held the pace well on the climbs but didn't gain much on the downhills. Added a half mile cool on Jemison.
Distance=4.0
-23 miles on the week.
1/20- 1 mile sunrise run on the beach in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. Time was slow at 8:28 but I didn't care. Sand was soft in some spots so it's not the best beach for a run. Daytona wins that category.
Distance=1.0
1/21- I drank a Rum and Coke at the end of a long day yesterday (flight delay) and paid the price. 2 miles at Gold's in 19:56 (9:58 pace) with splits of 10:04-9:52. I actually feared even worse than this.
Distance=2.0
1/22- 3 miles at Gold's in 28:46 (9:35 pace). Improvement. The 2nd day off sugar is often the worst and today was significantly better. MINUS 23 and 50% longer distance. I'll take it. I'm doing all of this without pills or TRS. I expect to be significantly better tomorrow.
Distance=3.0
1/23- 3 miles at Gold's again (rainy day) but my time is down to 25:45 (8:35 pace). MINUS 60. A significant improvement as expected. If you look closer, the news is even better. I ran the opening mile in 8:34, took 3 sprays of TRS and hit 2 miles at 17:10 for an 8:36 split. Finally, I took the methylation pills and incredibly clocked an 8:35 split.
So, after 3 days off ALL pills, I go back on them and it's THE DEFINITION OF A NON-FACTOR! Just like I wanted! Effort was very even too. With the exception of mild pick up in the last 100 yards, I made no extra push to hit the splits nor did I hold back. In theory, the sensitivity is GONE and all I have to do is avoid sugared drinks and I should be in the clear. Again, this is IN THEORY! I would like to add that avoiding sugar is easier said than done. Because of the candida infection, I will crave it and 1 small slip up could lead to a full relapse. Maybe I can finish a long or longish run this weekend.
Distance=3.0
1/24- 2 miles in 15:43 (7:51 pace). Not a disaster but I was hoping for a little better than this. Hoped to get close to 15. Found that an 8 minute pace was difficult to hold with the exception of a fast start and fast finish. Still an improvement over yesterday and likely near the Mendoza for 3 miles.
Distance=2.0
1/25- 8 miles in 75:52 (9:29 pace). Good news is that I completed the planned distance for my longest run since October. Bad news is that I just wasn't feeling it at all out there. Early pace was around 9:15 but slowed considerably on the back half. I figure that in a 13.1 mile race, I would have had to Gallo-walk and probably finish around 2:10ish. 3 weeks out from race day. I've got a long way to go. Got back home and felt considerably better after taking an ADHS pill. That's okay. I've REALLY not been diligent about taking that stuff lately. I can most definitely get by off it for a few days and even several days off will not be a disaster.
Distance=8.0
1/26- Canterbury loop. 3.5 miles in 29:20 (8:23 pace). Hilly route and despite the slowish pace, I still felt considerably better than yesterday. I credit the ADHS. No real complaints. Held the pace well on the climbs but didn't gain much on the downhills. Added a half mile cool on Jemison.
Distance=4.0
-23 miles on the week.
Monday, January 6, 2020
Hopefully the Final TRS Update
On January 1 of this year, I successfully tried 3 sprays after having not taken it the previous 2-3 days. I was slightly faster on 3 sprays but it was not enough to be considered significant then was not horrible in an afternoon 4 miler. I took 2 sprays that night then repeated the 3 sprays the next morning. The results were NOT good.
I started off pretty well but faded after just a half mile. I came through the Mile marker in 8:15 but was doing close to 9:00 pace by the end of the mile. I strongly suspected that too much TRS was the culprit and 2 more sprays confirmed it. I slipped all the way to 11:00 pace after the next 2 sprays. OUCH! Next, in not a big surprise, I went back to caffeine and though it helped get through the day, I faced withdrawal symptoms as usual.
Yesterday, I did something interesting. I took just 1 spray and felt considerably BETTER! However, a 2nd spray not surprisingly made things worse again. It was not a night and day difference but I could still feel it.
Today:
Intervals at Montreat:
Opener in 2:27 (7:21 pace)- a little better than I expected. Probably because I had taken it the previous day.
1 spray- 2:01 (6:03 pace). MINUS 78. Fastest time for this loop.
2 sprays- 2:17 (6:51 pace). PLUS 48.
Just like yesterday, I was much better after 1 spray but a 2nd spray made it noticeably worse but not a night and day difference. A 3rd spray was not attempted but I figure, I would have been slightly worse than the opener. Probably in the low 2:30s.
Reaction:
On the first of the year, 3 sprays felt about the same as zero. Today, 3 sprays ALSO would have felt about the same as zero. So, essentially nothing has changed but I do have more clarity. Maybe, I'd be slightly worse but that was because I did not have any missed doses. Figure, the break even point where my performance is the same as the opener is 2.5 sprays. It is quite UPSETTING that a single spray makes this much difference and I MUST take EXACTLY 1 spray to feel anything close to normal. Still, as long as the dose is stable, this is an acceptable outcome.
Goals for the Future:
I'm not concerned about my top-end speed. That will come with steady training. What I want to see is improvements in my opener, less of a gap in performance between zero and 1 spray and less negative reactions to extra doses. If need for more TRS arises, it must be gradual. Absolutely no wild swings in dosage!
Let's say that my top end speed never gets under 2:00. That's okay with me but I do expect to get faster. What would be great is if I can get under 2:10 in my opener AND stay under 2:10 on 5 sprays. A better way to put it is stay within a range of 10 seconds (30/mile) regardless of whether I take 0 sprays or 5 sprays.
Postscript:
Did a 3 mile this evening at 8:30 pace. Not horrible by today's standards but didn't feel very good doing it. It became clear a couple hours later that another spray was needed. AGAIN, just ONE!
I'm going with 1 spray in the morning and 1 in the afternoon and sticking with it. Soon, there will be another dreaded interval workout.
Update next day:
Fresh legs in the evening after taking 1 spray in the morning.
Opened with an IDENTICAL 2:27, which made it clear that the morning dose will not be enough. Because of darkness and pine cones (sprained ankle last year), I opted for a half lap to assess the tolerance while keeping the legs fresh. A full lap all out would have tired me out a bit. On 1 spray, I clocked a 57.0 (5:42 pace). Figure, I would have matched yesterday's 2:01 over a full lap give or take 1-2 ticks.
Then, it was a moment of truth. On the second spray, I felt only a SLIGHT difference and the watch confirmed it. I managed a 60.5 (6:03 pace). PLUS 21. Yes, this is enough to be considered significant but just barely. That's a WHOLE LOT BETTER than the PLUS 48 yesterday. There will be more to come tomorrow.
I started off pretty well but faded after just a half mile. I came through the Mile marker in 8:15 but was doing close to 9:00 pace by the end of the mile. I strongly suspected that too much TRS was the culprit and 2 more sprays confirmed it. I slipped all the way to 11:00 pace after the next 2 sprays. OUCH! Next, in not a big surprise, I went back to caffeine and though it helped get through the day, I faced withdrawal symptoms as usual.
Yesterday, I did something interesting. I took just 1 spray and felt considerably BETTER! However, a 2nd spray not surprisingly made things worse again. It was not a night and day difference but I could still feel it.
Today:
Intervals at Montreat:
Opener in 2:27 (7:21 pace)- a little better than I expected. Probably because I had taken it the previous day.
1 spray- 2:01 (6:03 pace). MINUS 78. Fastest time for this loop.
2 sprays- 2:17 (6:51 pace). PLUS 48.
Just like yesterday, I was much better after 1 spray but a 2nd spray made it noticeably worse but not a night and day difference. A 3rd spray was not attempted but I figure, I would have been slightly worse than the opener. Probably in the low 2:30s.
Reaction:
On the first of the year, 3 sprays felt about the same as zero. Today, 3 sprays ALSO would have felt about the same as zero. So, essentially nothing has changed but I do have more clarity. Maybe, I'd be slightly worse but that was because I did not have any missed doses. Figure, the break even point where my performance is the same as the opener is 2.5 sprays. It is quite UPSETTING that a single spray makes this much difference and I MUST take EXACTLY 1 spray to feel anything close to normal. Still, as long as the dose is stable, this is an acceptable outcome.
Goals for the Future:
I'm not concerned about my top-end speed. That will come with steady training. What I want to see is improvements in my opener, less of a gap in performance between zero and 1 spray and less negative reactions to extra doses. If need for more TRS arises, it must be gradual. Absolutely no wild swings in dosage!
Let's say that my top end speed never gets under 2:00. That's okay with me but I do expect to get faster. What would be great is if I can get under 2:10 in my opener AND stay under 2:10 on 5 sprays. A better way to put it is stay within a range of 10 seconds (30/mile) regardless of whether I take 0 sprays or 5 sprays.
Postscript:
Did a 3 mile this evening at 8:30 pace. Not horrible by today's standards but didn't feel very good doing it. It became clear a couple hours later that another spray was needed. AGAIN, just ONE!
I'm going with 1 spray in the morning and 1 in the afternoon and sticking with it. Soon, there will be another dreaded interval workout.
Update next day:
Fresh legs in the evening after taking 1 spray in the morning.
Opened with an IDENTICAL 2:27, which made it clear that the morning dose will not be enough. Because of darkness and pine cones (sprained ankle last year), I opted for a half lap to assess the tolerance while keeping the legs fresh. A full lap all out would have tired me out a bit. On 1 spray, I clocked a 57.0 (5:42 pace). Figure, I would have matched yesterday's 2:01 over a full lap give or take 1-2 ticks.
Then, it was a moment of truth. On the second spray, I felt only a SLIGHT difference and the watch confirmed it. I managed a 60.5 (6:03 pace). PLUS 21. Yes, this is enough to be considered significant but just barely. That's a WHOLE LOT BETTER than the PLUS 48 yesterday. There will be more to come tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
More TRS News
In short, there is still reason for optimism but it's still too early to declare myself in the clear.
After Christmas, I foolishly decided to test my tolerance for forbidden drinks. Day 1 was okay. I was noticeably weakened on Day 2 then Day 3 was flat out AWFUL!
On the evening of Day 3, I took 3 sprays of TRS and improved my pace from the 10:00 range to the low 7s over 1 lap at Montreat. That's right, 1 minute per mile improvement PER SPRAY! That is NUTS! The next morning (Day 4), I woke up with an insatiable need for TRS. 3 sprays provided only temporary relief and even that wasn't much. On Day 5, it was the opposite of Day 4. A single spray of TRS made things MUCH WORSE! Again, this is NUTS!
After this clearly failed experiment, I went back to abstinence and faced brutal withdrawal symptoms. Today (New Years Day) was the first day since 12/26 that I felt less horrible. After a very slow warm up lap, I clocked a 2:40 at Montreat (8:00 pace). Then, the moment of truth came. How would I react to TRS after being free of sugared drinks for 3 days? Once again, I took 3 sprays but this time, the results were NOT so dramatic. I improved only to a 2:37 (7:51 pace). MINUS 9.
This is EXACTLY what I had hoped to see. I was slightly better with the TRS but it was not enough to be considered significant. Hell, if I didn't wear a watch, I would not have judged the TRS lap as any better than the non-TRS lap. I followed this up with a noontime 4 miler on Lakeshore. I finished this one in 34:50 (8:43 pace). Not good by any stretch but I held the pace well and had a bit of juice left at the end.
Reaction:
Could it be true? If I simply abstain from sugared drinks, the sensitivity to TRS will be gone! I'm sure that if I skipped the TRS for week, I'd run into trouble. Also, a single mega dose will be tolerated but several days of 5+ sprays will also be a problem. As for the drinks, an occasional treat will be tolerated but I know my limits. I still don't understand why I can eat a whole bag of candy without a problem but the drinks trigger the reactions. Sensitivity to the other stuff faded last year after a BRUTAL fight. If the TRS reactions remain similar to today, this means VICTORY! All I have to do from here is train myself to handle longer distances consistently. If I am stable, there is no reason to believe that I can't do it. It's a bit of a surreal feeling after so many years but once again, it is TOO EARLY TO DECLARE VICTORY! If I am still stable at the end of January, then I might have something.
After Christmas, I foolishly decided to test my tolerance for forbidden drinks. Day 1 was okay. I was noticeably weakened on Day 2 then Day 3 was flat out AWFUL!
On the evening of Day 3, I took 3 sprays of TRS and improved my pace from the 10:00 range to the low 7s over 1 lap at Montreat. That's right, 1 minute per mile improvement PER SPRAY! That is NUTS! The next morning (Day 4), I woke up with an insatiable need for TRS. 3 sprays provided only temporary relief and even that wasn't much. On Day 5, it was the opposite of Day 4. A single spray of TRS made things MUCH WORSE! Again, this is NUTS!
After this clearly failed experiment, I went back to abstinence and faced brutal withdrawal symptoms. Today (New Years Day) was the first day since 12/26 that I felt less horrible. After a very slow warm up lap, I clocked a 2:40 at Montreat (8:00 pace). Then, the moment of truth came. How would I react to TRS after being free of sugared drinks for 3 days? Once again, I took 3 sprays but this time, the results were NOT so dramatic. I improved only to a 2:37 (7:51 pace). MINUS 9.
This is EXACTLY what I had hoped to see. I was slightly better with the TRS but it was not enough to be considered significant. Hell, if I didn't wear a watch, I would not have judged the TRS lap as any better than the non-TRS lap. I followed this up with a noontime 4 miler on Lakeshore. I finished this one in 34:50 (8:43 pace). Not good by any stretch but I held the pace well and had a bit of juice left at the end.
Reaction:
Could it be true? If I simply abstain from sugared drinks, the sensitivity to TRS will be gone! I'm sure that if I skipped the TRS for week, I'd run into trouble. Also, a single mega dose will be tolerated but several days of 5+ sprays will also be a problem. As for the drinks, an occasional treat will be tolerated but I know my limits. I still don't understand why I can eat a whole bag of candy without a problem but the drinks trigger the reactions. Sensitivity to the other stuff faded last year after a BRUTAL fight. If the TRS reactions remain similar to today, this means VICTORY! All I have to do from here is train myself to handle longer distances consistently. If I am stable, there is no reason to believe that I can't do it. It's a bit of a surreal feeling after so many years but once again, it is TOO EARLY TO DECLARE VICTORY! If I am still stable at the end of January, then I might have something.
Friday, December 27, 2019
Rant or Rave: All Inclusive Resorts
I’ve never stayed at one myself but two winter destinations
on my bucket list (Cancun and Dominican Republic) offer many such resorts. In the Caribbean, it seems that there are
more all-inclusive resorts than standard hotels. I’ve done some research on this subject, so I
feel somewhat qualified to give advice to my fellow travelers. Is it worth it? That depends on what you are looking
for.
Advantages:
Convenience is by far the biggest plus here. Often, you can simply take a shuttle directly
from the airport to your resort. No need
to rent a car or even take Uber. You will be transported to a luxurious gated
community and can do pretty much whatever you want as well as eat and drink
free of charge once you get the coveted wristband upon check-in. Typically, the resort has multiple
restaurants and bars as well as free room service. In other words, you won’t even need to leave
the grounds of the resort. Just leave
your wallet in the hotel safe and use the credit card for small souvenir purchases. Safety is another important factor. If you are visiting a third world country
with a high crime rate, you may not feel it is safe for you and your family to
go outside the resort. Inside, you can
bet that it will be well patrolled, and you won’t get very far without a wrist
band. I certainly would not allow a
teenager to roam the streets of a foreign country unsupervised even if he or
she is with a friend. Remember Natalee
Holloway.
Disadvantages:
To me, the biggest disadvantage is the lack of authenticity. I can imagine a couple returning from a
Jamaican all-inclusive resort and commenting about how much they loved the
country. Nope. You just loved your resort. Most hotel guests are either American or
European so outside of the resort staff, you will have little to no
opportunities to interact with locals and take in the culture. If the same resort had a location in the
Dominican Republic, you could have had pretty much the exact same experience
there. I’m sure that many resorts offer
excursions to nearby attractions, which is good, but it also locks you into a
specific schedule. If the buses don’t
run several times per day, it could be big trouble if you miss the ride
back.
Hidden Fees:
Often the quoted price is a very reasonable $200-250 per
night. That said, you get what you pay
for. There could be an additional charge
for multiple guests in a room as well.
Unless it is a 5-star resort, you can bet that food will be mediocre and
it may not even be fresh either. Drinks
will be small and watered down too.
Extras such as souvenirs, sun tan lotion and even wiFi probably will NOT
be included while excursions to nearby hiking trails will certainly be
extra. Some resorts are family friendly
while others are adults only and catered toward honeymooners and other young
couples. I doubt that very many will be
catered to singles.
Me:
I would personally opt for the standard hotel even if I must
walk a few minutes to the beach. I
prefer the authenticity of the local culture.
If a country has a Level 3 or 4 Travel Advisory, I am not going even if
it’s just to a resort. I don’t care how
beautiful it is. In a resort tailored to
couples, sitting alone at a restaurant table would be quite depressing. I really don’t care about the fancy spas or
getting pampered with a massage. Just
give me a basic room that is clean with a comfortable bed, TV, fridge and
microwave and that’s all I need. I’m primarily
there for the beach but I do want a strip of authentic restaurants and fun bars
within walking distance. If I am with a
girlfriend, yes, I would be willing to compromise and stay in an all-inclusive
resort. I would want it to be within
walking distance of local attractions and would like to eat one meal outside
the resort per day. For example, if I’m in Cancun, Mexico, I want a serving of real
Mexican food, not a pizza or chicken buffet.
Fair enough?
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Reason for Optimism?
Seven days ago, I quit taking TRS after my system began to completely reject it. The first 3 days went according to form. I showed the usual incremental improvements from day to day.
Day 1- 2@9:50. Would have been over 30 minutes for 3 miles.
Day 2- 3@8:19- All out effort to get under 25.
Day 3- 6.5@8:30- This one was encouraging. My pace was not significantly slower over more than double the distance. I dialed back the effort as well to ensure a comfortable finish. After all, this was my longest run in 10 weeks since the race in New Hampshire. I had more in the tank and managed a 7:50 pace over the last half mile. I'm sure that I would have faded in the last 5K but this pace would bring me home in 1:51 for a half mary.
I took off the next 4 days over the Christmas holiday but I kinda wish that I had done 1 junk run to keep the legs moving. At any rate, I did not notice any demand for the TRS even after a full week off the stuff. Also, I came off caffeine and did NOT NOTICE any real withdrawal symptoms or adrenal spike. Excellent news there.
The moment of truth would come on the afternoon of Christmas Day after 7 days off the TRS. I REALLY did not want to see a strong negative reaction to it. There's no reason why a single spray should trigger such a reaction. Add to that, without the TRS, the sensitivity to the other pills will most probably kick in with a vengeance after several weeks off it. Though I did not run, I felt no difference after the first spray. Emboldened, I tried 2 more. Once again, NO NEGATIVE REACTION. If anything, I may have felt slightly better.
Going forward:
I'm going back off the TRS until the end of the week. At least one day will be completely free of pills. I don't expect to set the world on fire in my workouts. I just want to avoid a relapse. Early next week, I will try going back to the TRS with the dreaded better with or without test. What I hope to see is slightly better WITH the TRS but not enough to be considered significant.
The best sign that a health plan is working well is when you do NOT notice any real differences from day to day but over the course of several weeks, improvement becomes evident. Think of it like an hour hand on a clock. You can't even tell that it's moving unless you look closely for several minutes but if you come back to the room 6 hours later, its position completely reverses.
I've been burned too many times by false hopes so this is just the first step. I won't get my hopes up unless I can make it through January without a major relapse. Next race is Utah on President's Day weekend for state #45.
Day 1- 2@9:50. Would have been over 30 minutes for 3 miles.
Day 2- 3@8:19- All out effort to get under 25.
Day 3- 6.5@8:30- This one was encouraging. My pace was not significantly slower over more than double the distance. I dialed back the effort as well to ensure a comfortable finish. After all, this was my longest run in 10 weeks since the race in New Hampshire. I had more in the tank and managed a 7:50 pace over the last half mile. I'm sure that I would have faded in the last 5K but this pace would bring me home in 1:51 for a half mary.
I took off the next 4 days over the Christmas holiday but I kinda wish that I had done 1 junk run to keep the legs moving. At any rate, I did not notice any demand for the TRS even after a full week off the stuff. Also, I came off caffeine and did NOT NOTICE any real withdrawal symptoms or adrenal spike. Excellent news there.
The moment of truth would come on the afternoon of Christmas Day after 7 days off the TRS. I REALLY did not want to see a strong negative reaction to it. There's no reason why a single spray should trigger such a reaction. Add to that, without the TRS, the sensitivity to the other pills will most probably kick in with a vengeance after several weeks off it. Though I did not run, I felt no difference after the first spray. Emboldened, I tried 2 more. Once again, NO NEGATIVE REACTION. If anything, I may have felt slightly better.
Going forward:
I'm going back off the TRS until the end of the week. At least one day will be completely free of pills. I don't expect to set the world on fire in my workouts. I just want to avoid a relapse. Early next week, I will try going back to the TRS with the dreaded better with or without test. What I hope to see is slightly better WITH the TRS but not enough to be considered significant.
The best sign that a health plan is working well is when you do NOT notice any real differences from day to day but over the course of several weeks, improvement becomes evident. Think of it like an hour hand on a clock. You can't even tell that it's moving unless you look closely for several minutes but if you come back to the room 6 hours later, its position completely reverses.
I've been burned too many times by false hopes so this is just the first step. I won't get my hopes up unless I can make it through January without a major relapse. Next race is Utah on President's Day weekend for state #45.
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Body is Rejecting TRS
How about this episode? I took 3 sprays of TRS on Monday evening and it KNOCKED ME OUT! I had to go to bed at 7 PM and did not/could not get up until 7 AM when it was nearly time to get ready for work. Needless to say, running was out of the question. A single spray that evening triggered another noticeable negative reaction but it was less severe.
The next day was better. Free of TRS, I opened with a 10:21 Mile at Montreat in the morning but improved to a 26:42 (8:54 pace) for 3 miles at Gold's. I tried another 1 spray. Again, I said ONE spray a full 24 hours after my last dose. It knocked me out again and the ill-effects were nearly as severe. I tried to run the next day and slipped to a 19:40 for 2 miles (9:50 pace). If I had gone 3, my time would have been over 30 minutes. So, I slipped by more than 60 seconds per mile BECAUSE OF ONE EFFING SPRAY!!! I don't think caffeine is a factor. In fact, it actually HELPED me get through the day. This is nothing new for me. I've dealt with similar reactions to pills for many years. Right now, TRS is the only treatment that triggers such reactions. The rest are non-factors. I won't feel much difference if I miss a dose or if I take extra.
Needless to say, I will not be taking any TRS until further notice. What will happen? I do have reason for hope. Only a few months ago, I had similar reactions to Glycine and DIM. Now, both are non-factors. Perhaps, the same will happen with TRS. I've said this over and over again and it never came to fruition but I do think there is a good chance that I will get a permanent resolution one way or the other within the next month.
I see 3 possibilities:
1. My body will once again demand TRS after a few more days and I will continue to have all these episodes until further notice. This could break my will forever. Sadly, this is a real possibility. Word on the street is that I am peeling off layers of toxins and the stuff that is being eliminated now is even worse than the previous layer. I'll need mega doses again and have to make constant adjustments. OUCH! I cannot take this anymore!
2. Permanent intolerance to TRS. This one seems unlikely. It is NOT an acceptable outcome even if I can get by okay without it. There is NO reason why 1 spray of TRS should trigger a reaction, especially not after it was actually effective and necessary just a few days ago. That is NUTS! I believe that there are still toxins in my system. If TRS is not tolerated, nothing will work. It is the ULTIMATE IN CRUELTY for me to discover the key to solving the sensitivity yet end up intolerant to the solution. The sensitivity to the other stuff will probably come back before too long and I'll be right back where I started from. YUCK!
3. Now, the happy ending. After a few days-few weeks of intolerance, the TRS will once again be okay for me. The difference will be that a few days off it will not be noticeable and if I go over the recommended dose for a couple days, that will also be okay. TRS is the only treatment that I currently take that triggers a reaction. If the TRS does not trigger the reaction, my condition is under control! I'll be able to train regularly and get back to respectable times within a few months. I can date and have a social life as well. Still, I must say that I may never be the same again. Losing so much of the prime of my life is NOT something that I can overlook and say it was okay.
PLEASE LET ME GET A RESOLUTION! If I get a grim diagnosis, that would be easier to deal with that all the BS false hopes.
The next day was better. Free of TRS, I opened with a 10:21 Mile at Montreat in the morning but improved to a 26:42 (8:54 pace) for 3 miles at Gold's. I tried another 1 spray. Again, I said ONE spray a full 24 hours after my last dose. It knocked me out again and the ill-effects were nearly as severe. I tried to run the next day and slipped to a 19:40 for 2 miles (9:50 pace). If I had gone 3, my time would have been over 30 minutes. So, I slipped by more than 60 seconds per mile BECAUSE OF ONE EFFING SPRAY!!! I don't think caffeine is a factor. In fact, it actually HELPED me get through the day. This is nothing new for me. I've dealt with similar reactions to pills for many years. Right now, TRS is the only treatment that triggers such reactions. The rest are non-factors. I won't feel much difference if I miss a dose or if I take extra.
Needless to say, I will not be taking any TRS until further notice. What will happen? I do have reason for hope. Only a few months ago, I had similar reactions to Glycine and DIM. Now, both are non-factors. Perhaps, the same will happen with TRS. I've said this over and over again and it never came to fruition but I do think there is a good chance that I will get a permanent resolution one way or the other within the next month.
I see 3 possibilities:
1. My body will once again demand TRS after a few more days and I will continue to have all these episodes until further notice. This could break my will forever. Sadly, this is a real possibility. Word on the street is that I am peeling off layers of toxins and the stuff that is being eliminated now is even worse than the previous layer. I'll need mega doses again and have to make constant adjustments. OUCH! I cannot take this anymore!
2. Permanent intolerance to TRS. This one seems unlikely. It is NOT an acceptable outcome even if I can get by okay without it. There is NO reason why 1 spray of TRS should trigger a reaction, especially not after it was actually effective and necessary just a few days ago. That is NUTS! I believe that there are still toxins in my system. If TRS is not tolerated, nothing will work. It is the ULTIMATE IN CRUELTY for me to discover the key to solving the sensitivity yet end up intolerant to the solution. The sensitivity to the other stuff will probably come back before too long and I'll be right back where I started from. YUCK!
3. Now, the happy ending. After a few days-few weeks of intolerance, the TRS will once again be okay for me. The difference will be that a few days off it will not be noticeable and if I go over the recommended dose for a couple days, that will also be okay. TRS is the only treatment that I currently take that triggers a reaction. If the TRS does not trigger the reaction, my condition is under control! I'll be able to train regularly and get back to respectable times within a few months. I can date and have a social life as well. Still, I must say that I may never be the same again. Losing so much of the prime of my life is NOT something that I can overlook and say it was okay.
PLEASE LET ME GET A RESOLUTION! If I get a grim diagnosis, that would be easier to deal with that all the BS false hopes.
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Verdict on Forbidden Drinks With TRS
After the post-Thanksgiving relapse, I got back on track last week with a determined effort to keep the diet clean and simply give my system a rest from the detox every 7-10 days. No TRS and no other pills either. I wasn't horrible after the missed morning dose but by the end of the day, I was hurting and demanding at least a few sprays. By the next morning, I had an insatiable need. 5 sprays helped, 10 sprays were better but I was still nowhere near where I needed to be.
Over the next few days, I got the usual incremental improvement from the high doses (10 sprays AM, 5 sprays PM) and made it 5 days drinking nothing but water. On the 5th day however, things began to unravel. I managed a 24:56 for 3 miles (8:19 pace) at lunch, which was a modest improvement over the previous day but a bit slower than I expected to be at that stage. Something felt off too. My mood remained low and I was fading down the stretch in my workouts. It looked like I could go sub-24 early but had to fight to hold the sub-25. Normally, I run negative splits when I am improving. Still, I began feeling somewhat better over the next few hours but got decidedly WORSE after my evening dose of TRS. Again, this was only 5 days after my previous missed dose so it should be too early to have another reaction, right? To play it safe, I would go with just 5 sprays going forward.
WRONG! I had hoped to run maybe 6-8 miles at whatever pace today with the group but did not even attempt it. It was IMMEDIATELY apparent that the TRS had caused another relapse. Looking at yet another weekend in the dumps, it was not surprising that I cheated. What happened next was very interesting or you could say NUTS! After the first can of Red Bull, I actually began feeling better and was once again able to tolerate at least a few sprays of the TRS. I wondered what would happen if I drank a 2nd can. Not surprisingly, it made things WORSE again and I became INTOLERANT to the TRS. Does this mean that low doses of caffeine are actually necessary to tolerate TRS but I must keep it to a narrow range such of 1 can every 3-5 days? I sure hope not! Here's my new plan going forward and what I expect/hope to see happen:
I will TRY to remain abstinent but I know for sure now that one or two cheat days per week won't hurt me AS LONG AS I DON'T BINGE! Going forward however, my need/tolerance for TRS will DECREASE with every day that I am abstinent. I may still need a missed dose every so often. It will be NO more than 5 sprays per dose in both the morning and the afternoon no matter how much I need it after the missed dose. When I need a missed dose, I must NOT cheat! The need for the TRS will kick back in soon enough even without the caffeine. When it does, the dose will be lowered by 1 spray. Instead of 5 in the morning and evening, it will go down to 4. I can guard against a relapse on race day by taking a missed dose 2-3 days before the big day.
My ultimate goal is to get to a point in which I can go 3 days without the TRS and still feel okay. At least below the Mendoza line. Then, the effects of a single dose or 2 become negligible just like all my other pills. This year has royally SUCKED but one MAJOR positive development is the decreased sensitivity to the other pills. I can skip all my treatments except the TRS for several days and barely even notice. That would have been unthinkable just 2 years ago. Can it be possible for this scenario to occur?
-I take 2-3 sprays of TRS for preventative maintenance but a single dose has little noticeable effect.
-Same is true for Magnesium, Methyl Folate, B-complex, B-12/Liver, ADHS and CBS/NOS.
The latter case has already happened. I could be just 1 step away.
I've said it too many times and still stand firm. My demands are hardly unreasonable. Here's all I want:
-Stable cocktail of pills (it will never be zero because of genetics)
-Decent-adequate energy every day
-Steady group to run with on the weekends. I don't care if it's the 7:00 pace group or a 10:00 pace group. I just want the camaraderie back. Yes, I know that someday I will be too old to run but let's hope that doesn't happen until at least my 60's, not before I turn 40.
What I just described would be considered to be "under control of my health." In such a scenario, yes I can date and have a social life.
Over the next few days, I got the usual incremental improvement from the high doses (10 sprays AM, 5 sprays PM) and made it 5 days drinking nothing but water. On the 5th day however, things began to unravel. I managed a 24:56 for 3 miles (8:19 pace) at lunch, which was a modest improvement over the previous day but a bit slower than I expected to be at that stage. Something felt off too. My mood remained low and I was fading down the stretch in my workouts. It looked like I could go sub-24 early but had to fight to hold the sub-25. Normally, I run negative splits when I am improving. Still, I began feeling somewhat better over the next few hours but got decidedly WORSE after my evening dose of TRS. Again, this was only 5 days after my previous missed dose so it should be too early to have another reaction, right? To play it safe, I would go with just 5 sprays going forward.
WRONG! I had hoped to run maybe 6-8 miles at whatever pace today with the group but did not even attempt it. It was IMMEDIATELY apparent that the TRS had caused another relapse. Looking at yet another weekend in the dumps, it was not surprising that I cheated. What happened next was very interesting or you could say NUTS! After the first can of Red Bull, I actually began feeling better and was once again able to tolerate at least a few sprays of the TRS. I wondered what would happen if I drank a 2nd can. Not surprisingly, it made things WORSE again and I became INTOLERANT to the TRS. Does this mean that low doses of caffeine are actually necessary to tolerate TRS but I must keep it to a narrow range such of 1 can every 3-5 days? I sure hope not! Here's my new plan going forward and what I expect/hope to see happen:
I will TRY to remain abstinent but I know for sure now that one or two cheat days per week won't hurt me AS LONG AS I DON'T BINGE! Going forward however, my need/tolerance for TRS will DECREASE with every day that I am abstinent. I may still need a missed dose every so often. It will be NO more than 5 sprays per dose in both the morning and the afternoon no matter how much I need it after the missed dose. When I need a missed dose, I must NOT cheat! The need for the TRS will kick back in soon enough even without the caffeine. When it does, the dose will be lowered by 1 spray. Instead of 5 in the morning and evening, it will go down to 4. I can guard against a relapse on race day by taking a missed dose 2-3 days before the big day.
My ultimate goal is to get to a point in which I can go 3 days without the TRS and still feel okay. At least below the Mendoza line. Then, the effects of a single dose or 2 become negligible just like all my other pills. This year has royally SUCKED but one MAJOR positive development is the decreased sensitivity to the other pills. I can skip all my treatments except the TRS for several days and barely even notice. That would have been unthinkable just 2 years ago. Can it be possible for this scenario to occur?
-I take 2-3 sprays of TRS for preventative maintenance but a single dose has little noticeable effect.
-Same is true for Magnesium, Methyl Folate, B-complex, B-12/Liver, ADHS and CBS/NOS.
The latter case has already happened. I could be just 1 step away.
I've said it too many times and still stand firm. My demands are hardly unreasonable. Here's all I want:
-Stable cocktail of pills (it will never be zero because of genetics)
-Decent-adequate energy every day
-Steady group to run with on the weekends. I don't care if it's the 7:00 pace group or a 10:00 pace group. I just want the camaraderie back. Yes, I know that someday I will be too old to run but let's hope that doesn't happen until at least my 60's, not before I turn 40.
What I just described would be considered to be "under control of my health." In such a scenario, yes I can date and have a social life.
Monday, December 9, 2019
Going to Puerto Rico
This was pretty much on an impulse. I'm NOT racing in Utah next month. As it stands now, I have virtually no chance of a respectable showing. I've learned that the sugar/caffeine/alcohol is indeed A problem but not the only problem. I need to abstain from those 3 AND skip 1-2 doses of TRS every 7-10 days. In theory, that should stop the relapses but I have little faith that it actually will.
As it is, the plan for Utah is to fly into Salt Lake but race in St. George (SW corner) only 2 hours from Las Vegas and make a loop back to Salt Lake while catching small samples of National Parks. The weather in St. George should be okay but Salt Lake could very well be cold and/or snowy. If I wait until February, the average high temps are 5 degrees warmer (45 vs 40 in SLC). Yes, there is still a risk of snow but it's less of a chance. Add to that, the course that I would run in February is about 500 ft net downhill and there will be more daylight to view the amazing scenery. It's a no-brainer to wait until February. If the weather in Salt Lake is bad, it will cost a lot of money but I can switch my plans and fly into Vegas instead. I DO want to hit Utah early in the year, which makes it a lot easier to finish all 50 by the end of the year. It really is imperative that I do that because my days as a runner look to be numbered. It pains me to say it but I don't even enjoy it anymore. It feels more like a chore than a fun activity. Getting my health under control would change everything.
Why Puerto Rico?
Several reasons. It's affordable and easy logistically. I got a direct flight out of Atlanta for just $300 and can take a cab to my hotel on the beach for just $10. My hotel is actually a condo with an ocean view. I'm sure it will be bare bones but I don't care. As long as it's clean and has a bed, fridge and microwave, I don't care about the extra perks. I won't be spending much time inside anyway. I will not be staying in San Juan. Hotels are ridiculously priced and there is a festival that weekend so it will be jam packed. Instead, I will stay in the municipality of Carolina on Isla Verde Beach. The beaches here look better anyway than the ones in San Juan. The best place for surfing is actually on the west coast in the town of Rincon. That would require a rental car. No thanks for now. If I like it, I can always come back and do more exploration another time. As it is, the beach as well as many restaurants and bars will be within walking distance. I get in early afternoon on a Friday and leave early afternoon on MLK Day so that's a good chunk of time and only 1 day off work.
What to expect?
Unlike Miami, there is virtually no chance of a freak cold front even in mid-January. Temps are almost guaranteed to be in the low-mid-80s. Rain is possible but this is the dry season so chancing it on the weather is not much of a risk. Sand will be light brown with crystal clear water and tropical palm trees. I expect that the water will be bluer than Miami but not as blue as Cancun. As far as the surf, word on the street is that the waves will be gentle but surf-able. In fact, there is a beginner surf school near my condo. I will bring my inflatable boogie board.
Culture?
Puerto Rico is a US territory so my new passport will not be needed and US dollars are the currency. Still, it will most definitely have the vibe of being in a foreign country. People in tourist areas can speak English but Spanish is most definitely the dominant language. The Puerto Rican accent is very distinctive so DuoLingo will not be enough to catch more than a few words here and there. Still, my Spanish was appreciated in Mexico and I expect that it will be here as well. Nobody will laugh at my southern accent and I might be a hit because of it. Puerto Rico will have American chain stores such as Walgreens and even fast food restaurants such as Wendy's and KFC but I'll have to be adventurous and try some real Puerto Rican dishes at least once or twice.
In terms of ethnicity, native Puerto Ricans are a striking mix of European (mostly Iberian and Italian), Native American and sub-Saharan African with traces from the Middle East and North Africa. I look forward to the opportunity to interact with the locals and who knows? I might meet a friend. Seems like a good trip plan. If Puerto Rico ever votes for statehood, I'll have it covered already.
As it is, the plan for Utah is to fly into Salt Lake but race in St. George (SW corner) only 2 hours from Las Vegas and make a loop back to Salt Lake while catching small samples of National Parks. The weather in St. George should be okay but Salt Lake could very well be cold and/or snowy. If I wait until February, the average high temps are 5 degrees warmer (45 vs 40 in SLC). Yes, there is still a risk of snow but it's less of a chance. Add to that, the course that I would run in February is about 500 ft net downhill and there will be more daylight to view the amazing scenery. It's a no-brainer to wait until February. If the weather in Salt Lake is bad, it will cost a lot of money but I can switch my plans and fly into Vegas instead. I DO want to hit Utah early in the year, which makes it a lot easier to finish all 50 by the end of the year. It really is imperative that I do that because my days as a runner look to be numbered. It pains me to say it but I don't even enjoy it anymore. It feels more like a chore than a fun activity. Getting my health under control would change everything.
Why Puerto Rico?
Several reasons. It's affordable and easy logistically. I got a direct flight out of Atlanta for just $300 and can take a cab to my hotel on the beach for just $10. My hotel is actually a condo with an ocean view. I'm sure it will be bare bones but I don't care. As long as it's clean and has a bed, fridge and microwave, I don't care about the extra perks. I won't be spending much time inside anyway. I will not be staying in San Juan. Hotels are ridiculously priced and there is a festival that weekend so it will be jam packed. Instead, I will stay in the municipality of Carolina on Isla Verde Beach. The beaches here look better anyway than the ones in San Juan. The best place for surfing is actually on the west coast in the town of Rincon. That would require a rental car. No thanks for now. If I like it, I can always come back and do more exploration another time. As it is, the beach as well as many restaurants and bars will be within walking distance. I get in early afternoon on a Friday and leave early afternoon on MLK Day so that's a good chunk of time and only 1 day off work.
What to expect?
Unlike Miami, there is virtually no chance of a freak cold front even in mid-January. Temps are almost guaranteed to be in the low-mid-80s. Rain is possible but this is the dry season so chancing it on the weather is not much of a risk. Sand will be light brown with crystal clear water and tropical palm trees. I expect that the water will be bluer than Miami but not as blue as Cancun. As far as the surf, word on the street is that the waves will be gentle but surf-able. In fact, there is a beginner surf school near my condo. I will bring my inflatable boogie board.
Culture?
Puerto Rico is a US territory so my new passport will not be needed and US dollars are the currency. Still, it will most definitely have the vibe of being in a foreign country. People in tourist areas can speak English but Spanish is most definitely the dominant language. The Puerto Rican accent is very distinctive so DuoLingo will not be enough to catch more than a few words here and there. Still, my Spanish was appreciated in Mexico and I expect that it will be here as well. Nobody will laugh at my southern accent and I might be a hit because of it. Puerto Rico will have American chain stores such as Walgreens and even fast food restaurants such as Wendy's and KFC but I'll have to be adventurous and try some real Puerto Rican dishes at least once or twice.
In terms of ethnicity, native Puerto Ricans are a striking mix of European (mostly Iberian and Italian), Native American and sub-Saharan African with traces from the Middle East and North Africa. I look forward to the opportunity to interact with the locals and who knows? I might meet a friend. Seems like a good trip plan. If Puerto Rico ever votes for statehood, I'll have it covered already.
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