Like almost all Americans, I am DISGUSTED by the horrific actions of this police officer that caused a senseless death. In a case of clear cut police brutality such as this one, I am confident that we will see a conviction. I think it should be murder. He might beat that charge but I see no way that he cannot be found guilty of manslaughter or negligent homicide even if the autopsy didn't reveal strangulation. I am also DISGUSTED by the reaction to this crime on many sides.
Let's start with my fellow conservatives:
While nobody has defended this cop, one person said that because Floyd was a petty criminal, there should not be much sympathy although she re-iterated that he did not deserve to die. She was roundly and harshly condemned for those remarks. And rightly so. I DON'T CARE if he was a petty criminal. This was a terrible and inexcusable crime that was committed. Don't you dare place even a shred of blame on the victim!
Others have brought up black on black crime or white victims of violence in which there is nary a word of media coverage. Now is NOT the time for that kind of talk. I do agree that the media does have an agenda to foster national division especially in an election year. That said, we must NEVER deflect attention from the horrific crime committed here.
A few have suggested that the crime was not racially motivated. In this case, I can respectfully disagree. My personal opinion is that it was an act of racism but it is certainly possible that personalities can clash. Two people could simply dislike each other and it may not have anything to do with skin color. In this case however, especially given our history of emotional response on the subject and the length of the video, I believe that race had to be a factor in his sick decision making process.
Now let's move on to Liberals:
Is America a racist country in 2020? Almost everyone on the Left would say Yes. I have a different question. Is the state of Maine a violent place? Most would say No. What if I told you that several murders occur every year in the Portland area? Still no because its crime rate is among the lowest in the nation, right?
That's pretty much how I feel about racially motivated police brutality and racism in general in America. It happens. I will not deny it or downplay any individual case. Even one instance is one too many as well as a cause for outrage. However, I do feel very strongly that these terrible cases are the EXCEPTION RATHER THAN THE NORM and police brutality does affect all races. There is absolutely no reason to fear that you will be hunted down by white vigilantes or gunned down after being pulled over for a minor traffic violation. Yes, there is a minuscule chance that I could be killed in a shark attack or a hijacked airplane but it's so small that it's not even worth the worry. Sadly, I DO believe that most blacks experience occasional racism today but I doubt that it is pervasive or occurs on a regular basis. Correct me if I am wrong.
Dear White People, this is not okay. Has nothing changed since 1960?
NOBODY is saying that it is okay! There is nearly universal consensus among both blacks and whites that the officer should be tried and convicted. I would argue that the average American in 2020 is LESS racist than the 1990 counterpart and MOST DEFINITELY less so than 1960. In the last 30 years, inter-racial relationships have seen much greater acceptance and the Confederate flag has become increasingly taboo. There is no way that Barack Obama could have won in 1992's electorate. On the Republican side, South Carolina elected an Indian-American governor and black US senator. In the latter case, Tim Scott beat out Strom Thurmond's son in the Republican primary. I'd say that's a pretty strong repudiation of the racist policies of the past.
I visited Selma, Alabama back in March of this year and was both horrified by the injustice that took place there and dumbfounded that it could be accepted by much of the population. Back then, blacks could not drink from the same water fountains or eat inside restaurants. Today, I can have lunch with a black man or woman at the same table and it's not an issue. I know it's true because I've done it myself. There is a scare tactic every 4 years that the Republicans want to bring back Jim Crow or worse. That is ridiculous. If a segregationist candidate was nominated today, he'd lose by more than 50 points even in Alabama. If it became legal to refuse service on the basis of race, would I ever support that business? HELL NO! I'm quite confident that the majority of whites would agree with me on this. Jim Crow is never coming back. Take it to the bank.
Some have even gone as far as to call for killing cops in retaliation and have praised Antifa as well as the rioters and looters. It's funny that people who are now calling for mass protests are the same ones who until just days ago called for everyone to stay at home due to COVID but that's another issue. I would not criticize anyone who is angry about racism even if their comments are over the top. If you go to this extreme, it's game on. Trump was called racist for using the term "thugs" even though Obama used it as well and there are plenty of whites who are also protesting violently. Black people have no other recourse other than to riot? What the _____! If you do not expect or demand better than this from the black community, you are the real racists. That's the soft bigotry of low expectations. Beating a store owner to death or burning down a building that houses an innocent child is INEXCUSABLE!
Every profession has its share of crooks. Do we malign all religious leaders because of a few pedophile priests? Some lawyers knowingly prosecute innocent defendants while others get rapists and murderers off on a technicality. Are they all bad? No. In my line of work, taxpayers have been cheated out of money because somebody wants a good appraisal or a promotion. It happens but it's not the norm. Liberals have been strong on NOT condemning Muslims because of the actions of a few. Why not have the same attitude towards police officers? End rant.
Sunday, May 31, 2020
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Training 5/25-5/31
5/25- Planned rest day. Drive home
5/26- Just 1 mile in 7:44 at a comfortable effort. Sustainable for 3 miles.
Distance=1.0
5/27- AM- Tested the CoQ10 and the gap remains significant but it has diminished. I was 2:48 without it and 2:36 with it. Gap is only 36 seconds per mile.
PM- Crash. 2 miles in 21:12 (10:36 pace). I'll explain later.
Distance=3.0
5/28- I've had BAD joint pain the last couple of weeks, especially in the hip and groin. Toxic metals are most definitely the culprit. I woke up feeling MUCH worse than yesterday but was actually slightly better on caffeine. TRS made a YUGE difference. Apparently, I've uncovered another layer of toxic metals. I'll need mega doses of TRS going forward. I have extra bottles.
Distance=2.0
5/29- Not pretty at all but I'll take it. In the morning, I was slightly better WITH caffeine but I'm still staying off it. PM was Lakeshore 2.5 in 23:21 (9:21 pace). I was 12-flat at the half but finished in 11:21 so that's a good sign. I don't have much faith that I will EVER recover my energy and vitality.
Distance=3.0
5/30- Crash #2- 1 mile in 11:20 on Lakeshore. Caffeine was actually helpful yesterday but today, it was not tolerated. I was only marginally better in the afternoon.
Distance=2.0
5/31- AM- Opener in 3:52. With CoQ10, I was only down to 3:47 so it's now official that CoQ10 no longer makes a significant difference. With only 3 sprays of TRS, I was all the way down to 3:16 (MINUS 93/mile). With a full dose, it would have been another MINUS 93 at least.
PM- Re-assessed my tolerance for caffeine and TRS and surprisingly, I was tolerant today. Dipped down to 59.2 seconds for a half lap (5:55 pace). I will try again to go clean starting tomorrow.
Distance=2.0
-13 miles on the week
5/26- Just 1 mile in 7:44 at a comfortable effort. Sustainable for 3 miles.
Distance=1.0
5/27- AM- Tested the CoQ10 and the gap remains significant but it has diminished. I was 2:48 without it and 2:36 with it. Gap is only 36 seconds per mile.
PM- Crash. 2 miles in 21:12 (10:36 pace). I'll explain later.
Distance=3.0
5/28- I've had BAD joint pain the last couple of weeks, especially in the hip and groin. Toxic metals are most definitely the culprit. I woke up feeling MUCH worse than yesterday but was actually slightly better on caffeine. TRS made a YUGE difference. Apparently, I've uncovered another layer of toxic metals. I'll need mega doses of TRS going forward. I have extra bottles.
Distance=2.0
5/29- Not pretty at all but I'll take it. In the morning, I was slightly better WITH caffeine but I'm still staying off it. PM was Lakeshore 2.5 in 23:21 (9:21 pace). I was 12-flat at the half but finished in 11:21 so that's a good sign. I don't have much faith that I will EVER recover my energy and vitality.
Distance=3.0
5/30- Crash #2- 1 mile in 11:20 on Lakeshore. Caffeine was actually helpful yesterday but today, it was not tolerated. I was only marginally better in the afternoon.
Distance=2.0
5/31- AM- Opener in 3:52. With CoQ10, I was only down to 3:47 so it's now official that CoQ10 no longer makes a significant difference. With only 3 sprays of TRS, I was all the way down to 3:16 (MINUS 93/mile). With a full dose, it would have been another MINUS 93 at least.
PM- Re-assessed my tolerance for caffeine and TRS and surprisingly, I was tolerant today. Dipped down to 59.2 seconds for a half lap (5:55 pace). I will try again to go clean starting tomorrow.
Distance=2.0
-13 miles on the week
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Rave: Beach Hopping
I’m often asked how I can afford to travel so much. The answer is that I am frugal on my
trips. Many people that I have traveled
with in the past would insist on staying at a luxury hotel on the beach for at
least $250-300 per night plus an expensive dinner with drinks and dessert that
could cost you upwards of $70 per meal.
I don’t need to do any of that, and it really does not add to my
enjoyment. I’m perfectly fine
with using the public beach lots and if you arrive early enough, parking is not
a problem. If you travel just a few
miles inland, you can score a deal for half price or even less. I’ve been known to make an exception to the
rule and stay on the beach during the shoulder season. From late April through mid-May as well as
October and sometimes into November, it’s usually warm enough to swim but
prices will drop considerably. It’s
worth it to pay a few bucks more for a beachfront hotel but certainly not
upwards of $100 more per night. Also, I
often find that it is more fun to check out multiple beaches on the same trip
rather than be tied down to a single location.
Here are some distances:
Jacksonville to Panama City- 4-4.5 hours
Cocoa to Sunny Isles (Miami)- 3 hours
Sunny Isles to Clearwater-4 hours
Port Aransas to Galveston-
4 hours
Tybee (Savannah) to Isle of Palms (Charleston)- 2.5-3 hours
A 4 hour drive may seem like a lot but if it’s split up over
2 days, it’s really easy. Let’s say that
you finish up your afternoon beach session at 5:00 PM. You can eat dinner on the way, drive 2 hours
and arrive at a Motel 6 or Super 8 at a decent hour. The next morning, it’s an easy ride to your
next destination. Often, it will only
set you back about $60 per night. I've taken beach hopping road trips the last 2 weekends.
Trip 1- Left after work on Thursday and drove to Cordele, Georgia (between Macon and Valdosta) then ended up in St. Augustine, Florida (between Jacksonville and Daytona). I'd probably recommend Jacksonville instead because it's closer but I had already been there. In St. Augustine, I got to see the Old City with the fortress plus some lush palm trees and Spanish moss. As far as the beach was concerned, the sand was a bit softer than Daytona and had a bit of a pinkish tint. My only gripe was that the ocean floor was quite shelly. A pair of aqua socks would have been appreciated. Call me crazy but I like how it feels when a wave breaks on my neck and I don't mind the occasional wipeout even if I get a mouthful of salt water. In this case, the surf was actually a bit too rough even for me. Waves came one after another and I often got wiped out before I made it past the breakers. Nevertheless, I caught more than a few perfect rides from chest high water all the way to the shore.
Friday- Spent the previous night in the Tallahassee area then took a short detour through the Forgotten Coast from Carrabelle to Apalachicola. Parts of the road ran right along the Gulf. The water here is not the best for swimming but still scenic nonetheless. I arrived in Panama City to find calmer conditions with the usual sugar white soft sand and clear emerald water. The waves here were still pretty high but much gentler with no wipeout potential. It was enjoyable but more relaxing. I hoped to see a nice sunset but unfortunately, the skies became cloudy in the evening.
Saturday- Spent the previous night in Crestview, about 20 miles inland then drove to Perdido Key on the Alabama line. After another enjoyable session that was slightly better than the previous day, I had a late lunch at FloraBama then headed home.
Trip 2-
For Memorial Day weekend, I figured that the beaches in Florida and Alabama would be PACKED so I wanted to go off the beaten path. I would start out on the Bolivar Peninsula in Crystal Beach, just outside of Beaumont, Texas then hop back east. Crystal Beach is about 9 hours from Birmingham so that's not bad if split up and can be done in one day if need be. I would leave Friday afternoon and made it to Lafayette, Loosiana. That's the correct pronunciation of the state west of Miss'Sippy.
Saturday-
Made it to my destination pretty early. The vibe on the Texas coast is totally different than FLA/ALA. Here, the sand is hard and brown and you can actually drive and park on the beach itself. Though the waters were uncrowded, there were plenty of people on the sand playing loud music that could be heard in the sea. This place can grow on you. Though the water with its brownish tint is not so great to look at, it feels just fine. The surf was just strong enough to be exciting but I would not have called it rough. Further south, in Port Aransas and South Padre, the beaches are much nicer with clearer water. I ended my session around 5 PM then headed back east for a Loosiana Saturday night. Yes, I played Mel McDaniel's song several times along with a cover.
Sunday-
Cajun coast day. Left Lafayette and it was another 3 hours to Grand Isle. I have been to the Cajun Riviera before around Holly Beach about 4 year ago. I found it to be unspectacular. The water and sand were muddy brown with no wave action. Lake Charles looks to have a nice swimming area but Grand Isle, a full 2 hours south of the city of New Orleans, is the only place in the state with ride-able waves. The water here looked less inviting on the surface but still felt fine. I'm sure it's safe for swimming but I would not have wanted a mouthful of that water on a wipeout. Fortunately, the surf was fairly calm though once again, I got plenty of good rides on the board. Overall, it was worth seeing for something different but I am unlikely to return as it is just too far out of the way. On the plus side, if you are worried about the coronavirus, this beach probably will not be crowded even on a holiday weekend. I had to leave a little early to ensure that I would make it to the Miss'Sippy Sound before sunset. That's the correct pronunciation of the state to my west. Here, the sand is as white as FLA/ALA but the water is still brown with no wave action. However, if you take a short cruise to Ship Island just off the coast, it supposedly rivals the beauty of the Emerald Coast. Unfortunately, tickets were sold out for Monday so that will have to wait.
Monday-
Plan B was to head back to Ala-dam-bama at Gulf Shores and it worked out just fine. The beauty of the beach puts all the others to shame and the surf was excellent too. After an epic session, I had to leave before it got too crowded. Good thing I did because traffic was rough coming home. It took 2 hours longer than expected.
Trip 1- Left after work on Thursday and drove to Cordele, Georgia (between Macon and Valdosta) then ended up in St. Augustine, Florida (between Jacksonville and Daytona). I'd probably recommend Jacksonville instead because it's closer but I had already been there. In St. Augustine, I got to see the Old City with the fortress plus some lush palm trees and Spanish moss. As far as the beach was concerned, the sand was a bit softer than Daytona and had a bit of a pinkish tint. My only gripe was that the ocean floor was quite shelly. A pair of aqua socks would have been appreciated. Call me crazy but I like how it feels when a wave breaks on my neck and I don't mind the occasional wipeout even if I get a mouthful of salt water. In this case, the surf was actually a bit too rough even for me. Waves came one after another and I often got wiped out before I made it past the breakers. Nevertheless, I caught more than a few perfect rides from chest high water all the way to the shore.
 |
| St. Augustine |
Friday- Spent the previous night in the Tallahassee area then took a short detour through the Forgotten Coast from Carrabelle to Apalachicola. Parts of the road ran right along the Gulf. The water here is not the best for swimming but still scenic nonetheless. I arrived in Panama City to find calmer conditions with the usual sugar white soft sand and clear emerald water. The waves here were still pretty high but much gentler with no wipeout potential. It was enjoyable but more relaxing. I hoped to see a nice sunset but unfortunately, the skies became cloudy in the evening.
Saturday- Spent the previous night in Crestview, about 20 miles inland then drove to Perdido Key on the Alabama line. After another enjoyable session that was slightly better than the previous day, I had a late lunch at FloraBama then headed home.
Trip 2-
For Memorial Day weekend, I figured that the beaches in Florida and Alabama would be PACKED so I wanted to go off the beaten path. I would start out on the Bolivar Peninsula in Crystal Beach, just outside of Beaumont, Texas then hop back east. Crystal Beach is about 9 hours from Birmingham so that's not bad if split up and can be done in one day if need be. I would leave Friday afternoon and made it to Lafayette, Loosiana. That's the correct pronunciation of the state west of Miss'Sippy.
Saturday-
Made it to my destination pretty early. The vibe on the Texas coast is totally different than FLA/ALA. Here, the sand is hard and brown and you can actually drive and park on the beach itself. Though the waters were uncrowded, there were plenty of people on the sand playing loud music that could be heard in the sea. This place can grow on you. Though the water with its brownish tint is not so great to look at, it feels just fine. The surf was just strong enough to be exciting but I would not have called it rough. Further south, in Port Aransas and South Padre, the beaches are much nicer with clearer water. I ended my session around 5 PM then headed back east for a Loosiana Saturday night. Yes, I played Mel McDaniel's song several times along with a cover.
 |
| Crystal Beach |
Sunday-
Cajun coast day. Left Lafayette and it was another 3 hours to Grand Isle. I have been to the Cajun Riviera before around Holly Beach about 4 year ago. I found it to be unspectacular. The water and sand were muddy brown with no wave action. Lake Charles looks to have a nice swimming area but Grand Isle, a full 2 hours south of the city of New Orleans, is the only place in the state with ride-able waves. The water here looked less inviting on the surface but still felt fine. I'm sure it's safe for swimming but I would not have wanted a mouthful of that water on a wipeout. Fortunately, the surf was fairly calm though once again, I got plenty of good rides on the board. Overall, it was worth seeing for something different but I am unlikely to return as it is just too far out of the way. On the plus side, if you are worried about the coronavirus, this beach probably will not be crowded even on a holiday weekend. I had to leave a little early to ensure that I would make it to the Miss'Sippy Sound before sunset. That's the correct pronunciation of the state to my west. Here, the sand is as white as FLA/ALA but the water is still brown with no wave action. However, if you take a short cruise to Ship Island just off the coast, it supposedly rivals the beauty of the Emerald Coast. Unfortunately, tickets were sold out for Monday so that will have to wait.
 |
| Grand Isle |
 |
| Mississippi Coast |
Monday-
Plan B was to head back to Ala-dam-bama at Gulf Shores and it worked out just fine. The beauty of the beach puts all the others to shame and the surf was excellent too. After an epic session, I had to leave before it got too crowded. Good thing I did because traffic was rough coming home. It took 2 hours longer than expected.
 |
| Gulf Shores |
Monday, May 18, 2020
Training 5/18-5/24
Did very little running last week but made an important discovery. I took a trip to North Florida last weekend and stayed mostly clean with the diet. I did have one beer for dinner on Friday then one mixed drink with lunch on Saturday with no caffeine. That is HARDLY a binge but I could NOT tolerate it. Water only until further notice with no cheat days at all? I don't think I can do that and if I can't tolerate just 2 indiscretions per week, that's a big problem. The culprit is NOT CoQ10 after all. It is ATP. Indeed I have read that caffeine interferes with adenosine receptors and I'm betting that sugar and alcohol do as well. That's okay. I don't need to take ATP every day. I only need enough to transport B-12. Occasional use (once per week) will do me fine.
5/17- Very good news. Without ATP, caffeine was tolerated and CoQ10 actually made things better. Even better, I had no significant difference between 2 pills and 4. I was 2 seconds slower per lap on extra so that's just statistical noise.
5/18-AM- Opener in 59.4 (5:56 pace). Very impressive opener. With 2 CoQ10, I was down to 50-flat (5:00 pace) then added a cool. That's my fastest time on that loop by nearly 2 seconds and it was done WITH caffeine. I'm sure it's not good for me but even if I had a daily habit, it should not hurt me NEARLY AS BADLY as it has before. I'm quite sure that if I popped just one ATP pill, it would have been a disaster. Still a little concerned that the gap (56 seconds) is still significant but I'm quite sure that I would have been no better or worse if I had taken extra.
PM- Lakeshore 2.5 in 19:36 (7:51 pace). Not a bad showing. Felt comfortable most of the way though my legs were a little heavy. Started a little fast then backed off on the back half to 8:00 pace.
Distance=3.0
5/19- No AM workout but I could tell without running that just 1 CoQ10 pill would NOT be enough. Not pleased about being so dependent on this or any other pill. Gotta hope that will eventually fade. Then again, at least I don't need mega doses. The eventual workout was 3 miles at Montreat in a time of 23:22 (7:47 pace) with relatively even splits. Don't think the pace ever went above 8. Half mile longer on a route that was a bit tougher than Lakeshore. I'll take it. Not a significant difference versus yesterday but the sum of small gains is the goal. Legs were still heavy and breathing was labored at times.
Distance=3.0
UPDATE:
The South Dakota race scheduled for July was CANCELED due to Corona. I've had enough of this. I was willing to go along with the lockdown for 2-4 weeks but it's past time to open up. My next race option is not until September in Minnesota.
5/20- CRASH! Lithium was the culprit this time. Since it is related to ATP, it's not a big surprise. I should not need that stuff at all going forward because it is an ingredient in ADHS (adrenal modulator). I may take it once per week to be safe however. Forced myself to jog 1 mile but that pace was likely over 12 minutes. I expect a nice rebound tomorrow.
Distance=1.0
5/21- 3 miles on Lakeshore in 28-flat (9:20 pace). Big improvement over yesterday. I was only doing 9:40 pace for the first half but managed a 9:00 flat on the back half with an 8:46 in Mile 3. Nothing to celebrate but I should be back to the Mendoza line by tomorrow.
Distance=3.0
5/22- Repeated the Lakeshore 3 and my time is down to 25:36 (8:32 pace). 1st half- 12:52, 2nd half- 12:44. I'll take it. MINUS 52 overnight.
Distance=3.0
Impromptu trip to the Coast.
Only 1 additional junk mile.
- 13 miles on the week.
5/17- Very good news. Without ATP, caffeine was tolerated and CoQ10 actually made things better. Even better, I had no significant difference between 2 pills and 4. I was 2 seconds slower per lap on extra so that's just statistical noise.
5/18-AM- Opener in 59.4 (5:56 pace). Very impressive opener. With 2 CoQ10, I was down to 50-flat (5:00 pace) then added a cool. That's my fastest time on that loop by nearly 2 seconds and it was done WITH caffeine. I'm sure it's not good for me but even if I had a daily habit, it should not hurt me NEARLY AS BADLY as it has before. I'm quite sure that if I popped just one ATP pill, it would have been a disaster. Still a little concerned that the gap (56 seconds) is still significant but I'm quite sure that I would have been no better or worse if I had taken extra.
PM- Lakeshore 2.5 in 19:36 (7:51 pace). Not a bad showing. Felt comfortable most of the way though my legs were a little heavy. Started a little fast then backed off on the back half to 8:00 pace.
Distance=3.0
5/19- No AM workout but I could tell without running that just 1 CoQ10 pill would NOT be enough. Not pleased about being so dependent on this or any other pill. Gotta hope that will eventually fade. Then again, at least I don't need mega doses. The eventual workout was 3 miles at Montreat in a time of 23:22 (7:47 pace) with relatively even splits. Don't think the pace ever went above 8. Half mile longer on a route that was a bit tougher than Lakeshore. I'll take it. Not a significant difference versus yesterday but the sum of small gains is the goal. Legs were still heavy and breathing was labored at times.
Distance=3.0
UPDATE:
The South Dakota race scheduled for July was CANCELED due to Corona. I've had enough of this. I was willing to go along with the lockdown for 2-4 weeks but it's past time to open up. My next race option is not until September in Minnesota.
5/20- CRASH! Lithium was the culprit this time. Since it is related to ATP, it's not a big surprise. I should not need that stuff at all going forward because it is an ingredient in ADHS (adrenal modulator). I may take it once per week to be safe however. Forced myself to jog 1 mile but that pace was likely over 12 minutes. I expect a nice rebound tomorrow.
Distance=1.0
5/21- 3 miles on Lakeshore in 28-flat (9:20 pace). Big improvement over yesterday. I was only doing 9:40 pace for the first half but managed a 9:00 flat on the back half with an 8:46 in Mile 3. Nothing to celebrate but I should be back to the Mendoza line by tomorrow.
Distance=3.0
5/22- Repeated the Lakeshore 3 and my time is down to 25:36 (8:32 pace). 1st half- 12:52, 2nd half- 12:44. I'll take it. MINUS 52 overnight.
Distance=3.0
Impromptu trip to the Coast.
Only 1 additional junk mile.
- 13 miles on the week.
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Training 5/4-5/10
5/4- Junk run was all that I could do. I've found that being off caffeine for just 24 hours will allow me to tolerate CoQ10 again. Additional doses helped but not as much as the first dose. I will probably settle on 100 or 200 CoQ10 and don't expect much benefit. Eventually, if I do everything right, I'll get by without it for a few days just like the others.
Distance=1.0
5/5-AM Improved my Montreat laps from a 3:57 to a 3:28 (MINUS 87) with CoQ10
PM- 3 miles on Lakeshore in 28:31 (9:30 pace). Not a great showing but I am improving and expect the pattern to be similar to last week. This time, let's hope it is permanent.
Distance=4.0
5/6-AM-Lakeshore 3 with a slightly different route this time. Improved to 26:15 (8:45 pace). Relatively even pace. Struggled but it was a significant improvement over yesterday.
PM- Jemison 2 mile in 19:06 (9:33 pace) OUCH! The need for CoQ10 has increased. I was considerably BETTER after 2 more pills. Improved from 84 to 62 on a Montreat sprint.
Distance=5.0
5/7-AM. Without CoQ10, I was just about as bad as you can possibly imagine. Opener was a 4:24 (13:12 pace) and I honestly could not go any faster. On 200, I was down to 3:37 (10:51 pace) then all the way down to 2:34 (7:42 pace) on 400. The gap between the floor and ceiling is a MASSIVE 5:30 per mile. Once again, I know the drill. Both the floor and ceiling will increase but the floor will rise much faster, resulting in a lower gap. That's it for today.
Distance=1.0
5/8- AM. As expected, the floor improved to 3:32 (10:36 pace) and the ceiling was 2:18 (6:54 pace) then added a 1 lap cool down. The gap has been reduced from 5:30 to 3:42. It should be in the low-mid 2s by tomorrow.
PM- Not surprisingly, if I can barely hold a sub-7 pace for 1/3 mile in the morning and am weakened by going several hours without CoQ10, I will struggle. Called it quits after a 9:17 effort in the Montreat Mile but each lap was faster than the previous one. Lap 3 was a 2:53 (8:39 pace) so yes, I am improving. Tempted to get caffeine at lunch but held strong. Now 5 days clean.
Distance=2.0
5/9- AM- Opener in 2:53 (8:39 pace). Closer in 2:08 (6:24 pace). Gap has narrowed to 2:15 just as predicted. It will probably be 75-90 tomorrow. 1 lap cool. The closer needs to be 1:55 or below in order to get anywhere close to respectability in longer distance. I often get stuck around 2:10, which is not good. A floor at 6:50 pace and ceiling at 6:20 is not acceptable even though the gap would be okay.
PM- 3 miles at Oak Mountain. Tough but fair route. Finished 3 miles in 25:14 (8:25 pace). Strong negative split in which I dipped under 8 on the last mile but it was mostly downhill at the end. Another very positive step. Can I keep it going?
Distance=4.0
5/10- Yesterday was my cheat day and I found that one forbidden drink was tolerated but not 2. That's okay. Just don't do it again and I should be okay. As for the workout, I was very pleased with my opener in 2:27 (7:21 pace) but could only muster a 2:20 for the closer (7:00 pace). Gap is barely enough to be significant but the ceiling is MUCH too low. Additional CoQ10 was tolerated, which is good but if I did this every day, it would not be long until I'm right back to where I was last weekend.
PM- Expected to have nothing in a real workout if I could not hold a sub-7 pace for 1/3 of a mile. Turns out, it wasn't as bad as expected. 3 miles at Lake Lurleen outside of Tuscaloosa in a time of 25:42 (8:34 pace). Only 9 ticks slower than yesterday though this route was a bit less hilly. Tomorrow might be a little rough but as long as I don't cheat again, I should be back on track by Tuesday.
Distance=4.0
-21 miles on the week.
Distance=1.0
5/5-AM Improved my Montreat laps from a 3:57 to a 3:28 (MINUS 87) with CoQ10
PM- 3 miles on Lakeshore in 28:31 (9:30 pace). Not a great showing but I am improving and expect the pattern to be similar to last week. This time, let's hope it is permanent.
Distance=4.0
5/6-AM-Lakeshore 3 with a slightly different route this time. Improved to 26:15 (8:45 pace). Relatively even pace. Struggled but it was a significant improvement over yesterday.
PM- Jemison 2 mile in 19:06 (9:33 pace) OUCH! The need for CoQ10 has increased. I was considerably BETTER after 2 more pills. Improved from 84 to 62 on a Montreat sprint.
Distance=5.0
5/7-AM. Without CoQ10, I was just about as bad as you can possibly imagine. Opener was a 4:24 (13:12 pace) and I honestly could not go any faster. On 200, I was down to 3:37 (10:51 pace) then all the way down to 2:34 (7:42 pace) on 400. The gap between the floor and ceiling is a MASSIVE 5:30 per mile. Once again, I know the drill. Both the floor and ceiling will increase but the floor will rise much faster, resulting in a lower gap. That's it for today.
Distance=1.0
5/8- AM. As expected, the floor improved to 3:32 (10:36 pace) and the ceiling was 2:18 (6:54 pace) then added a 1 lap cool down. The gap has been reduced from 5:30 to 3:42. It should be in the low-mid 2s by tomorrow.
PM- Not surprisingly, if I can barely hold a sub-7 pace for 1/3 mile in the morning and am weakened by going several hours without CoQ10, I will struggle. Called it quits after a 9:17 effort in the Montreat Mile but each lap was faster than the previous one. Lap 3 was a 2:53 (8:39 pace) so yes, I am improving. Tempted to get caffeine at lunch but held strong. Now 5 days clean.
Distance=2.0
5/9- AM- Opener in 2:53 (8:39 pace). Closer in 2:08 (6:24 pace). Gap has narrowed to 2:15 just as predicted. It will probably be 75-90 tomorrow. 1 lap cool. The closer needs to be 1:55 or below in order to get anywhere close to respectability in longer distance. I often get stuck around 2:10, which is not good. A floor at 6:50 pace and ceiling at 6:20 is not acceptable even though the gap would be okay.
PM- 3 miles at Oak Mountain. Tough but fair route. Finished 3 miles in 25:14 (8:25 pace). Strong negative split in which I dipped under 8 on the last mile but it was mostly downhill at the end. Another very positive step. Can I keep it going?
Distance=4.0
5/10- Yesterday was my cheat day and I found that one forbidden drink was tolerated but not 2. That's okay. Just don't do it again and I should be okay. As for the workout, I was very pleased with my opener in 2:27 (7:21 pace) but could only muster a 2:20 for the closer (7:00 pace). Gap is barely enough to be significant but the ceiling is MUCH too low. Additional CoQ10 was tolerated, which is good but if I did this every day, it would not be long until I'm right back to where I was last weekend.
PM- Expected to have nothing in a real workout if I could not hold a sub-7 pace for 1/3 of a mile. Turns out, it wasn't as bad as expected. 3 miles at Lake Lurleen outside of Tuscaloosa in a time of 25:42 (8:34 pace). Only 9 ticks slower than yesterday though this route was a bit less hilly. Tomorrow might be a little rough but as long as I don't cheat again, I should be back on track by Tuesday.
Distance=4.0
-21 miles on the week.
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Training 4/27-5/3
4/27- Awful in the morning but was surprisingly better in the afternoon. Very consistent splits too.
On 2 CoQ10- 2:48
3 pills- 2:49
Extra caffeine- 2:50
Not a significant difference. Slow times but it's becoming clear that mega doses are no longer needed.
Distance=2.0
4/28-AM- Opener in 2:37 (7:51 pace). 1 pill- 2:32 (7:36 pace). 2 pills-2:33 (7:39 pace).
Barely enough to be considered significant on 1 pill then the 2nd pill was essentially a non-factor. Good news. I'm going down to 1 pill tomorrow. I'm betting that forbidden drinks will be tolerated IF the CoQ10 dose is low. What's the point in taking more if I don't benefit from it? The drinks are not good for me but I should NEVER get extreme reactions to them. If I do, something is wrong. I want to confirm the tolerance on low doses this week then quit, hopefully without too much withdrawal. After I do quit, I'll try higher doses again hoping that it continues to be a non-factor. If so, I'm willing to stick with this formula for better or worse going forward.
PM- 3 miles on Lakeshore in 26:50 (8:57 pace). Not real good but I was encouraged by the negative splits. I think it was 9:08-8:59-8:43.
Distance=4.0
4/29- The difference between going with CoQ10 and without it is now officially immaterial. There was only a 3 second difference in my laps this morning. My afternoon workout was 4 miles on Lakeshore in a time of 33:45 (8:24 pace) with occasional light rain outside. Not a great showing but I am steadily improving every day on low doses in spite of the forbidden drinks. This time, I slowed just a tad on the back half but it never got any worse than 8:30.
Distance=5.0
4/30- End of the official stay at home order but the new freedoms are minimal. At least I can go to the Fleet Feet and the Trak Shak. Today was the 3 mile Trak Shak loop in 24:15 (8:05 pace). This route contains some hills so on Lakeshore, I think I'm at or near Mendoza level. Not a huge improvement over yesterday but the only real goal this week is to avoid a collapse. So far, caffeine and alcohol are well tolerated. Tomorrow will be the last day.
Distance=3.0
5/1- The collapse has been avoided. Only 1 mile at Montreat in 7:16 with pretty even splits. Effort was moderate-tempo. I could probably get under 7 on a track going all out. Followed it up with a half mile in 3:31 despite being slightly inebriated. Alcohol and caffeine are tolerated IF the CoQ10 dose is low. Now, if I raised the dose, I bet I still have problems.
Distance=1.5
5/2-AM. The plot thickens. 3 miles on Lakeshore in 27:45 (9:15 pace). Not good. Planned on 6.5 and felt reasonably well through the first 2 miles in 17:35 but collapsed to 10:10 in Mile 3 and called it quits. It appears that the CoQ10 was the culprit after all. If I simply ran a 1 lap sprint around Montreat, I'm probably okay. If I waited until the evening to run after it partially cleared my system, I'm also probably okay. Running shortly after taking the dose. Definitely NOT okay.
PM- Improved to a 2:30 lap on Montreat but was immediate WORSE after additional CoQ10.
Distance=3.5
5/3- Tried to run without CoQ10 and was awful then it was worse with it. The verdict is in. Caffeine and alcohol will be tolerated occasionally but if it's a daily habit, CoQ10 becomes both necessary and unable to be tolerated. Not even at low doses.
Distance=1.0
-20 miles on the week
On 2 CoQ10- 2:48
3 pills- 2:49
Extra caffeine- 2:50
Not a significant difference. Slow times but it's becoming clear that mega doses are no longer needed.
Distance=2.0
4/28-AM- Opener in 2:37 (7:51 pace). 1 pill- 2:32 (7:36 pace). 2 pills-2:33 (7:39 pace).
Barely enough to be considered significant on 1 pill then the 2nd pill was essentially a non-factor. Good news. I'm going down to 1 pill tomorrow. I'm betting that forbidden drinks will be tolerated IF the CoQ10 dose is low. What's the point in taking more if I don't benefit from it? The drinks are not good for me but I should NEVER get extreme reactions to them. If I do, something is wrong. I want to confirm the tolerance on low doses this week then quit, hopefully without too much withdrawal. After I do quit, I'll try higher doses again hoping that it continues to be a non-factor. If so, I'm willing to stick with this formula for better or worse going forward.
PM- 3 miles on Lakeshore in 26:50 (8:57 pace). Not real good but I was encouraged by the negative splits. I think it was 9:08-8:59-8:43.
Distance=4.0
4/29- The difference between going with CoQ10 and without it is now officially immaterial. There was only a 3 second difference in my laps this morning. My afternoon workout was 4 miles on Lakeshore in a time of 33:45 (8:24 pace) with occasional light rain outside. Not a great showing but I am steadily improving every day on low doses in spite of the forbidden drinks. This time, I slowed just a tad on the back half but it never got any worse than 8:30.
Distance=5.0
4/30- End of the official stay at home order but the new freedoms are minimal. At least I can go to the Fleet Feet and the Trak Shak. Today was the 3 mile Trak Shak loop in 24:15 (8:05 pace). This route contains some hills so on Lakeshore, I think I'm at or near Mendoza level. Not a huge improvement over yesterday but the only real goal this week is to avoid a collapse. So far, caffeine and alcohol are well tolerated. Tomorrow will be the last day.
Distance=3.0
5/1- The collapse has been avoided. Only 1 mile at Montreat in 7:16 with pretty even splits. Effort was moderate-tempo. I could probably get under 7 on a track going all out. Followed it up with a half mile in 3:31 despite being slightly inebriated. Alcohol and caffeine are tolerated IF the CoQ10 dose is low. Now, if I raised the dose, I bet I still have problems.
Distance=1.5
5/2-AM. The plot thickens. 3 miles on Lakeshore in 27:45 (9:15 pace). Not good. Planned on 6.5 and felt reasonably well through the first 2 miles in 17:35 but collapsed to 10:10 in Mile 3 and called it quits. It appears that the CoQ10 was the culprit after all. If I simply ran a 1 lap sprint around Montreat, I'm probably okay. If I waited until the evening to run after it partially cleared my system, I'm also probably okay. Running shortly after taking the dose. Definitely NOT okay.
PM- Improved to a 2:30 lap on Montreat but was immediate WORSE after additional CoQ10.
Distance=3.5
5/3- Tried to run without CoQ10 and was awful then it was worse with it. The verdict is in. Caffeine and alcohol will be tolerated occasionally but if it's a daily habit, CoQ10 becomes both necessary and unable to be tolerated. Not even at low doses.
Distance=1.0
-20 miles on the week
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Corona Part 3
I was willing to go along with the shutdown for maybe 2-4 weeks but I've had ENOUGH!! A typical day involves sitting on my ass in front a blank computer screen as I am technically working from home but have nothing to do because I cannot meet with any clients. I cannot leave because I could get in trouble for not reading an e-mail with a read receipt attached. What can I do anyway? Nothing is open! No doubt, this is hurting my health both physically and mentally.
Recent revelations about the virus have made it clear that none of this was necessary. To be clear, I am NOT advocating business as usual. The close quarters on the subway combined with crowded elevators in NYC is probably the reason it's the hot spot. We are a LONG way from safely packing a college football stadium in Auburn or Tuscaloosa. Concerts, parades and other mass gatherings including big time road races certainly should have been cancelled or re-scheduled from at least late March-early May but NOT late summer and Fall. How about gyms or movie theaters? Probably not yet but I'd open them within a few weeks. I would allow small church services but mega churches should remain online for now.
Wal-Mart and Home Depot remain open as are other grocery and hardware stores. They are quite crowded too and it is nearly impossible to observe the 6 foot rule at all times. You might think that those cashiers would be dropping like flies considering the media coverage but that's not happening. The only real danger zone is nursing homes, where underlying conditions and co-morbidity are common. While people can go to Wal-Mart, they often CANNOT do the following things, which are MUCH safer.
-Visit to a museum
-Tour of a National Park
-Browse inside a local clothing store or book store.
-Swim in the ocean
-Drink at the bar (no dancing at a nightclub)
-Dine-in restaurant
Police have been known to stop motorists and inquire about their destination and whether or not they are performing essential duties. A father was recently ARRESTED for playing catch with his child at an EMPTY park. Now, that's not hurting or endangering anyone! Ridiculous! What happened to the all families belong together crowd?
One of the reasons for the shutdown was to prevent overwhelming the health care system with corona cases. Outside of NYC, that fear has not materialized. In fact, hospitals are actually more likely to be OVERSTAFFED because non-essential appointments must be postponed. I know a couple people who lost their jobs for that reason. Studies show that this virus is MUCH more widespread than previously believed and was probably around as early as December 2019. Antibody samples show that anywhere from 10-50 times the number of confirmed cases have been exposed. Most never knew it because their symptoms were minimal. It has also been found that the virus dies quickly in the presence of sunlight. Thus, we should have ENCOURAGED people to get out more often especially for exercise in parks.
The point: Yes, the virus is contagious and the vulnerable should be protected and self-isolated but it is NOT nearly as deadly as feared. WHO originally said the death rate would be 3.4%. If the antibody study is accurate, it is no higher than 0.5% and could be as low as 0.1%. 90% of those deaths had underlying health conditions or co-morbidity, which I believe has greatly inflated the number of deaths. For example, an old country singer named Joe Diffie was listed as a corona death. In realty, he had heart disease as well as advanced lung cancer. I don't think he survives the regular flu or pneumonia. Can a relatively young healthy person be killed by corona? Nobody is guaranteed to make it but your chances of death are about 1 in 10,000 if you catch the virus.
If you are a higher risk case and feel the need to stay at home, you should certainly be permitted to do so. I have a couple of co-workers who are over 60 and significantly overweight. They certainly should be permitted to work from home when possible. If you don't feel safe going out, by all means stay in. If you strictly self-isolate, including appropriate social distancing at home, I'd say you are pretty safe even if others go out, right? In fact, suppose that you are an essential worker who would normally go out for dinner or a drink but cannot due to stay at home orders. You actually INCREASE your contact with higher risk family members by being at home more often.
As for the economic impact, many small businesses may never come back from this. For every 1% of unemployment, we see a significant increase in suicides and drug overdoses. It's rough being alone with no human contact. I've talked with friends and family on the phone and even did a video chat for Easter but that's just not the same. What about people who live with an abusive partner or someone else that they dislike and cannot move out or even leave for a day. Fortunately, this madness should be winding down soon as people are getting fed up.
As usual, the media has been blatantly dishonest. Trump never called the virus a hoax nor did he suggest treating it by injecting Drano into the lungs yet many believe it because CNN said so. Polls can be manipulated to get the results that they want. For example, one said that 72% back continued restrictions. I call BS. If the restrictions include cancelled spectator sports, I'm fully in the YES camp. Keeping beaches closed? I'm strongly opposed. So how do I answer?
Political impact:
That remains to be seen but so far, it appears that if you liked Trump before the pandemic, he hasn't lost your support. If you didn't like him before, he hasn't changed your mind. It could be a wash overall but if it becomes clear that excessive restrictions were an over-reach, it's probably advantage Trump. Trump did restrict travel from China very early and Biden called him xenophobic. I do believe that the media will keep trying to keep the country in panic mode until the election. After that, especially if Biden wins, the virus may not go away but the panic will fade even if there is a second wave. I've heard of drones monitoring people for social distance violations and even a snitch hotline too. That's pretty scary stuff.
In the USSR, people often could not choose their occupation or their city of residence. Everyone lived in a planned high rise with government officials watching your every move. If you blew off work, you would not be fired but imprisoned instead. In China, there is social credit in which your rights can be severely curtailed if you simply post things that are deemed offensive by the communist government. Could that really happen here in the Land of the Free? Yes, I'm afraid so. Nobody thought Venezuela would become such a hell hole just 20 years ago. I have been encouraged by the number of Patriots who are willing to fight socialism so I bet it doesn't happen in my lifetime.
Recent revelations about the virus have made it clear that none of this was necessary. To be clear, I am NOT advocating business as usual. The close quarters on the subway combined with crowded elevators in NYC is probably the reason it's the hot spot. We are a LONG way from safely packing a college football stadium in Auburn or Tuscaloosa. Concerts, parades and other mass gatherings including big time road races certainly should have been cancelled or re-scheduled from at least late March-early May but NOT late summer and Fall. How about gyms or movie theaters? Probably not yet but I'd open them within a few weeks. I would allow small church services but mega churches should remain online for now.
Wal-Mart and Home Depot remain open as are other grocery and hardware stores. They are quite crowded too and it is nearly impossible to observe the 6 foot rule at all times. You might think that those cashiers would be dropping like flies considering the media coverage but that's not happening. The only real danger zone is nursing homes, where underlying conditions and co-morbidity are common. While people can go to Wal-Mart, they often CANNOT do the following things, which are MUCH safer.
-Visit to a museum
-Tour of a National Park
-Browse inside a local clothing store or book store.
-Swim in the ocean
-Drink at the bar (no dancing at a nightclub)
-Dine-in restaurant
Police have been known to stop motorists and inquire about their destination and whether or not they are performing essential duties. A father was recently ARRESTED for playing catch with his child at an EMPTY park. Now, that's not hurting or endangering anyone! Ridiculous! What happened to the all families belong together crowd?
One of the reasons for the shutdown was to prevent overwhelming the health care system with corona cases. Outside of NYC, that fear has not materialized. In fact, hospitals are actually more likely to be OVERSTAFFED because non-essential appointments must be postponed. I know a couple people who lost their jobs for that reason. Studies show that this virus is MUCH more widespread than previously believed and was probably around as early as December 2019. Antibody samples show that anywhere from 10-50 times the number of confirmed cases have been exposed. Most never knew it because their symptoms were minimal. It has also been found that the virus dies quickly in the presence of sunlight. Thus, we should have ENCOURAGED people to get out more often especially for exercise in parks.
The point: Yes, the virus is contagious and the vulnerable should be protected and self-isolated but it is NOT nearly as deadly as feared. WHO originally said the death rate would be 3.4%. If the antibody study is accurate, it is no higher than 0.5% and could be as low as 0.1%. 90% of those deaths had underlying health conditions or co-morbidity, which I believe has greatly inflated the number of deaths. For example, an old country singer named Joe Diffie was listed as a corona death. In realty, he had heart disease as well as advanced lung cancer. I don't think he survives the regular flu or pneumonia. Can a relatively young healthy person be killed by corona? Nobody is guaranteed to make it but your chances of death are about 1 in 10,000 if you catch the virus.
If you are a higher risk case and feel the need to stay at home, you should certainly be permitted to do so. I have a couple of co-workers who are over 60 and significantly overweight. They certainly should be permitted to work from home when possible. If you don't feel safe going out, by all means stay in. If you strictly self-isolate, including appropriate social distancing at home, I'd say you are pretty safe even if others go out, right? In fact, suppose that you are an essential worker who would normally go out for dinner or a drink but cannot due to stay at home orders. You actually INCREASE your contact with higher risk family members by being at home more often.
As for the economic impact, many small businesses may never come back from this. For every 1% of unemployment, we see a significant increase in suicides and drug overdoses. It's rough being alone with no human contact. I've talked with friends and family on the phone and even did a video chat for Easter but that's just not the same. What about people who live with an abusive partner or someone else that they dislike and cannot move out or even leave for a day. Fortunately, this madness should be winding down soon as people are getting fed up.
As usual, the media has been blatantly dishonest. Trump never called the virus a hoax nor did he suggest treating it by injecting Drano into the lungs yet many believe it because CNN said so. Polls can be manipulated to get the results that they want. For example, one said that 72% back continued restrictions. I call BS. If the restrictions include cancelled spectator sports, I'm fully in the YES camp. Keeping beaches closed? I'm strongly opposed. So how do I answer?
Political impact:
That remains to be seen but so far, it appears that if you liked Trump before the pandemic, he hasn't lost your support. If you didn't like him before, he hasn't changed your mind. It could be a wash overall but if it becomes clear that excessive restrictions were an over-reach, it's probably advantage Trump. Trump did restrict travel from China very early and Biden called him xenophobic. I do believe that the media will keep trying to keep the country in panic mode until the election. After that, especially if Biden wins, the virus may not go away but the panic will fade even if there is a second wave. I've heard of drones monitoring people for social distance violations and even a snitch hotline too. That's pretty scary stuff.
In the USSR, people often could not choose their occupation or their city of residence. Everyone lived in a planned high rise with government officials watching your every move. If you blew off work, you would not be fired but imprisoned instead. In China, there is social credit in which your rights can be severely curtailed if you simply post things that are deemed offensive by the communist government. Could that really happen here in the Land of the Free? Yes, I'm afraid so. Nobody thought Venezuela would become such a hell hole just 20 years ago. I have been encouraged by the number of Patriots who are willing to fight socialism so I bet it doesn't happen in my lifetime.
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Training 4/20-4/26
4/20- Demand for CoQ10 has hit HARD. Opened with a 3:58 (11:54 pace) without it. Took 200 and was down to 2:56 (8:48 pace) then down to 2:23 (7:09 pace) on 400 for a total gap of a staggering 4:45 per mile. I'll bet that I would have improved a bit on 600 for a 5+ minute gap but didn't try it. Nothing unusual for the first day. I know the drill. Not surprisingly, I had nothing in a real workout and quit after just 1 mile at a crap pace. If I can't hold a sub-7 pace for 1/3 mile, what do you expect?
Distance=2.0
4/21- AM-Better today as expected. This time I took ONLY CoQ10 as I'm sure everything else is a non-factor. This time I jumped from zero to 400 then added a cool down.
Opener- 3:11 (9:33 pace)
Closer- 2:04 (6:12 pace)
The floor improved by 2:21 while the ceiling rose by 57. That's to be expected. I'm encouraged by the ceiling and I'm sure there is room for much improvement. Gap has closed from 4:45 to 3:21 and it ought to be under 60 by the end of the week and under 15 within 10 days.
PM- Lakeshore 4 in 38:56 (9:44 pace). Struggled. 1st half- 18:44, 2nd half-20:12. I would have done better if I popped an extra CoQ10.
Distance=5.0
4/22-AM- Encouraged by the opener in 2:48 (8:24 pace) but this time, the closer got WORSE. I stupidly assessed my tolerance for caffeine. One cheat day won't hurt. Two consecutive will. At least I know. At any rate, I slipped all the way to 3:37 (10:51 pace) but actually improved to 3:28 (10:24 pace) after a beer. I'm sure the alcohol didn't really help. It was clearance of caffeine/CoQ10 but at least I know it won't hurt. That's good news. Only caffeine must be avoided.
Distance=1.0
4/23- Opened with a 2:58 this time (8:54 pace) but improved only marginally to a 2:54 on CoQ10 (8:42 pace). Was it really ineffective? No. Most likely, I would have been considerably better on 200 but slipped with 400. No caffeine today. I did drink a can of non-caffeinated Sprite and it did not seem to hurt me. Though both should be limited, alcohol won't hurt and neither will sugar. It is only caffeine that must be strictly limited. I'm betting that NADH coupled with CoQ10 in addition to caffeine is just too much treatment for the NDUFS issues.
PM- Added a junk mile around the block in Homewood. This shutdown is really getting to me.
Distance=2.0
4/24- Very pleased with the opener in 2:35 (7:45 pace). Not pleased at all with the closer in 2:16 (6:48 pace). I barely held a sub-7 pace for just 1/3 of a mile. Not good at all. Perhaps something was holding me back. This doesn't make sense after I did a 2:04 earlier this week. Indeed it was the non-caffeinated Sprite. Alcohol is NOT okay either. It's got to be water only. I am prepared to endure a rough day tomorrow to find that out but I had to know what I can and cannot take going forward.
Distance=2.0
4/25- Felt terrible today as expected. Did improve a bit after an afternoon nap. CoQ10 was tolerated but not very effective.
Distance=1.5
4/26- Followed the usual pattern. Very pleased with my 2:26 opener (7:18 pace). Not pleased at all with the closer in 2:15 (6:45 pace). Gap is down to 33 and may soon become insignificant. Not surprisingly, I didn't do very well in my real workout, 2.5 at Lakeshore untimed. I should not have THIS much reaction to forbidden drinks. Perhaps, that will improve when the CoQ10 dosage goes down.
Distance=3.5
Distance=2.0
4/21- AM-Better today as expected. This time I took ONLY CoQ10 as I'm sure everything else is a non-factor. This time I jumped from zero to 400 then added a cool down.
Opener- 3:11 (9:33 pace)
Closer- 2:04 (6:12 pace)
The floor improved by 2:21 while the ceiling rose by 57. That's to be expected. I'm encouraged by the ceiling and I'm sure there is room for much improvement. Gap has closed from 4:45 to 3:21 and it ought to be under 60 by the end of the week and under 15 within 10 days.
PM- Lakeshore 4 in 38:56 (9:44 pace). Struggled. 1st half- 18:44, 2nd half-20:12. I would have done better if I popped an extra CoQ10.
Distance=5.0
4/22-AM- Encouraged by the opener in 2:48 (8:24 pace) but this time, the closer got WORSE. I stupidly assessed my tolerance for caffeine. One cheat day won't hurt. Two consecutive will. At least I know. At any rate, I slipped all the way to 3:37 (10:51 pace) but actually improved to 3:28 (10:24 pace) after a beer. I'm sure the alcohol didn't really help. It was clearance of caffeine/CoQ10 but at least I know it won't hurt. That's good news. Only caffeine must be avoided.
Distance=1.0
4/23- Opened with a 2:58 this time (8:54 pace) but improved only marginally to a 2:54 on CoQ10 (8:42 pace). Was it really ineffective? No. Most likely, I would have been considerably better on 200 but slipped with 400. No caffeine today. I did drink a can of non-caffeinated Sprite and it did not seem to hurt me. Though both should be limited, alcohol won't hurt and neither will sugar. It is only caffeine that must be strictly limited. I'm betting that NADH coupled with CoQ10 in addition to caffeine is just too much treatment for the NDUFS issues.
PM- Added a junk mile around the block in Homewood. This shutdown is really getting to me.
Distance=2.0
4/24- Very pleased with the opener in 2:35 (7:45 pace). Not pleased at all with the closer in 2:16 (6:48 pace). I barely held a sub-7 pace for just 1/3 of a mile. Not good at all. Perhaps something was holding me back. This doesn't make sense after I did a 2:04 earlier this week. Indeed it was the non-caffeinated Sprite. Alcohol is NOT okay either. It's got to be water only. I am prepared to endure a rough day tomorrow to find that out but I had to know what I can and cannot take going forward.
Distance=2.0
4/25- Felt terrible today as expected. Did improve a bit after an afternoon nap. CoQ10 was tolerated but not very effective.
Distance=1.5
4/26- Followed the usual pattern. Very pleased with my 2:26 opener (7:18 pace). Not pleased at all with the closer in 2:15 (6:45 pace). Gap is down to 33 and may soon become insignificant. Not surprisingly, I didn't do very well in my real workout, 2.5 at Lakeshore untimed. I should not have THIS much reaction to forbidden drinks. Perhaps, that will improve when the CoQ10 dosage goes down.
Distance=3.5
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Rant: CoronaVirus Part 2
I've recently re-read my last post on the subject. Yes, I did "mis-underestimate" the threat but still believe that the stay at home orders and restrictions on movement are over the top. As of today, we've had roughly 20K deaths but more than a third of them are in the NYC area. Much of the rest of the country has not been hit so hard. Locking down NYC and other hot spots such as NOLA is understandable but South Dakota? Not so much.
Initial doomsday predictions of upwards of 1M deaths were scaled down to 100-200K then down again to 60K. It was most definitely the right decision to cancel spectator sporting events at least through the end of April. Same with live concerts and any other large gatherings including mega church services. That said, I would have allowed small restaurants and bars to remain open with strict enforcement of no more than a set number of people inside. Make it 75 as a compromise between 50 and 100. I often get hugs from a waitress or bartender and no I won't do that anymore. I've heard stories of idiots licking toilet handles to dare the coronavirus to get them. NO! I won't do anything stupid and have resolved to practice appropriate social distancing. My only real transgressions were a couple of trips to Vulcan Park and Shades Crest to watch the sunset. I didn't talk to anyone nor did I get close to anyone else. Most of my workouts have been junk runs around my 1/3 mile loop at home but I have gone to Lakeshore and Vulcan Park a couple times. Again, I followed the appropriate guidelines and allowed plenty of distance when passing others.
Alabama's restrictions are not as bad as other states but still, I cannot even walk inside a pizza joint. I have to place an order over the phone and give them a credit card number. Then, the employee places the box on the hood of my car and walks away. Lakeshore trail and Veteran's Park are open but high school tracks are closed. I am technically working from home but am not allowed to meet with any clients so I really cannot do much. My boss has conference calls and sends e-mails with read receipts attached so I can't blow it off, which is understandable. What could I do anyway with pretty much everything closed? It's been like this for 30 days now and IMO, it is time to gradually re-open the economy starting next week. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that will happen until at least the beginning of May. I won't lose my job as a government employee unless I do something really stupid but if this goes on much longer, I could be temporarily furloughed.
I've heard stories of parents getting tickets for playing catch with kids in a park. In Pennsylvania, liquor stores are closed and you cannot cross state lines to buy beer. Philadelphia is just minutes away from Delaware and Pittsburgh suburbs are close to West Virginia and Ohio yet stores can only sell to in-state customers. Let's say I want to take a drive to Huntsville or Montgomery just to get out of town, I could get a ticket unless I have a good reason to be there with a Birmingham address and I won't even try to cross state lines. Again, this is overkill.
As I predicted, the predicted mortality rate of 3.4% was an over-estimate. It's probably more like 1.5% at the most. It has been confirmed that anyone who tests positive is listed as a corona death even if they never showed any symptoms. A sudden death from a heart attack is an example. The final death count will end up being inflated. Also, an elderly individual who contracts the regular flu or pneumonia is also at high risk without corona. We've never shut the country down even in years in which the flu season was more widespread than usual. I'm not normally a conspiracy theorist and I am aware of the genuine threat but I've got to wonder about such unprecedented measures. I would not dismiss the possibility of a hidden agenda. Word is that experimental treatments with hydroxychloroquine. Z-pack and Zinc sulfate, though not without risk of complications, have been very effective and potentially life saving for severe cases. If a patient faces certain death even if the experimental treatment has only a slim chance of success, let them try it. I don't see how anyone can be opposed to Right To Try. WHAT THE HELL DO THEY HAVE TO LOSE?
For those with no pre-existing health issues, the survival rate is upwards of 99.5%. 80-85% of cases are mild-moderate and are resolved with no treatment. The arguments for quarantine are to protect the vulnerable and prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed by the 15% that do require treatment. I get it but outside of hot spots, I doubt there is much chance of the latter. As for protecting the vulnerable, if you are an essential worker and live with someone who is a high risk case, the stay at home order actually INCREASES your contact with them. For all the talk about flattening the curve, there is another school of thought that we can end the threat with herd immunity. Like many controversial issues, the best solution is some sort of middle ground between business as usual and a complete shut down. I fear that a vaccine may not be legally required but de-facto required to keep my job or travel internationally. I'm not totally anti-vax and would take the shot if there was a significant risk of death or permanent disability from a disease. Corona does not meet that criteria. Given my history of crazy reactions to benign substances such as Calcium, my fear of horrible reaction to a vaccine is certainly justified. Risk-benefit analysis. Word is that the flu shot actually leaves you MORE vulnerable to corona yet they are still pushing it. Go figure.
Let's not forget about unintended consequences. Incidence of domestic violence has increased as has substance abuse and suicides. Every life is precious and we should certainly take reasonable steps to protect the vulnerable but I do question how many lives are really saved on a net basis. Thousands are killed in traffic accidents every year. We can't shut down the highways but we can and should enforce laws against reckless driving. Let's take a similar approach to this virus. Living alone with most human contact being cut off is NOT easy and is in fact quite depressing especially given my unrelated medical issues.
As for my race plans, yes it was probably right to cancel all March and April races but I would allow small local 5Ks to proceed starting in May then gradually increase the allowed size on a weekly basis. I signed up for Maryland on April 3, which was obviously cancelled. I got a deferral until next year and a credit for a cancelled flight. I had planned to sign up for Minnesota on 4/25 but I saw where this was going by early March and wisely chose not to sign up. Needless to say, it is also cancelled. Maine, which was scheduled for June 7 is also out.
I only need 4 states plus Hawaii. They are Maryland, Minnesota, Maine and South Dakota. South Dakota in July is still on for now and that's probably my best shot. Maryland will be deferred until 2021. I do have alternative races for both Maine and Minnesota so there is still a chance that I could do at least one of those. I thought about South Africa for my 40th but who knows about international travel restrictions or a possible 2nd wave of corona so this is listed as Doubtful. Most likely, I will either go to Hawaii this year for number 48 or 49 or stop at 48 this year and finish with Hawaii in the Spring of 2021. We shall see.
Monday, April 13, 2020
Training 4/13-4/19
4/13- Once again, I believe that I have a winning formula. Glutamine is the only thing left to try but I bet it will be a non-factor. I sure hope so. We shall see how it works out in practice. The problem with CoQ10 was related to low B-12 levels. I had to go back on ATP and Lithium to be able to tolerate it so I have to take a large cocktail of pills again. Fortunately, a missed dose here and there won't hurt me once I build up a reserve in my system.
Workout: I didn't leave the condo grounds today. It was all on Montreat.
AM- Opener on nothing- 3:20 (10:00 pace)
-Took everything EXCEPT CoQ10- 2:59 (8:57 pace) MINUS 63
200 mg of CoQ10- 2:27 (7:21 pace) MINUS 96
A ceiling of 7:21 pace for 1/3 of a mile is hardly a cause for celebration but I am sure that a mega dose would have resulted in further improvement. Probably down to 6:30 pace. Thus, the true gap is probably at least 3:30 per mile rather than the 2:39 overall today.
Once again, I know the drill. The floor and ceiling will both improve but the floor will come up much faster than the ceiling. Within 7-10 days, the difference between the two should be minimal. And THEN, I must hope that nothing else will flare up!!!
PM- 2 miles also on Montreat after my "work day." Finished with an overall time of 15:45 (7:52 pace) but the splits were encouraging. After an 8:12 first mile, I improved to 7:33 after popping 200 mg of additional CoQ10. I will go with the higher dose then taper down.
Distance=3.0
4/14- Pleased with the opener in 2:37 (7:51 pace). Not as pleased with the closer in 2:10 (6:30 pace). Running all out, I could not better a 6:30 pace for a third of a mile. Not good. Found that my tolerance to CoQ10 is still limited. Not pleased. Added some junk.
Distance=2.0
4/15- 2 miles in 18:16 (9:08 pace). Yesterday's excess is still clearing out. Encouraging negative splits though. 9:26-8:50.
Distance=2.0
4/16-AM- Just like 2 days ago, I was very pleased with the opener in 2:23 (7:09 pace) but not pleased with the closer in 2:09 (6:27 pace). Running all out even with a rolling loop, I should be 1:55 or below, which is a 5:45 pace for 1/3 mile. This was done on 200 mg of CoQ10. On 400, I actually went backwards to a 2:31 (7:33 pace), which is significantly worse than the opener.
PM- Caffeine was a non-factor after starting NADH but today, I was noticeably "worser" after drinking a Rockstar. Did a junk mile at lunch then added 2 more in the evening. Finished in 17:24 (8:42 pace) for a nice improvement over yesterday (MINUS 26). Strong negative splits again (9:03-8:21). Not sure where to go from here but caffeine has to go. If it does, can I fully tolerate CoQ10? The Glutamine appears to be a non-factor as expected.
Distance=4.0
4/17- Did only half lappers to conserve energy.
AM- Opener in 65.8 (6:35 pace). Pleased. Likely under 7:00 pace for a full lap.
Everything except CoQ10- 61.2 (6:07 pace) MINUS 28. Significant but not night and day difference.
With 200 CoQ10- 61.4 (6:08 pace). Non-factor. I don't like this. Are you telling me that I cannot hold a 6:00 pace for even 1/6 of a mile? Even on level ground, I'm over 90 seconds for a 400 on a track. That is NOT acceptable. CoQ10 didn't hurt but was ineffective. I've done 51.9 before and now I can't break 60.
Caffeine was confirmed to be the culprit, not the Taurine in energy drinks. After drinking a Coke, I slipped all the way to 81 (8:06 pace). PLUS 2:00. Extra CoQ10 made it worser with an 88 (8:54 pace) PLUS 48 then added a half lap cool. Caffeine definitely affects tolerance for CoQ10. I've now flip flop flip flopped on caffeine intolerance this year. Nothing new for me.
PM- All out effort in a Mile barely yielded a sub-8 and it took a last lap rally to bring me home in 7:58.6. Not good.
Distance=2.0
4/18- Lakeshore 5. Determined to finish no matter how ugly it got. It certainly wasn't pretty but I did get through the full distance in 47:38 (9:32 pace) with fairly even splits. Drank alcohol last night and it may have hurt me but I'm going clean from now on.
Distance=5.0
4/19- You could say it was a planned rest day. It rained almost all day with a few rumbles of thunder. Normally, I'd go to the gym but that's not an option now. Sugar, caffeine and alcohol free today. I expect that I will do better next week. I'm officially out of options now.
-18 miles on the week.
Workout: I didn't leave the condo grounds today. It was all on Montreat.
AM- Opener on nothing- 3:20 (10:00 pace)
-Took everything EXCEPT CoQ10- 2:59 (8:57 pace) MINUS 63
200 mg of CoQ10- 2:27 (7:21 pace) MINUS 96
A ceiling of 7:21 pace for 1/3 of a mile is hardly a cause for celebration but I am sure that a mega dose would have resulted in further improvement. Probably down to 6:30 pace. Thus, the true gap is probably at least 3:30 per mile rather than the 2:39 overall today.
Once again, I know the drill. The floor and ceiling will both improve but the floor will come up much faster than the ceiling. Within 7-10 days, the difference between the two should be minimal. And THEN, I must hope that nothing else will flare up!!!
PM- 2 miles also on Montreat after my "work day." Finished with an overall time of 15:45 (7:52 pace) but the splits were encouraging. After an 8:12 first mile, I improved to 7:33 after popping 200 mg of additional CoQ10. I will go with the higher dose then taper down.
Distance=3.0
4/14- Pleased with the opener in 2:37 (7:51 pace). Not as pleased with the closer in 2:10 (6:30 pace). Running all out, I could not better a 6:30 pace for a third of a mile. Not good. Found that my tolerance to CoQ10 is still limited. Not pleased. Added some junk.
Distance=2.0
4/15- 2 miles in 18:16 (9:08 pace). Yesterday's excess is still clearing out. Encouraging negative splits though. 9:26-8:50.
Distance=2.0
4/16-AM- Just like 2 days ago, I was very pleased with the opener in 2:23 (7:09 pace) but not pleased with the closer in 2:09 (6:27 pace). Running all out even with a rolling loop, I should be 1:55 or below, which is a 5:45 pace for 1/3 mile. This was done on 200 mg of CoQ10. On 400, I actually went backwards to a 2:31 (7:33 pace), which is significantly worse than the opener.
PM- Caffeine was a non-factor after starting NADH but today, I was noticeably "worser" after drinking a Rockstar. Did a junk mile at lunch then added 2 more in the evening. Finished in 17:24 (8:42 pace) for a nice improvement over yesterday (MINUS 26). Strong negative splits again (9:03-8:21). Not sure where to go from here but caffeine has to go. If it does, can I fully tolerate CoQ10? The Glutamine appears to be a non-factor as expected.
Distance=4.0
4/17- Did only half lappers to conserve energy.
AM- Opener in 65.8 (6:35 pace). Pleased. Likely under 7:00 pace for a full lap.
Everything except CoQ10- 61.2 (6:07 pace) MINUS 28. Significant but not night and day difference.
With 200 CoQ10- 61.4 (6:08 pace). Non-factor. I don't like this. Are you telling me that I cannot hold a 6:00 pace for even 1/6 of a mile? Even on level ground, I'm over 90 seconds for a 400 on a track. That is NOT acceptable. CoQ10 didn't hurt but was ineffective. I've done 51.9 before and now I can't break 60.
Caffeine was confirmed to be the culprit, not the Taurine in energy drinks. After drinking a Coke, I slipped all the way to 81 (8:06 pace). PLUS 2:00. Extra CoQ10 made it worser with an 88 (8:54 pace) PLUS 48 then added a half lap cool. Caffeine definitely affects tolerance for CoQ10. I've now flip flop flip flopped on caffeine intolerance this year. Nothing new for me.
PM- All out effort in a Mile barely yielded a sub-8 and it took a last lap rally to bring me home in 7:58.6. Not good.
Distance=2.0
4/18- Lakeshore 5. Determined to finish no matter how ugly it got. It certainly wasn't pretty but I did get through the full distance in 47:38 (9:32 pace) with fairly even splits. Drank alcohol last night and it may have hurt me but I'm going clean from now on.
Distance=5.0
4/19- You could say it was a planned rest day. It rained almost all day with a few rumbles of thunder. Normally, I'd go to the gym but that's not an option now. Sugar, caffeine and alcohol free today. I expect that I will do better next week. I'm officially out of options now.
-18 miles on the week.
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