In the days since completing the Half 2 Run Challenge, the sadness has diminished and I am feeling more proud of my accomplishment. However, I credit my improved mood to a shift in chemistry rather than what happened in my external environment. Since I got back last Saturday night, I have tried 4 treatments that failed in the past. My hope was that the failure was due to the mal-absorption issue and now that I am taking the FOS and probiotics, my tolerance should improve.
The verdict:
B-12 and Lithium are just as bad as they ever were. No big surprise given the blood test results. I must confess that I did binge on caffeine after the race and that may have hurt me. I'll try again this weekend.
Sparga and Yucca-Both of these cause an immediate negative reaction to just a trace every time prior to taking the FOS. Now, it appears that I can tolerate BOTH provided that the dose is relatively low. The plan calls for 10 drops twice a day. I'm doing 5 drops once a day. This stuff is supposed to slow down the adrenals indirectly by reducing the sulfate. Strangely, I have felt over-stimulated with a bit of unexplained anxiety. I had a case of the shakes today at work. I expect that I will calm down eventually. Still, feeling "wired" is HIGHLY preferable to the flu-like malaise that I've had most of the year.
Workouts-
The last 2 days have been slightly better but not so much that it's considered significant.
Tu- Johnny's workout. 2x800 in 3:05, 4x400 in 84. 5:52 overall pace with generous rest.
W- Lakeshore 5 in 38:54 (7:47 pace) with moderate effort.
That's okay. As I've said many times, I want to see a gradual climb out of this hole. Getting it all back only to lose it a few days later is psychological torture. Even if my half marathon pace improves by just 3 seconds per week, that's a 6 minute improvement in just 10 weeks.
Future:
I was toying with the idea of running Vulcan this weekend. I figure I'm good for a time around 50 minutes, which would be a post-35 PR but I've decided against it. I still don't want to answer all the "what's wrong?" questions from the locals. I may run the Turkey Burner 5K on 11/20 in Monty to see my friend Susi. I would hope to see noticeable improvement by then.
A couple of people have told me to shoot for 50 half marathon states. If by some miracle, I recover my health, there are at least 5-6 on my list that I would like to do and I could see myself hitting 35 before it's over. I suppose that once I hit 40, I've got to go all the way. It will be hard to justify a plane ticket to a rather remote area without tourist attractions nearby. I would like to do more international events rather than 50 states.
Once again, this is NOT about running fast again. It is about having a chance to enjoy life.
Still no word from Yasko but there will be no panic if it's bad (which it will be).
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Monday, November 2, 2015
Half 2 Run Challenge Complete
1. Seaside Half. Seaside Florida - 1:59:37 PR 3/07 (state #1)
I was expecting a nearly dead flat course along the coast. Instead, it was an out and back route that veered slightly off the coast and contained a few rolling hills. Though it had few views of the water, it was a decent choice for Florida and well-organized overall. I went out around 1:50 pace, which proved to be too fast and I had to walk-jog the last 5K but rallied for a sub-2.
2. St. Jude. Memphis, Tennessee- 1:48:17 PR 12/07 (state #2)
Highly recommended event and probably the most fun I’ve had in a race. Outstanding course that featured iconic city landmarks such as Beale Street and the Mississippi River plus Overton Park with a finish inside the minor league baseball stadium. Mostly flat early with a few rollers toward the end with a downhill finish. Here, I went out too slowly but finished with a strong negative split and a massive PR. See Graceland, Sun Studios and the Rock and Soul Museum here.
3. Eugene. Eugene, Oregon- 3:56:03 PR 5/08 (state # 3)
First full marathon and could not think of a better place to do it. Nice flat course mostly on paved trails on the Oregon campus and the Willamette River. Ran a pretty smart race and though the last few miles were ugly, I never walked and got the sub-4 on my first try despite being a bit under-prepared. Road trip included the beautiful Oregon coast, Mt. Hood and Prefontaine’s hometown of Coos Bay.
4. Banco Popular. Chicago, Illinois- 1:42:50 PR 9/08 (state # 4)
Nice course through Univ. of Chicago and a long stretch along Lake Michigan with only a couple noticeable hills and the swag included perhaps the best medal I’ve received. Good shuttle service and surprisingly affordable hotel. I ran a good evenly paced race here on my birthday but this event will be most remembered for the driving rain throughout the entire race and being shivering cold afterwards waiting on the shuttle.
5. Mercedes. Birmingham, Alabama- 1:34:02 Half/3:21:56 Full PR 2/09 (state #5)
I may be biased because this is my home race but this is another 5 star event. Organization is always flawless and the event has top notch swag including an iconic medal and great after party catered by Jim & Nick’s. The course has some highlights but is not especially scenic and though it contains a few long inclines, it definitely could be a PR course. I’ve done well in both the half and full marathon here but those hills pack a punch on the 2nd loop. If you pace it well, you can really gun it those last 5 miles. Best half time came in 2011. Best full was 2012.
6. Fargo. Fargo, North Dakota- 3:43:22 PR 5/09 (state #6)
If you are looking to escape the heat for a late Spring marathon and are unconcerned about anything except your finish time, Fargo is a good choice. The course has almost no hills and though not particularly scenic, fans are out in force shouting encouragement. I chose this race to check off both North Dakota and Minnesota for my Visit 50 states project. I flew into Minneapolis and saw the Mall of America, which included an indoor amusement park. I was 13 minutes faster than the previous year and again ran a pretty smart race but was hampered by bronchitis during peak training.
7. BR Beach. Baton Rouge, Louisiana- 1:32:57 PR 12/09 (state #7)
Scenic course that included lakeside views, upscale neighborhoods and the LSU campus. Fast course that included just a few small hills. Organization was fine for the half but I’ve heard it can be lonely in the full. Sunny but very cold conditions and I quickly got very chilled after finishing. Ran a tremendous race that capped off an incredible 27 minute improvement in just 2.5 years. Placed 3rd in my AG and the RD was nice enough to mail my plaque free of charge. I knew that a sub-1:30 was within reach but challenges were ahead.
8. ING GA. Atlanta, Georgia- 1:38:18- 3/10 (state #8)
Scenic tour of Atlanta that was relentlessly rolling including both long inclines and steep rollers. Tough stretch after Mile 10 and an uphill finish. Expo was at the Georgia Dome and had everything that you could possibly want. I was coming off an Achilles injury and ran a pretty good race on this course despite being a bit out of shape. First big race with my buddy Nick and the stormy weather held off until after we got home.
9. Country Music. Nashville, Tennessee-1:42:27 4/10
This is one of the few races that I would not recommend. Run Memphis if you need Tennessee. Hotels and entry fee were very expensive but swag included a nice post-race concert and a cool looking medal. Most of the hills were in the first 8 miles but they will wear you out. I went for a fast time on a day that it wasn’t there and completely melted down in the last 5K and reacted badly to the Cytomax sports drink. Got back to the hotel just before a big storm hit.
10. Run For Life. Madison, Mississippi- 1:34:47 10/10 (state #9)
Another race that I cannot recommend though I’ve heard it no longer exists. Advertised as flat but it was actually a rolling course through the upscale suburbs of Jackson and contained a brutal hill in Mile 12 before a downhill finish. I was on pace for a small PR but lost it on the hills at the end and hurt my knee in the process. Placed in my AG but there were no awards. Run Tupleo or MS Blues instead.
11. Rocket City. Huntsville, Alabama- 3:43:18 12/10
Very well organized event with the host hotel just outside the start/finish line. Gently rolling throughout with only 1 memorable hill around Mile 22 and lots of turns. It could be a PR course though it has since been changed. Quality event all around and I ran a decent race despite being under-trained due to the recent knee injury.
12. Scenic City. Chattanooga, Tennessee- 1:32:49 PR 2/11
Broke the PR drought with a great performance on a tough course. Roughly out and back route with 4 major hills but some flat sections, city views, bridge climbs and bike trails. Just missed an AG award but still very pleased. Well organized but small race with a minimal expo. Lots to do in and around the city but Memphis is still a better race option for this state.
13. CDA. Coeur D’Alene, Idaho- 1:33:21 5/11 (state #10)
Another race chosen as part of the Visit 50 states project and welcome relief from the heat in late May. Located at mild altitude on the panhandle near the Canadian border, it is a very beautiful area and scenic course as well but there was a major flaw in organization. I thought I was on pace for a PR until the last mile was measured 2 tenths too long. Either the course was long or the mile markers were off. Still a good trip that included stops in Spokane, Washington and Missoula, Montana. Recommended if your finish time is less important to you.
14. Monty. Montgomery, Alabama- 1:31:31 PR 10/11
Used to live here and this course showcased the better areas of the city. Rolling course with an uphill start and tough climb in Mile 11 but I PR’d it. Finish in the minor league stadium and one of the best after parties of any race. Placed 3rd in my AG and got a nice little plaque. First time under 7:00 pace overall and edging closer to THE goal.
15. Nationwide. Columbus, Ohio- 1:31:02 PR- 10/11 (state #11)
My first serious attempt at a sub-1:30 and I was on pace through Mile 9 before faltering a bit in the last 5K. Mostly flat course with just a couple mild inclines and a downhill finish. Fairly non-descript in terms of scenery but did feature some downtown, residential and the Ohio State campus. I was within 5 seconds per mile of THE goal now.
16. White River. Mountain Home, Arkansas- 1:33:34- 11/11 (state #12)
Downhill start for the first mile followed by an out and back route on a very gently rolling bike trail. Good course for a sub-1:30 attempt but it wasn’t there on this day. Small race with few perks in a rural area with little-nothing to do. Run this one if you’re looking for a fast time. Otherwise, opt for Little Rock if you need Arkansas.
17. 3M- Austin, Texas- 1:28:12 PR- 1/12 (state #13)
The race of my life when everything was going right in terms of health and training. I consider this my crowning achievement as a runner. Even greater than beating my HS XC PR later that year. Very fast course with a net decline but some uphill stretches. Time was legit because you only gain half as much on a down as you lose on an up. Highly recommended race. Road trip included lunch with a HS buddy, San Antonio and Bush-41s presidential library.
18. RNR Denver. Denver, Colorado- 1:39:13- 9/12 (state #14)
Mile high elevation cost me about 3.5 minutes here though the course was relatively flat. Slightly out of shape due to a bout with plantar. Tough stretch from Miles 10-12 but a downhill finish. Good swag and an excellent destination race. Saw Garden of the Gods and a Rockies game. See Rocky Mtn. National Park if you have time. Average race performance.
19. Thunder Road- Charlotte, North Carolina- 1:34:57- 11/12 (state #15)
Started and finished in downtown Charlotte but this was a hilly trek through upscale tree-lined neighborhoods. Downhills were long and gradual while climbs were shorter and steeper. Last 5K was nearly all uphill and had to fight hard to hang on to the sub-1:35. Decent performance in which I pushed for a time that was not there on this course.
20. 13.1 LA. Los Angeles, California- 1:29:52- 1/13 (state #16)
Point to point course featuring the boardwalk, a bike trail in the sand next to the Pacific and a road in which you could view the ocean to the west and mountains to the east. Outstanding scenery and I was in top form here as well. Though a PR was out of reach, this would have been even faster if not for stomach cramps late. Road trip included lunch with a childhood friend, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the Reagan library.
21. GO! St. Louis, Missouri- 1:42:13- 4/13 (state #17)
Health was beginning to decline here. Faded early and it got worse with every mile. Very hilly course though most of the climbs were in the first 8-9 miles. Like Nashville, the early hills will beat you up and leave you with little left at the end. Solid organization and good crowd support. Toured the Budweiser plant and visited the Arch.
22. Marshall. Huntington, West Virginia-1:35:50 11/13 (state #18)
In a state with almost no flat land, this course had only 2 short hills and is definitely a PR course. Not a whole lot to do in the area but I was there to race. Wide variety of scenery including city streets, riverside and parks. I ran a solid even pace with only a mild fade the last 5K. No frills expo but a well-organized event. Lots of out of staters here and recommended if you need West Virginia.
23. Blue Ridge. Roanoke, Virginia- 1:49:26 4/14 (state #19)
On a course with 3,800 feet of elevation change, this was actually a pretty decent performance. Time means little on a course like this. You will conquer 2 major mountains with scenic views and run on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Saw Appomattox and Monticello. If you are up for a challenge and don’t care about your time, run this one. Otherwise, go with Richmond or VA Beach.
24. Blue Nose. Halifax, Nova Scotia- 1:43:26 5/14
My first international race experience was not a pretty sight. The race itself was very well organized that featured a very scenic course that was tough but fair. Downhills were short and steep but climbs were more gradual and manageable. Highlights included a downtown section, a harbor and a park overlooking the Atlantic with cheering fans. I was hampered by a draining travel schedule featuring Maine, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia plus worsening sensitivity to pills.
25. Monumental. Indianapolis, Indiana- 1:34:30 11/14 (state #20)
Flat course and a nice tour of the city through downtown and residential areas. Only 2 noticeable inclines with a few long declines as well. Lots of turns but definitely a PR course. Conditions were very blustery all the way but the rain had moved off. Ran a very even pace and was pleased with my race. High quality event.
26. Route 66. Tulsa, Oklahoma- 1:37:42- 11/14 (state #21)
Featured mostly residential areas with a couple of parks and a riverside section. Overall, a relatively non-descript event and a moderately difficult course. Faded early but managed a bit of a resurgence at the halfway point and finished with a slight negative split. Road trip included a stop in Little Rock for the Clinton presidential library. It fit my schedule well as it was just before Thanksgiving and it’s not a bad choice for Oklahoma but OKC is likely the better option. My last race as a serious runner.
27. Phoenix. Mesa, Arizona- 1:42:15- 2/15 (state #22)
By this point, I was just looking to get through it. The highlight of the trip was not the race but rather a trip to the Grand Canyon and an overnight stop in beautiful Sedona. The race itself was slightly net downhill but was mostly an imperceptible incline through mostly rural and residential areas with a finish in a shopping center rather than in Phoenix proper. Performed as well as could be expected given rapidly declining health.
28. Bluegrass. Lexington, Kentucky-1:50:46- 3/15 (state #23)
Gave it all that I had here but there was nothing there. All rural course through horse farms outside the Keeneland race course. Tough course was rolling all the way with almost no flat spots. No hill will kill you but cumulative effects will wear you down. Nice after party and medal but weak shirt. Recommend KY Derby in Louisville instead of this one.
29. Montour Trail- Robinson TWP, Pennsylvania-2:06:38 PW- 9/15 (state #24)
Located just west of Pittsburgh mostly on a crushed limestone trail. Flat and fast course but by this point, the crash was complete. All I wanted to do was finish. I expected it to suck and had gone numb to the pain. Small event with few perks. My only comment after finishing was “only 1 more to go.” Saw a Pirate game at PNC Park.
30. Spinx Runfest. Greenville, South Carolina- 1:56:19- 10/15 (state #25)
A return to one of my old stomping grounds made the last one special. Tough but fair course that included lots of long moderate hills especially on the back half but there were flats as well. Scenic route that included city streets, trails and parks but the major flaw was a lack of Gatorade on the course. Pleased with the improvement over last time and proud of my accomplishment but sad that it may be over. Competing this far below my peak is too painful both physically and emotionally. Road trip included stops in Atlanta and Clemson.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Spinx Run Fest RR
Training:
I've averaged roughly 20 miles per week over the past 12 months which simply won't do. I had not gone longer than 7 in a single session since my last race in mid-September. I have been using new prebiotic and probiotic supplements and had not had a collapse in the last 5 days. I was cautiously hopeful for a respectable performance but 3 days out, I caught a bit of a head cold. It didn't kill my energy but certainly left me weaker.
Trip:
Left work early on Thursday and made a pit stop for the night at Nick's place in Atlanta for the night. From there, it was roughly 2.5 hours to Greenville but we made a stop in Clemson for lunch at TDs. It was one of our regular hangouts when we were students so it brought back some memories. We arrived in Greenville by late afternoon and checked into our hotel. Next, we took a walk down by a beautiful riverside trail with 2 waterfalls. Part of me still misses this place but I don't see myself leaving Birmingham. There was a reason why I chose this event for State #25 and it would be special regardless of the result. On the night before race day, my cold took a turn for the worse with a cough and stuffy nose but I did improve by the next morning. Unfortunately, my stomach was jacked up and I feared the worst on the race course.
Race plan:
I know that I can hold an 8:00 pace for 7 miles on flat terrain with something left at the end. Realistically, considering my cold and lack of fitness over the longer distance, the stretch goal was 1:50 (8:24 for 13.1) but I really wanted to be under 2 hours. My first half had been a 1:59 but I slipped all the way to 2:06 last month. I decided to shoot for about 8:20 pace for the first 3 miles then pick it up if I feel good.
Course:
Tough but fair (6 out of 10). Lots of hills especially on the back half but there were some flat sections. Thankfully, most of the climbs were long and gradual. It covered a nice mix of parks, trails and city streets but there was one MAJOR flaw with the organization. There were only 4 aid stations and NO Gatorade (only water). If this had been a warm and sunny day, I'm not sure I could have managed without electrolytes.
Race:
Not surprisingly, I was out a little faster than planned but not stupid fast and yes, the first mile was mostly a gradual decline. My stomach remained jacked up early and I was afraid that I might have to pull over multiple times but fortunately, my luck held and the discomfort actually diminished after Mile 5 or so. When I got through Mile 4 still feeling halfway decent, I knew that there was a good chance that I would not be collapsing. Early on, I was on pace for about 1:48ish, which certainly would have been acceptable today and would represent a tremendous improvement over last time. Unfortunately, I slipped a bit in the park in Mile 6 but still passed the halfway point around 55-flat (1:50 pace). However, I had been warned about the back half of the course and figured that the realistic goal was to hold a sub-2 pace over the 2nd half.
8:05- (8:05)
8:12- (16:17)
8:17- (24:34)
8:34 (33:08)
8:20 (41:28)
8:34 (50:02) 10K around 52-flat.
8:53 (58:55)
At the beginning of Mile 8, we hit our first really tough hill and I decided to take a short walk break to save myself for the end. Probably a good call but fears of a collapse were creeping back. Thankfully, the course went back down for the remained of the mile and it was not long before I was back on pace. Mile 10 contained another tough stretch with a climb on the trail followed by a turn on to the road that revealed more uphill. Once again, I was reduced to walking. By this point, I was doing math in my head and calculating how much of a fade I could endure yet still break 2 hours. To my relief, I found that even if I slipped to 10:00 pace the rest of the way, I could still make it with about 2 minutes to spare. Miles 11 contained 1 long downhill and a fairly long flat section through another loop in the park but I was running on fumes by this point. Then, Mile 12 was just about as bad as advertised. It was a long steady moderate grade for almost the entire mile and this time, I took a longer walk break. I feared that it would be all uphill to the finish, which may put the sub-2 in jeopardy but yet again, when I knew I could not take any more climbing and my calves stabbed with pain, the course went back down briefly. Mile 13 was a more gentle incline most of the way before a turn into the minor league baseball stadium and a finish at home plate. I knew that I was looking at a 1:56:xx so I did not push it too hard down the stretch. I really didn't have much to give anyway.
8:50 (1:07:45)
8:56 (1:16:41)
9:29 (1:26:10)
9:19 (1:35:29)
10:31 (1:46:00)
9:34 (1:55:34)
:45 (last .09)
Final thoughts:
I have now completed at least a half marathon in half the states, which completes the Half2Run Challenge. I am proud of what I have accomplished and pleased by the 10+ minute improvement over last month but the predominant emotion is sadness. I am simply not in condition to do this anymore. I looked so bad on the walk back that several people asked me if I was okay. Still, I think I have shown enough improvement to at least postpone the retirement decision until I get the results from Yasko and give the sulfur detox products another try. They might work now if the prebiotics improved my mal-absorption issues.
Official result:
Time of 1:56:19. Probably around the 50th percentile for my new AG.
I've averaged roughly 20 miles per week over the past 12 months which simply won't do. I had not gone longer than 7 in a single session since my last race in mid-September. I have been using new prebiotic and probiotic supplements and had not had a collapse in the last 5 days. I was cautiously hopeful for a respectable performance but 3 days out, I caught a bit of a head cold. It didn't kill my energy but certainly left me weaker.
Trip:
Left work early on Thursday and made a pit stop for the night at Nick's place in Atlanta for the night. From there, it was roughly 2.5 hours to Greenville but we made a stop in Clemson for lunch at TDs. It was one of our regular hangouts when we were students so it brought back some memories. We arrived in Greenville by late afternoon and checked into our hotel. Next, we took a walk down by a beautiful riverside trail with 2 waterfalls. Part of me still misses this place but I don't see myself leaving Birmingham. There was a reason why I chose this event for State #25 and it would be special regardless of the result. On the night before race day, my cold took a turn for the worse with a cough and stuffy nose but I did improve by the next morning. Unfortunately, my stomach was jacked up and I feared the worst on the race course.
 |
| Falls Park |
Race plan:
I know that I can hold an 8:00 pace for 7 miles on flat terrain with something left at the end. Realistically, considering my cold and lack of fitness over the longer distance, the stretch goal was 1:50 (8:24 for 13.1) but I really wanted to be under 2 hours. My first half had been a 1:59 but I slipped all the way to 2:06 last month. I decided to shoot for about 8:20 pace for the first 3 miles then pick it up if I feel good.
Course:
Tough but fair (6 out of 10). Lots of hills especially on the back half but there were some flat sections. Thankfully, most of the climbs were long and gradual. It covered a nice mix of parks, trails and city streets but there was one MAJOR flaw with the organization. There were only 4 aid stations and NO Gatorade (only water). If this had been a warm and sunny day, I'm not sure I could have managed without electrolytes.
Race:
Not surprisingly, I was out a little faster than planned but not stupid fast and yes, the first mile was mostly a gradual decline. My stomach remained jacked up early and I was afraid that I might have to pull over multiple times but fortunately, my luck held and the discomfort actually diminished after Mile 5 or so. When I got through Mile 4 still feeling halfway decent, I knew that there was a good chance that I would not be collapsing. Early on, I was on pace for about 1:48ish, which certainly would have been acceptable today and would represent a tremendous improvement over last time. Unfortunately, I slipped a bit in the park in Mile 6 but still passed the halfway point around 55-flat (1:50 pace). However, I had been warned about the back half of the course and figured that the realistic goal was to hold a sub-2 pace over the 2nd half.
8:05- (8:05)
8:12- (16:17)
8:17- (24:34)
8:34 (33:08)
8:20 (41:28)
8:34 (50:02) 10K around 52-flat.
8:53 (58:55)
At the beginning of Mile 8, we hit our first really tough hill and I decided to take a short walk break to save myself for the end. Probably a good call but fears of a collapse were creeping back. Thankfully, the course went back down for the remained of the mile and it was not long before I was back on pace. Mile 10 contained another tough stretch with a climb on the trail followed by a turn on to the road that revealed more uphill. Once again, I was reduced to walking. By this point, I was doing math in my head and calculating how much of a fade I could endure yet still break 2 hours. To my relief, I found that even if I slipped to 10:00 pace the rest of the way, I could still make it with about 2 minutes to spare. Miles 11 contained 1 long downhill and a fairly long flat section through another loop in the park but I was running on fumes by this point. Then, Mile 12 was just about as bad as advertised. It was a long steady moderate grade for almost the entire mile and this time, I took a longer walk break. I feared that it would be all uphill to the finish, which may put the sub-2 in jeopardy but yet again, when I knew I could not take any more climbing and my calves stabbed with pain, the course went back down briefly. Mile 13 was a more gentle incline most of the way before a turn into the minor league baseball stadium and a finish at home plate. I knew that I was looking at a 1:56:xx so I did not push it too hard down the stretch. I really didn't have much to give anyway.
8:50 (1:07:45)
8:56 (1:16:41)
9:29 (1:26:10)
9:19 (1:35:29)
10:31 (1:46:00)
9:34 (1:55:34)
:45 (last .09)
Final thoughts:
I have now completed at least a half marathon in half the states, which completes the Half2Run Challenge. I am proud of what I have accomplished and pleased by the 10+ minute improvement over last month but the predominant emotion is sadness. I am simply not in condition to do this anymore. I looked so bad on the walk back that several people asked me if I was okay. Still, I think I have shown enough improvement to at least postpone the retirement decision until I get the results from Yasko and give the sulfur detox products another try. They might work now if the prebiotics improved my mal-absorption issues.
Official result:
Time of 1:56:19. Probably around the 50th percentile for my new AG.
 |
| Finish inside stadium |
Monday, October 26, 2015
Training 10/26-10/31 (race week)
10/26- I know I said there would be no more training updates but I DON'T WANT TO RETIRE! I miss it already and I still have 1 race to go. I'll still jog casually as long as I can.
It was more testing today at Gold's:
In a very pleasant surprise, I found that I was able to tolerate low dose FOS. The blahs of the past weekend were replaced by over-stimulation. ADHS helped a little but it was not effective enough.
Trial 1: 1 mile stop and go in 7:08 (2:20-2:25-2:23). Extra ADHS and extra FOS were tolerated but I still felt very overstimulated and it would have been a Mendoza line performance over 3 miles. Still, it was good news that I was not significantly worse after a 2nd FOS (I dare not go higher). Then, it was the moment of truth: How would I respond to Thym-Adren?
Began on low dose, which was clearly not enough but I did improve to a 6:54 on a non-stop Mile at tempo effort. I then tried the full dose (6 pills) and was afraid that I over-did it and still believe that I did so. Nevertheless, it was a pretty solid effort over 3 miles. The time was 21:22 (7:07 pace) with splits of 7:05-7:13-7:04. This formula would NOT have worked even yesterday. Perhaps my tolerance to Thym-Adren + FOS will improve in time but for now, I'm going conservative with those pills. More importantly, I have another faint glimmer of hope.
Distance=5.0
10/27- Easy 7 at Gold's in 54:52 (7:50 pace). Good preparation for the race. Passed 6 miles in 47:30 (7:55 avg) with every mile at or below 8:00. Felt comfortable aside from a few aches and pains in the foot and groin but the pace felt fine. Picked up the pace after 6.5 and ran the next quarter mile in 1:52 then came home with a 93 second quarter despite tight turns. Can I hold this pace for another 6 miles on fresh legs? The fact that I had something left suggests that the answer is yes. The would bring me home in 1:43 and change. I still plan to go out ultra conservative and shoot for a negative split, which I have done a few times in a half (Memphis, Mercedes, Tulsa).
Pills: Stuck with 2 FOS but cut the Thym-Adren from 6 pills to 4. VERY encouraging that I can still have a decent workout even if my dose is slightly off and 1 pill does NOT make a huge difference!
Distance=7.0
10/28- Trak Shak 3 in the daylight for the last time this year. My gut tells me it will NOT be the last time ever. Finished the distance in 21:36 at tempo effort (7:12 pace). Not a bad performance but I was hoping to handle 5 at that pace. Splits were 6:57-7:12-7:30 so I faded but didn't collapse. Overall time was not significantly worse than Monday but if you base it solely on how I felt, it was. 4 Thym-Adren pills won't be enough. It's got to be 6+ at least for the time being.
Distance=3.0
10/29- 2.5 mile prep run on Lakeshore. Finished in 18:57 (7:35 pace) but was not pleased with how I felt. Significant fade but not a collapse and I would have come in under the Mendoza line if I had gone another half mile. I took mega Thym-Adren today and apparently it was too much. Not pleased that I remain sensitive to this stuff. It will be 6 pills race morning.
10/30- Planned rest day. Drive to Greenville.
10/31- Spinx Run Fest in 1:56:19 officially. A 10 minute improvement over last month in PA but it hurt like hell. No more halves until further notice.
11/1- Planned rest day but did do some experimentation.
Stuff that I could not tolerate before and still can't:
B-12 and ACE nucleotide product. The latter was dumped down the drain.
Stuff that I could not tolerate before and NOW I CAN:
Sparga (Excellent news) and Whole Food C.
It was more testing today at Gold's:
In a very pleasant surprise, I found that I was able to tolerate low dose FOS. The blahs of the past weekend were replaced by over-stimulation. ADHS helped a little but it was not effective enough.
Trial 1: 1 mile stop and go in 7:08 (2:20-2:25-2:23). Extra ADHS and extra FOS were tolerated but I still felt very overstimulated and it would have been a Mendoza line performance over 3 miles. Still, it was good news that I was not significantly worse after a 2nd FOS (I dare not go higher). Then, it was the moment of truth: How would I respond to Thym-Adren?
Began on low dose, which was clearly not enough but I did improve to a 6:54 on a non-stop Mile at tempo effort. I then tried the full dose (6 pills) and was afraid that I over-did it and still believe that I did so. Nevertheless, it was a pretty solid effort over 3 miles. The time was 21:22 (7:07 pace) with splits of 7:05-7:13-7:04. This formula would NOT have worked even yesterday. Perhaps my tolerance to Thym-Adren + FOS will improve in time but for now, I'm going conservative with those pills. More importantly, I have another faint glimmer of hope.
Distance=5.0
10/27- Easy 7 at Gold's in 54:52 (7:50 pace). Good preparation for the race. Passed 6 miles in 47:30 (7:55 avg) with every mile at or below 8:00. Felt comfortable aside from a few aches and pains in the foot and groin but the pace felt fine. Picked up the pace after 6.5 and ran the next quarter mile in 1:52 then came home with a 93 second quarter despite tight turns. Can I hold this pace for another 6 miles on fresh legs? The fact that I had something left suggests that the answer is yes. The would bring me home in 1:43 and change. I still plan to go out ultra conservative and shoot for a negative split, which I have done a few times in a half (Memphis, Mercedes, Tulsa).
Pills: Stuck with 2 FOS but cut the Thym-Adren from 6 pills to 4. VERY encouraging that I can still have a decent workout even if my dose is slightly off and 1 pill does NOT make a huge difference!
Distance=7.0
10/28- Trak Shak 3 in the daylight for the last time this year. My gut tells me it will NOT be the last time ever. Finished the distance in 21:36 at tempo effort (7:12 pace). Not a bad performance but I was hoping to handle 5 at that pace. Splits were 6:57-7:12-7:30 so I faded but didn't collapse. Overall time was not significantly worse than Monday but if you base it solely on how I felt, it was. 4 Thym-Adren pills won't be enough. It's got to be 6+ at least for the time being.
Distance=3.0
10/29- 2.5 mile prep run on Lakeshore. Finished in 18:57 (7:35 pace) but was not pleased with how I felt. Significant fade but not a collapse and I would have come in under the Mendoza line if I had gone another half mile. I took mega Thym-Adren today and apparently it was too much. Not pleased that I remain sensitive to this stuff. It will be 6 pills race morning.
10/30- Planned rest day. Drive to Greenville.
10/31- Spinx Run Fest in 1:56:19 officially. A 10 minute improvement over last month in PA but it hurt like hell. No more halves until further notice.
11/1- Planned rest day but did do some experimentation.
Stuff that I could not tolerate before and still can't:
B-12 and ACE nucleotide product. The latter was dumped down the drain.
Stuff that I could not tolerate before and NOW I CAN:
Sparga (Excellent news) and Whole Food C.
Saturday, October 24, 2015
FOS supplement/ Road trip and Farewell tour
One of the key things I learned from the recent trial and error (mostly error) over the past few weeks is that NO AMOUNT of adrenal suppressants will EVER be enough to balance my chemistry. It was enough to keep me afloat for a few years (if I took the precise dose) but as my sulfate toxicity continues to worsen, so does my overall health.
I've read several articles that have suggested that extreme high sulfates can indeed CAUSE runaway adrenal activity. That does make sense to me. Now, if by some miracle I can reduce my sulfate toxicity, I may not even need mega doses of Thym-Adren. I can then address the methylation, which should solve the sensitivity issues. In other words, things will work smoothly and I will be less dependent on pills and I can finally start living.
Sulfates must be less than 800 before any methylation can be tolerated. I don't know my exact number but would not be surprised if it's over 5,000. All urine test strips showed all 4 squares changing color (over 1600) even when the sample was diluted with water. I have tried everything to fix this problem including orinthine, butyrate, Sparga, Yucca, Molybdenum, CBS drops, CBS/NOS caps and B-12. I've had negative reactions to all of them. By negative reactions, I mean overwhelming fatigue and depression. The only exception has been B-12 but I am beginning to think I may have an excess after all. Maybe it's not a transport issue. I am most definitely worse off than I was before I started taking it.
There was one other product that I had yet to try, which is FOS listed on Metabolic Healing's website for CBS mutations.
What is FOS?
It's a fiber based prebiotic supplement intended to help with digestion and mal-absorption. I'm also taking a probiotic (good bacteria) but have found that an enzyme supplement is a non-factor (no reaction to it at all). I ordered the product online but it won't be shipped until Monday and the origin is in California so I may not receive it until after I leave for South Carolina. I want to go into what will probably be my last race knowing that I did everything I could so I would look to see where I could find it in a brick and mortar store. I found a listing for it at a health food store in Auburn (2 hrs from B'ham). With nothing better to do today, I took the road trip.
Road trip report:
I made a "triangle" in which I took US-280 going southeast, which is a direct route but given that you pass through some towns along the way, it may be faster to take the interstate. Anyway, the trip was smooth and although the store did not have the product that I ordered, I found another brand with the same key ingredient. Going back, I took the interstate first going west to Monty and then back on I-65 north to home.
I made 3 stops along the way. First was Metro Fitness gym in East Montgomery. I would have liked to walk around inside for a few minutes but did not feel right about it since I am no longer a member there. I did catch a glimpse of the indoor track, where I enjoyed many workouts and made a good friend named Susi. Next stop was the park in Millbrook where I trained regularly after work and even ran an unofficial marathon there. I didn't cry but I felt a lot of emotion as I walked around that park remembering all those hard long runs knowing that it's probably over after next weekend. I also remembered the stops at the gas station across the street caked with salt when I bought a "recovery drink." Finally, I stopped at one of my favorite independent restaurants, the Front Porch Grill, where I enjoyed a tasty ribeye. My job did suck in Monty and I struggled with loneliness but I do have some good memories as well.
Early reaction to the FOS:
The over-stimulation that I felt earlier in the day (despite taking the suppressant) faded shortly after taking the pill and left me with the same old flu-like malaise. I tried to run shortly after I got home in mid-afternoon and was awful. The workout was on Wisteria and I managed only a 4:44 on the downside then popped another FOS and was even worse (5:38) on the upside for an absolutely pathetic 10:22 MILE.
Run #2 came about an hour later after taking 2 ADHS (modulator). Immediately after starting, I knew I was better. I passed the half mile in 3:54 and merely hoped to hang on for a sub-8. Much to my surprise, I saw a 7:33 when I finished (MINUS 2:49), which means I did the upside in 3:39.
Sunday- I took the suggested dose of FOS and it SUCKED! I did not even need to run to find it had failed but I did jog about 100 meters before quitting.
In the afternoon, I continued the farewell tour. I stopped briefly at the old Sportplex location, which is no longer used as a health club and just drove around. Next, I went downtown to the start/finish line of Vulcan and Mercedes. I jogged around Linn Park before hitting the last part of the race course on 20th St. and the final turn before the finish. Again, the memories came flooding back and brought me close to tears. I could almost see the volunteer putting the medal around my neck, the post-race picture in Linn Park and the post-race party in the Boutwell Auditorium. Finally, I drove the Sloss Furnace, the site of Rumpshaker. I simply drove the final bridge climb and the straightaway to the finish. The emotion was not as strong here because I only raced here twice and once was it memorable. I'm glad that I did have one last decent speed session with Johnny last week. Now, I hope the Trak Shak run will be decent next Wednesday.
I've read several articles that have suggested that extreme high sulfates can indeed CAUSE runaway adrenal activity. That does make sense to me. Now, if by some miracle I can reduce my sulfate toxicity, I may not even need mega doses of Thym-Adren. I can then address the methylation, which should solve the sensitivity issues. In other words, things will work smoothly and I will be less dependent on pills and I can finally start living.
Sulfates must be less than 800 before any methylation can be tolerated. I don't know my exact number but would not be surprised if it's over 5,000. All urine test strips showed all 4 squares changing color (over 1600) even when the sample was diluted with water. I have tried everything to fix this problem including orinthine, butyrate, Sparga, Yucca, Molybdenum, CBS drops, CBS/NOS caps and B-12. I've had negative reactions to all of them. By negative reactions, I mean overwhelming fatigue and depression. The only exception has been B-12 but I am beginning to think I may have an excess after all. Maybe it's not a transport issue. I am most definitely worse off than I was before I started taking it.
There was one other product that I had yet to try, which is FOS listed on Metabolic Healing's website for CBS mutations.
What is FOS?
It's a fiber based prebiotic supplement intended to help with digestion and mal-absorption. I'm also taking a probiotic (good bacteria) but have found that an enzyme supplement is a non-factor (no reaction to it at all). I ordered the product online but it won't be shipped until Monday and the origin is in California so I may not receive it until after I leave for South Carolina. I want to go into what will probably be my last race knowing that I did everything I could so I would look to see where I could find it in a brick and mortar store. I found a listing for it at a health food store in Auburn (2 hrs from B'ham). With nothing better to do today, I took the road trip.
Road trip report:
I made a "triangle" in which I took US-280 going southeast, which is a direct route but given that you pass through some towns along the way, it may be faster to take the interstate. Anyway, the trip was smooth and although the store did not have the product that I ordered, I found another brand with the same key ingredient. Going back, I took the interstate first going west to Monty and then back on I-65 north to home.
I made 3 stops along the way. First was Metro Fitness gym in East Montgomery. I would have liked to walk around inside for a few minutes but did not feel right about it since I am no longer a member there. I did catch a glimpse of the indoor track, where I enjoyed many workouts and made a good friend named Susi. Next stop was the park in Millbrook where I trained regularly after work and even ran an unofficial marathon there. I didn't cry but I felt a lot of emotion as I walked around that park remembering all those hard long runs knowing that it's probably over after next weekend. I also remembered the stops at the gas station across the street caked with salt when I bought a "recovery drink." Finally, I stopped at one of my favorite independent restaurants, the Front Porch Grill, where I enjoyed a tasty ribeye. My job did suck in Monty and I struggled with loneliness but I do have some good memories as well.
Early reaction to the FOS:
The over-stimulation that I felt earlier in the day (despite taking the suppressant) faded shortly after taking the pill and left me with the same old flu-like malaise. I tried to run shortly after I got home in mid-afternoon and was awful. The workout was on Wisteria and I managed only a 4:44 on the downside then popped another FOS and was even worse (5:38) on the upside for an absolutely pathetic 10:22 MILE.
Run #2 came about an hour later after taking 2 ADHS (modulator). Immediately after starting, I knew I was better. I passed the half mile in 3:54 and merely hoped to hang on for a sub-8. Much to my surprise, I saw a 7:33 when I finished (MINUS 2:49), which means I did the upside in 3:39.
Sunday- I took the suggested dose of FOS and it SUCKED! I did not even need to run to find it had failed but I did jog about 100 meters before quitting.
In the afternoon, I continued the farewell tour. I stopped briefly at the old Sportplex location, which is no longer used as a health club and just drove around. Next, I went downtown to the start/finish line of Vulcan and Mercedes. I jogged around Linn Park before hitting the last part of the race course on 20th St. and the final turn before the finish. Again, the memories came flooding back and brought me close to tears. I could almost see the volunteer putting the medal around my neck, the post-race picture in Linn Park and the post-race party in the Boutwell Auditorium. Finally, I drove the Sloss Furnace, the site of Rumpshaker. I simply drove the final bridge climb and the straightaway to the finish. The emotion was not as strong here because I only raced here twice and once was it memorable. I'm glad that I did have one last decent speed session with Johnny last week. Now, I hope the Trak Shak run will be decent next Wednesday.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
B-12 blood test results (serum)
The reference range is roughly 200-900 (can't recall the exact numbers) but the word on the street is that the optimal range is near the top of the scale. Less than 500 may actually produce symptoms of deficiency. The optimal range is roughly 750-1000. What's my number?
I am off the scale. I did not even get an exact figure. It simply said "Greater than 2000."
What to make of it?
I don't know. I did read some rather scary articles about a high B-12 without supplementation being linked to serious liver, kidney disease or worse. I'm not concerned about that because yes, I have been supplementing for several months. The more likely scenario is that I am actually deficient within the cells. On my old hair tests, Cobalt (the B-12 mineral) has always tested very low. Thus, the mineral is in excess in the serum but cannot reach the cells and thus, symptoms of deficiency result. One mineral that is critical for transport of B-12 is Lithium. I remain extremely intolerant to even minute doses of that stuff. I won't know much of anything until I get Yasko's tests back, which should be around mid-November. I e-mailed her again asking for any basic information based on the results that have come back. I doubt that I'll get a response.
I am leaning heavily towards retirement now. I may not be physically burned out but emotionally, I sure am. All of these lab tests and "better with or without" tests that change from one week to the next have taken their toll. At the end of the day, I just don't enjoy this anymore.
I AM GOING OFF THE B-12 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
I am off the scale. I did not even get an exact figure. It simply said "Greater than 2000."
What to make of it?
I don't know. I did read some rather scary articles about a high B-12 without supplementation being linked to serious liver, kidney disease or worse. I'm not concerned about that because yes, I have been supplementing for several months. The more likely scenario is that I am actually deficient within the cells. On my old hair tests, Cobalt (the B-12 mineral) has always tested very low. Thus, the mineral is in excess in the serum but cannot reach the cells and thus, symptoms of deficiency result. One mineral that is critical for transport of B-12 is Lithium. I remain extremely intolerant to even minute doses of that stuff. I won't know much of anything until I get Yasko's tests back, which should be around mid-November. I e-mailed her again asking for any basic information based on the results that have come back. I doubt that I'll get a response.
I am leaning heavily towards retirement now. I may not be physically burned out but emotionally, I sure am. All of these lab tests and "better with or without" tests that change from one week to the next have taken their toll. At the end of the day, I just don't enjoy this anymore.
I AM GOING OFF THE B-12 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Hydroxy B-12 and ADHS (The formula?)
Here's a list of CBS mutation related products that I have tried. All have failed. For the record, I have a compound heterozygous mutation for CBS, which is worsened by a homozygous mutation for NOS.
- Activated Charcoal
-Yucca
-Yasko's CBS drops
-Yasko's CBS/NOS caps
-Orinthine
-Sparga (tolerated this for a while)
-Yasko's SUOX drops
-Molybdenum
-Hydroxy B-12 (can't be taken with Thym-Adren)
It was suggested to me that perhaps CBS was not a problem after all. Just having the genetic mutation does not mean that treatment is necessary. It has to be activated before it can cause a problem. In my case, taurine and ammonia tested mildly high on the UAA test but not through the roof. However, the sulfate test strips consistently show a value above 1600 whereas it should be no higher than 800. There is no doubt in my mind that I am burdened by toxic sulfur. Yet, all the treatment options that supposedly helped detox caused OVERWHELMING fatigue and depression.
I believe that Thym-Adren was the culprit. Thym-Adren slows down thyroid and adrenal function and thus may slow down the elimination of toxins. Would the above treatments have worked if I had not been taking the Thym-Adren and consistently abstained from caffeine? I know that Sparga is continuing to fail but am not sure of the other ones. I'm giving molybdenum and Yucca another shot so I'll find out this coming week.
Endodren (adrenal stimulant)-
I dealt with copper and cadmium toxicity last year and turned to Endodren for relief from the detox symptoms. It was effective on a temporary basis but this year, I only got 1 good day out of it. I may need it again if I have a strong detox reaction to Yucca or moly.
Hydroxy B-12:
Because of my genetics, I must take this form rather than methyl. Throughout most of the summer, I took 1 pill (1000 mcg) almost every day. Unfortunately, I don't think that's strong enough to make a significant dent in the sulfates. I need at least 2 pills. Also, there is strong evidence that caffeine use somehow interferes with the B-12 metabolism. It has become obvious that the fatigue, depression and flu-like malaise that I have experienced is NOT a thyroid/adrenal problem but rather a very strong detox reaction. I can't just ride it out because it's just too severe. It is also obvious that B-12 is ABSOLUTELY necessary. Without it, I will NEVER eliminate the sulfates and the Thym-Adren
+ Cal/Mag will NEVER be enough to balance my chemistry. Also, I will NEVER be able to tolerate methyl, which is needed to solve sensitivity issues.
I cannot take either Thym-Adren (adrenal suppressant) OR Endodren (adrenal stimulant) with the B-12 so it's ADHS (modulator) or BUST!
Changes;
Since taking the 2 B-12 pills every day, I have noticed that my urine reeks of sulfur especially shortly after taking B-12 and my body odor has increased. That's certainly not pleasant but it is a good sign for the detox process.
Retirement decision:
My performance in South Carolina will not be a factor. I've proven again last week that I am still capable of a decent race if I get lucky with the pills. It will depend on my training and how I feel leading up to race day. If I find a winning formula that is stable between now and the end of the month, you bet I'll continue training and racing.
On the horizon:
Assuming that Yasko keeps her word, I will get several test results sometime in November. It seems unlikely that I will find out anything earth shattering that I don't already know. What is most important to me is the hair test. Those results will either confirm or rule out Mercury toxicity. It will take 2 consecutive bad tests before I pull the trigger on the amalgam removal but it's a "go" in that case for sure.
-There are also 2 more naturopaths that may be worth a consult (Gail Clayton and Metabolic Healing)
-A blood test for B-12 costs just $49 through Request A Test and that will be done this week.
-If all else fails, it's anti-depressants.
Final point:
Even if I do retire, I will continue fighting for wellness and will still run occasionally but I will not race again or blog about running.
- Activated Charcoal
-Yucca
-Yasko's CBS drops
-Yasko's CBS/NOS caps
-Orinthine
-Sparga (tolerated this for a while)
-Yasko's SUOX drops
-Molybdenum
-Hydroxy B-12 (can't be taken with Thym-Adren)
It was suggested to me that perhaps CBS was not a problem after all. Just having the genetic mutation does not mean that treatment is necessary. It has to be activated before it can cause a problem. In my case, taurine and ammonia tested mildly high on the UAA test but not through the roof. However, the sulfate test strips consistently show a value above 1600 whereas it should be no higher than 800. There is no doubt in my mind that I am burdened by toxic sulfur. Yet, all the treatment options that supposedly helped detox caused OVERWHELMING fatigue and depression.
I believe that Thym-Adren was the culprit. Thym-Adren slows down thyroid and adrenal function and thus may slow down the elimination of toxins. Would the above treatments have worked if I had not been taking the Thym-Adren and consistently abstained from caffeine? I know that Sparga is continuing to fail but am not sure of the other ones. I'm giving molybdenum and Yucca another shot so I'll find out this coming week.
Endodren (adrenal stimulant)-
I dealt with copper and cadmium toxicity last year and turned to Endodren for relief from the detox symptoms. It was effective on a temporary basis but this year, I only got 1 good day out of it. I may need it again if I have a strong detox reaction to Yucca or moly.
Hydroxy B-12:
Because of my genetics, I must take this form rather than methyl. Throughout most of the summer, I took 1 pill (1000 mcg) almost every day. Unfortunately, I don't think that's strong enough to make a significant dent in the sulfates. I need at least 2 pills. Also, there is strong evidence that caffeine use somehow interferes with the B-12 metabolism. It has become obvious that the fatigue, depression and flu-like malaise that I have experienced is NOT a thyroid/adrenal problem but rather a very strong detox reaction. I can't just ride it out because it's just too severe. It is also obvious that B-12 is ABSOLUTELY necessary. Without it, I will NEVER eliminate the sulfates and the Thym-Adren
+ Cal/Mag will NEVER be enough to balance my chemistry. Also, I will NEVER be able to tolerate methyl, which is needed to solve sensitivity issues.
I cannot take either Thym-Adren (adrenal suppressant) OR Endodren (adrenal stimulant) with the B-12 so it's ADHS (modulator) or BUST!
Changes;
Since taking the 2 B-12 pills every day, I have noticed that my urine reeks of sulfur especially shortly after taking B-12 and my body odor has increased. That's certainly not pleasant but it is a good sign for the detox process.
Retirement decision:
My performance in South Carolina will not be a factor. I've proven again last week that I am still capable of a decent race if I get lucky with the pills. It will depend on my training and how I feel leading up to race day. If I find a winning formula that is stable between now and the end of the month, you bet I'll continue training and racing.
On the horizon:
Assuming that Yasko keeps her word, I will get several test results sometime in November. It seems unlikely that I will find out anything earth shattering that I don't already know. What is most important to me is the hair test. Those results will either confirm or rule out Mercury toxicity. It will take 2 consecutive bad tests before I pull the trigger on the amalgam removal but it's a "go" in that case for sure.
-There are also 2 more naturopaths that may be worth a consult (Gail Clayton and Metabolic Healing)
-A blood test for B-12 costs just $49 through Request A Test and that will be done this week.
-If all else fails, it's anti-depressants.
Final point:
Even if I do retire, I will continue fighting for wellness and will still run occasionally but I will not race again or blog about running.
Training 10/19-10/25
2 B-12 pills plus ADHS (as much as I need) is my last option. Any collapse between now and Greenville that is not without an explanation such as caffeine use or trying a new pill and THAT DOES IT! This might be my last training post.
10/19- Tried Yucca last night and got an immediate and SEVERE negative reaction. I don't think it was detox because Endodren didn't help and probably put me further in the hole. At least there was an explanation today. I knew it was going to suck and it did. 2 miles at Veteran's Park (3 laps around the lake) in a time of 18:48 (9:24 pace). Splits were 5:49-6:19-6:40. UGLY! I will try molybdenum tonight so I get another free pass tomorrow. I'm also doing the B-12 blood test in the morning.
10/20- Bad reaction to Molybdenum last night leaves Hydroxy B-12 as the only option to reduce sulfates. I've also eliminated Jigsaw Mag and replaced it with plain Mag malate. I'm going to cut the Pectasol, Histidine and GB-3. All are probably non-factors but I don't want to chance it with anything else. Woke up very overstimulated and the ADHS made me feel only slightly better. My tolerance to B-12 has improved however and went to the lab this morning to get it tested. I could get the results as early as tomorrow. No running this morning.
PM- I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! Johnny's workout at Vestavia. 5x800 plus a 400 for dessert. Went with ADHS in the morning and managed just a 4:15-4:09 for the first 2 then popped 1 THYM-ADREN (a disaster last week) and improved to 3:37. Popped another pill and finished the workout pretty strong. Last splits were 3:00-2:57 then finished with a 77 final quarter. Will Thym-Adren work tomorrow? Who knows.
Distance=3.0
Update: Sent the last Yasko test at lunch today. It was a stool test and yes, it was disgusting. I'll spare you the details. I only cared about the hair and urine test and really wish Yasko had given me the test results one at a time. Tomorrow will be a morning workout and another Thym-Adren test.
10/21- AM- Woke up VERY overstimulated so I hit Gold's for the tests.
3 laps in 2:48 (8:24 pace) no Thym Adren
3 laps in 2:24 (7:12 pace) 2 Thym-Adren
3 laps in 1:58 (5:54 pace) 4 Thym-Adren
Last week I needed an adrenal stimulant. Today, I needed an adrenal suppressant.
PM- Took 2 more pills after the morning session and still didn't feel like it was enough. Hit Lakeshore for the workout. Passed 4 miles in 29:38 (7:24 pace), tried to push it in the last mile but felt my knee start to give out around 4.2. Thankfully, it appears to be okay. I was not about to chance it at this point. An injury would mean that I would have to wait until next year to finish the Half2Run challenge. I shut it down and just jogged the last 3/4 mile around 8:20ish pace. Finished with an overall time of 37:45 (7:33 pace). Got home to find that my blood B-12 test is off the scale HIGH. That usually means a transport issue is to blame and it's actually low within the cells. Interesting day to say the least.
Distance= 6.0
10/22- COLLAPSE. Aborted a Lakeshore run. After a fast start, I faded before the Mile marker then had to jog it back. Finished 2 miles in 15:14 (7:37 pace) but the splits were 7:09-8:05. I'm afraid that does it. I did have a Green Tea the last 2 days but that's only 20 mg. of caffeine so I doubt that's the problem. Sulfates are still over 1600. Barring a miracle turnaround this weekend, it's over.
Distance=2.0
10/23- Planned rest day. Would not have done well in a run. I think my best chance of a decent race is to cut out the B-12. It is possible that I could not even tolerate the 20 mg caffeine in Green Tea for a few days. My new theory is that I have some sort of digestion/malabsorption issue that requires prebiotics rather than enzymes. This is TRULY my last conservative option.
10/24- FOS trial and error
Run #1- 1 Mile in 10:22
Run #2- 1 Mile in 7:33
Distance=2.0
10/25- FAILURE! Just some light spurts of jogging downtown.
Distance=1.0
Weekly summary:
I must face it sooner or later and I really want to keep a flicker of hope alive but in all likelihood, it's over. Tomorrow, I will attempt a lower dose of FOS and if that fails, it's back to all Cal/Mag + Thym-Adren until race day. I just want it to be done now.
Distance= 16 miles
10/19- Tried Yucca last night and got an immediate and SEVERE negative reaction. I don't think it was detox because Endodren didn't help and probably put me further in the hole. At least there was an explanation today. I knew it was going to suck and it did. 2 miles at Veteran's Park (3 laps around the lake) in a time of 18:48 (9:24 pace). Splits were 5:49-6:19-6:40. UGLY! I will try molybdenum tonight so I get another free pass tomorrow. I'm also doing the B-12 blood test in the morning.
10/20- Bad reaction to Molybdenum last night leaves Hydroxy B-12 as the only option to reduce sulfates. I've also eliminated Jigsaw Mag and replaced it with plain Mag malate. I'm going to cut the Pectasol, Histidine and GB-3. All are probably non-factors but I don't want to chance it with anything else. Woke up very overstimulated and the ADHS made me feel only slightly better. My tolerance to B-12 has improved however and went to the lab this morning to get it tested. I could get the results as early as tomorrow. No running this morning.
PM- I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! Johnny's workout at Vestavia. 5x800 plus a 400 for dessert. Went with ADHS in the morning and managed just a 4:15-4:09 for the first 2 then popped 1 THYM-ADREN (a disaster last week) and improved to 3:37. Popped another pill and finished the workout pretty strong. Last splits were 3:00-2:57 then finished with a 77 final quarter. Will Thym-Adren work tomorrow? Who knows.
Distance=3.0
Update: Sent the last Yasko test at lunch today. It was a stool test and yes, it was disgusting. I'll spare you the details. I only cared about the hair and urine test and really wish Yasko had given me the test results one at a time. Tomorrow will be a morning workout and another Thym-Adren test.
10/21- AM- Woke up VERY overstimulated so I hit Gold's for the tests.
3 laps in 2:48 (8:24 pace) no Thym Adren
3 laps in 2:24 (7:12 pace) 2 Thym-Adren
3 laps in 1:58 (5:54 pace) 4 Thym-Adren
Last week I needed an adrenal stimulant. Today, I needed an adrenal suppressant.
PM- Took 2 more pills after the morning session and still didn't feel like it was enough. Hit Lakeshore for the workout. Passed 4 miles in 29:38 (7:24 pace), tried to push it in the last mile but felt my knee start to give out around 4.2. Thankfully, it appears to be okay. I was not about to chance it at this point. An injury would mean that I would have to wait until next year to finish the Half2Run challenge. I shut it down and just jogged the last 3/4 mile around 8:20ish pace. Finished with an overall time of 37:45 (7:33 pace). Got home to find that my blood B-12 test is off the scale HIGH. That usually means a transport issue is to blame and it's actually low within the cells. Interesting day to say the least.
Distance= 6.0
10/22- COLLAPSE. Aborted a Lakeshore run. After a fast start, I faded before the Mile marker then had to jog it back. Finished 2 miles in 15:14 (7:37 pace) but the splits were 7:09-8:05. I'm afraid that does it. I did have a Green Tea the last 2 days but that's only 20 mg. of caffeine so I doubt that's the problem. Sulfates are still over 1600. Barring a miracle turnaround this weekend, it's over.
Distance=2.0
10/23- Planned rest day. Would not have done well in a run. I think my best chance of a decent race is to cut out the B-12. It is possible that I could not even tolerate the 20 mg caffeine in Green Tea for a few days. My new theory is that I have some sort of digestion/malabsorption issue that requires prebiotics rather than enzymes. This is TRULY my last conservative option.
10/24- FOS trial and error
Run #1- 1 Mile in 10:22
Run #2- 1 Mile in 7:33
Distance=2.0
10/25- FAILURE! Just some light spurts of jogging downtown.
Distance=1.0
Weekly summary:
I must face it sooner or later and I really want to keep a flicker of hope alive but in all likelihood, it's over. Tomorrow, I will attempt a lower dose of FOS and if that fails, it's back to all Cal/Mag + Thym-Adren until race day. I just want it to be done now.
Distance= 16 miles
Monday, October 12, 2015
Training 10/12-10/18
10/12- I was wrong. Too much B-12 is indeed harmful. I went with 4 mg. of hydroxy yesterday and took 2 mg. more this morning with zero Thym-Adren. Hit Lakeshore this morning and this time, I faded before the Mile marker then turned around. Finished with 2 miles in 15:54 (7:57 pace) with splits of 7:38-8:16. Popped 2 more after the run and was noticeable WORSE. Did another half mile in 4:44 (9:28 pace). Again, the Pectasol and Histidine were non-factors.
PM- Good news. I popped 1 Endodren (adrenal stimulant) and improved to 7:14 for 1 Mile on Wisteria. Down side in 3:34 and Upside in 3:40. That's more evidence that B-12 does indeed indirectly suppress adrenal function. Tomorrow's plan is a double workout. I'm going down to 2 B-12 pills and may struggle in the morning but expect to improve by the afternoon for a better with or without Thym-Adren test.
Distance=3.5
10/13-AM- Expected to struggle and it was worse than expected. Managed just 1 mile at Gold's in a time of 8:31. After taking 4 B-12 pills the last 2 days, I took 2 more this morning. I might be better this evening.
Update:
In an interesting development, I had to pee shortly after the run and tested the sample using sulfate test strips. Even when diluted, the reading was still off the charts (over 1600). Did the B-12 remove it? I did feel a little better immediately afterwards. I want to see where I stand off the B-12 for at least several hours.
PM- 2.5 miler out and back on Jemison as planned. Still awfully sluggish but considerably better than the morning debacle. Did the first half @ 7:32 pace then hung on for a 7:48 on the back half. Overall time was 19:10 (7:40 pace) so I faded but did not collapse. Still, a 5K race would not have been much below 24.
Distance=3.5
Evening update:
The GB-3 (for mal-absorption) has arrived and so far, it is a non-factor as expected. It will come down to the B-12 and Thym-Adren. I do have one insurance policy left and that is the MTRR nucleotide from Yasko.
Tomorrow, I will not take any B-12 and fully expect to become over-stimulated and require Thym-Adren. That's right, I will flip from one side of the spectrum to the other within 24-48 hours. I guarantee it too! More to come later in an explanation post.
10/14- The overstimulation hit me as soon as I woke up so it was even sooner than I expected. Mega Thym-Adren did help but it wasn't enough. This confirms what I already knew. The B-12 is necessary and no amount of Cal/Mag+ Thym-Adren can rein in the runaway adrenal function. Workout was the 3 mile Trak Shak loop on a beautiful Fall evening. A nearly all out effort got me in just below the Mendoza line with a time of 23:39 (7:53 pace). Only good news is that the pace was steady. I actually managed a slight negative split overall (7:55-7:56-7:48).
Now I know that mega Thym-Adren won't work and neither will mega B-12. A combination might do it. I took B-12 at night and am going with a moderate Thym-Adren dose tomorrow.
Distance= 3.0
10/15- Learned a lot today in an unplanned rest day. Took only 1 B-12 last night and woke up only mildly overstimulated so the moderate dose of Thym-Adren should work? WRONG! IMMEDIATE NEGATIVE REACTION! Even with abstinence from caffeine, no combination of B-12 and Thym-Adren will EVER work. The MTRR nucleotide product arrived today and I felt a very modest positive response but not enough to be significant and certainly not a miracle cure.
Reaction:
This leaves me with just 3 possible combos.
#1- 1 B-12 + ADHS- pretty much what I took without success most of the summer. The only difference is that I am consistently off caffeine. I doubt that it will make much difference.
#2- 2 B-12 + ADHS- I already know that this dose of B-12 alone will leave me lethargic. Can the ADHS modulate my energy production? I'll need a higher dose to do it.
#3- 2 B-12 + Endodren- This is the bold option and I'm going with it. Slow oxidation symptoms have dominated since starting B-12. I won't know why until I get the hair test results. I believe this is my best chance to at least string together a few weeks of decent health.
10/16-AM- Better with or without test. Took 2 B-12 last night and as expected, I was awful early.
I had seen enough after only 3 laps at Gold's in 2:42 (8:06 pace) and rapidly slowing.
Popped 1 Endodren- Improved to 2:20 (7:00 pace).
Popped a 2nd Endodren- Improved to 2:00 (6:00 pace).
Is this the long-term answer? I doubt it. More likely, it is only providing temporary relief from intolerable detox symptoms. Still, this is probably my best chance for a decent showing in South Carolina. I have 2 weeks to train and start in earnest this evening.
PM- Lakeshore 5 in 36:30 (7:18 pace). Good job. First day on Endodren. Although I doubt that it's the permanent solution, this was the best day I've had in a long time. I don't feel comfortable taking more than 3 Endodren even though it may result in more gains. Perhaps all the CBS treatments that failed back in April will work on the Endodren. Yucca may be worth another shot. I expect that as the sulfur clears, I will revert back to fast oxidation symptoms so I must monitor it closely with better with or without tests. 1st half: 17:58, 2nd half: 18:32 so I faded but did not collapse.
Distance=6.0
10/17- FAILURE! 4 miles in 35:56 (8:59 pace). Never did feel good. Aimed for 8 minute pace and hit the first mile on target then began to struggle. 1st half: 16:36, 2nd half: 19:20. It was obvious that it was too much Endodren. That's okay. I'll endure a rough day today then cut the dose tomorrow. I'll start with 1 then go up to 2 if need be.
Distance=4.0
10/18- Endodren has officially FAILED. Took just 1 pill this morning and did not need to run to know it. It's ADHS or bust now. I expect that the retirement decision will be made next week. Even if I pull out a decent day in South Carolina, it won't change it.
PM- Popped 3 ADHS (modulator) and felt better though not good enough for a decent workout. Still quite overstimulated. Did 2 miles at Spain Park's track in a time of 15:32 (7:46 pace). Splits were 7:23-8:09 so more of the same.
Distance=22 miles for the week.
PM- Good news. I popped 1 Endodren (adrenal stimulant) and improved to 7:14 for 1 Mile on Wisteria. Down side in 3:34 and Upside in 3:40. That's more evidence that B-12 does indeed indirectly suppress adrenal function. Tomorrow's plan is a double workout. I'm going down to 2 B-12 pills and may struggle in the morning but expect to improve by the afternoon for a better with or without Thym-Adren test.
Distance=3.5
10/13-AM- Expected to struggle and it was worse than expected. Managed just 1 mile at Gold's in a time of 8:31. After taking 4 B-12 pills the last 2 days, I took 2 more this morning. I might be better this evening.
Update:
In an interesting development, I had to pee shortly after the run and tested the sample using sulfate test strips. Even when diluted, the reading was still off the charts (over 1600). Did the B-12 remove it? I did feel a little better immediately afterwards. I want to see where I stand off the B-12 for at least several hours.
PM- 2.5 miler out and back on Jemison as planned. Still awfully sluggish but considerably better than the morning debacle. Did the first half @ 7:32 pace then hung on for a 7:48 on the back half. Overall time was 19:10 (7:40 pace) so I faded but did not collapse. Still, a 5K race would not have been much below 24.
Distance=3.5
Evening update:
The GB-3 (for mal-absorption) has arrived and so far, it is a non-factor as expected. It will come down to the B-12 and Thym-Adren. I do have one insurance policy left and that is the MTRR nucleotide from Yasko.
Tomorrow, I will not take any B-12 and fully expect to become over-stimulated and require Thym-Adren. That's right, I will flip from one side of the spectrum to the other within 24-48 hours. I guarantee it too! More to come later in an explanation post.
10/14- The overstimulation hit me as soon as I woke up so it was even sooner than I expected. Mega Thym-Adren did help but it wasn't enough. This confirms what I already knew. The B-12 is necessary and no amount of Cal/Mag+ Thym-Adren can rein in the runaway adrenal function. Workout was the 3 mile Trak Shak loop on a beautiful Fall evening. A nearly all out effort got me in just below the Mendoza line with a time of 23:39 (7:53 pace). Only good news is that the pace was steady. I actually managed a slight negative split overall (7:55-7:56-7:48).
Now I know that mega Thym-Adren won't work and neither will mega B-12. A combination might do it. I took B-12 at night and am going with a moderate Thym-Adren dose tomorrow.
Distance= 3.0
10/15- Learned a lot today in an unplanned rest day. Took only 1 B-12 last night and woke up only mildly overstimulated so the moderate dose of Thym-Adren should work? WRONG! IMMEDIATE NEGATIVE REACTION! Even with abstinence from caffeine, no combination of B-12 and Thym-Adren will EVER work. The MTRR nucleotide product arrived today and I felt a very modest positive response but not enough to be significant and certainly not a miracle cure.
Reaction:
This leaves me with just 3 possible combos.
#1- 1 B-12 + ADHS- pretty much what I took without success most of the summer. The only difference is that I am consistently off caffeine. I doubt that it will make much difference.
#2- 2 B-12 + ADHS- I already know that this dose of B-12 alone will leave me lethargic. Can the ADHS modulate my energy production? I'll need a higher dose to do it.
#3- 2 B-12 + Endodren- This is the bold option and I'm going with it. Slow oxidation symptoms have dominated since starting B-12. I won't know why until I get the hair test results. I believe this is my best chance to at least string together a few weeks of decent health.
10/16-AM- Better with or without test. Took 2 B-12 last night and as expected, I was awful early.
I had seen enough after only 3 laps at Gold's in 2:42 (8:06 pace) and rapidly slowing.
Popped 1 Endodren- Improved to 2:20 (7:00 pace).
Popped a 2nd Endodren- Improved to 2:00 (6:00 pace).
Is this the long-term answer? I doubt it. More likely, it is only providing temporary relief from intolerable detox symptoms. Still, this is probably my best chance for a decent showing in South Carolina. I have 2 weeks to train and start in earnest this evening.
PM- Lakeshore 5 in 36:30 (7:18 pace). Good job. First day on Endodren. Although I doubt that it's the permanent solution, this was the best day I've had in a long time. I don't feel comfortable taking more than 3 Endodren even though it may result in more gains. Perhaps all the CBS treatments that failed back in April will work on the Endodren. Yucca may be worth another shot. I expect that as the sulfur clears, I will revert back to fast oxidation symptoms so I must monitor it closely with better with or without tests. 1st half: 17:58, 2nd half: 18:32 so I faded but did not collapse.
Distance=6.0
10/17- FAILURE! 4 miles in 35:56 (8:59 pace). Never did feel good. Aimed for 8 minute pace and hit the first mile on target then began to struggle. 1st half: 16:36, 2nd half: 19:20. It was obvious that it was too much Endodren. That's okay. I'll endure a rough day today then cut the dose tomorrow. I'll start with 1 then go up to 2 if need be.
Distance=4.0
10/18- Endodren has officially FAILED. Took just 1 pill this morning and did not need to run to know it. It's ADHS or bust now. I expect that the retirement decision will be made next week. Even if I pull out a decent day in South Carolina, it won't change it.
PM- Popped 3 ADHS (modulator) and felt better though not good enough for a decent workout. Still quite overstimulated. Did 2 miles at Spain Park's track in a time of 15:32 (7:46 pace). Splits were 7:23-8:09 so more of the same.
Distance=22 miles for the week.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Thym-Adren and B-12
Another horrible week is in the books and with just 20 days until my retirement date, I expect to get some kind of resolution one way or the other. I attempted to run 6 out of the 7 days but totaled just 11 miles. Today's effort has been pretty typical as of late. I felt reasonably loose and light early but felt the power cut off suddenly around 1.3 miles. I was still at 11:18 (7:32 pace) through 1.5 but saw the collapse coming and turned around. Despite my best effort, I managed only a 12:52 (8:35 pace) on the back side. If I had kept going, it would have been over 10:00 by Mile 5 and a half marathon race would have been about as bad as Montour 4 weeks ago (2:06) if not worse. Here's what I am up against:
EXTREME high sulfates- Every test strip shows sulfates through the roof (over 1600). Yasko says it must be below 800 before any methyl donors can be tolerated. I have tried EVERYTHING out there for sulfur detox but everything I've tried causes overwhelming fatigue and depression. I recently read an article that high sulfates can cause "fight or flight" adrenal symptoms. BINGO!
If that's true, it does make a lot of sense. Why else would I require mega Thym-Adren (adrenal suppressants) every day or else? Thus, it may be possible to reduce my need for those pills if I can get the sulfates down. How do I do that? B-12 could be a solution. Yes, that's right. The same B-12 that I recently posted that I could not tolerate.
More on B-12 and Lithium:
Lithium is a NO. I was so bad on Thursday that I had to stay home from work. I won't know until I get the hair test results but it seems likely that Lithium never was low. Rather, it was the caffeine that prevented me from tolerating the B-12. I've gone on and off caffeine many times over the past few years and it's obvious that my system works differently depending on whether I am on or off. If I cheat 1 day, no big deal. 2-3 days in a row is another matter.
Mini-Rant:
The hair test results have almost certainly arrived but Yasko has refused to send me the results until I do all the other tests. I can't be too angry because she gave me those tests for free. However, she did fail to respond to a very basic question about results. specifically my Lithium, Cobalt and Sulfur levels. That's poor customer service and is inexcusable!
On caffeine:
Cannot tolerate B-12 at all and may not be able to take Thym-Adren either but ADHS works.
Off caffeine:
ADHS seems to be a NO. It appears that I can take as much B-12 as I want but there is a catch. If I take mega B-12, I cannot tolerate Thym-Adren! I suppose that does make sense because I've read evidence that B-12 does lower sulfate levels. Thus, it indirectly slows my runaway adrenal function and reduces my need for adrenal suppressants. Of course, I won't know for sure until I get a hair test done after having taken B-12 consistently without caffeine. One interesting observation is that even if I take too much Thym-Adren, extra B-12 does NOT seem to hurt me but extra Thym-Adren does. On Friday, I did a junk run on Wisteria and came through 0.75 miles in 5:53 then popped a B-12 pill and came back with a 5:35. I did not test it on a longer run because of the expected collapse in Mile 2. I popped an extra Thym-Adren when I got back home and got an immediate negative reaction.
B-12 and Sulfur:
I've observed several times that my tolerance for sulfur seems to improve if I am taking B-12, which is more evidence that yes, it does indeed reduce sulfates and thus indirectly, slow runaway adrenal function.
Other pills:
I have ordered Pectasol for detox (specifically mercury) and Histidine for "sulfur metabolism". Both arrived this weekend and in both cases, the early results are "Ineffective but not harmful." I'm going to finish the bottles but not re-order barring a change. I've also ordered a product called GB-3 for possible malabsorption issues. I'm betting that it will also be a non-factor. In all likelihood, it will come down to finding the right balance of B-12 and Thym-Adren! Next week, I will experiment with various combinations until I find a winner. Then, I must hope against hope that the new winning formula is relatively stable. Again, I expect that within 20 days, I will get a resolution one way or the other. If this plan fails, I face retirement.
Amalgam removal:
I am still considering this but will not pull the trigger unless both this hair test and the next one while on the B-12 show strong evidence of Mercury toxicity. I will be using Cutler's counting method to determine that. Look it up if you are interested. Again, it's a risky procedure that cannot be undone so I believe that I am wise not to rush into it. If by some miracle that it is the answer to my problems, I will come out of retirement and race again next year and beyond.
Anti-depressants:
That's the only thing that a traditional MD (Mineral Denialist) has ever given me. I know that my genetics will not allow me to tolerate SSRIs or SNRIs. The only one that I would take is Wellbutrin, which is dopamine based. I have no anxiety or crying spells common when serotonin is low but cannot feel pleasure or happiness regardless of circumstances. Going down that route is also a long shot and also represents a concession on my part that the natural approach, which I once believed to be my life's mission to promote, has failed me. It will be done only if both the B-12 and amalgam removal fail. I will also come out of retirement in the unlikely event this works.
Once again, it will likely come down to the right mix of B-12 and Thym-Adren and I expect to know 1 way or the other in 20 days.
EXTREME high sulfates- Every test strip shows sulfates through the roof (over 1600). Yasko says it must be below 800 before any methyl donors can be tolerated. I have tried EVERYTHING out there for sulfur detox but everything I've tried causes overwhelming fatigue and depression. I recently read an article that high sulfates can cause "fight or flight" adrenal symptoms. BINGO!
If that's true, it does make a lot of sense. Why else would I require mega Thym-Adren (adrenal suppressants) every day or else? Thus, it may be possible to reduce my need for those pills if I can get the sulfates down. How do I do that? B-12 could be a solution. Yes, that's right. The same B-12 that I recently posted that I could not tolerate.
More on B-12 and Lithium:
Lithium is a NO. I was so bad on Thursday that I had to stay home from work. I won't know until I get the hair test results but it seems likely that Lithium never was low. Rather, it was the caffeine that prevented me from tolerating the B-12. I've gone on and off caffeine many times over the past few years and it's obvious that my system works differently depending on whether I am on or off. If I cheat 1 day, no big deal. 2-3 days in a row is another matter.
Mini-Rant:
The hair test results have almost certainly arrived but Yasko has refused to send me the results until I do all the other tests. I can't be too angry because she gave me those tests for free. However, she did fail to respond to a very basic question about results. specifically my Lithium, Cobalt and Sulfur levels. That's poor customer service and is inexcusable!
On caffeine:
Cannot tolerate B-12 at all and may not be able to take Thym-Adren either but ADHS works.
Off caffeine:
ADHS seems to be a NO. It appears that I can take as much B-12 as I want but there is a catch. If I take mega B-12, I cannot tolerate Thym-Adren! I suppose that does make sense because I've read evidence that B-12 does lower sulfate levels. Thus, it indirectly slows my runaway adrenal function and reduces my need for adrenal suppressants. Of course, I won't know for sure until I get a hair test done after having taken B-12 consistently without caffeine. One interesting observation is that even if I take too much Thym-Adren, extra B-12 does NOT seem to hurt me but extra Thym-Adren does. On Friday, I did a junk run on Wisteria and came through 0.75 miles in 5:53 then popped a B-12 pill and came back with a 5:35. I did not test it on a longer run because of the expected collapse in Mile 2. I popped an extra Thym-Adren when I got back home and got an immediate negative reaction.
B-12 and Sulfur:
I've observed several times that my tolerance for sulfur seems to improve if I am taking B-12, which is more evidence that yes, it does indeed reduce sulfates and thus indirectly, slow runaway adrenal function.
Other pills:
I have ordered Pectasol for detox (specifically mercury) and Histidine for "sulfur metabolism". Both arrived this weekend and in both cases, the early results are "Ineffective but not harmful." I'm going to finish the bottles but not re-order barring a change. I've also ordered a product called GB-3 for possible malabsorption issues. I'm betting that it will also be a non-factor. In all likelihood, it will come down to finding the right balance of B-12 and Thym-Adren! Next week, I will experiment with various combinations until I find a winner. Then, I must hope against hope that the new winning formula is relatively stable. Again, I expect that within 20 days, I will get a resolution one way or the other. If this plan fails, I face retirement.
Amalgam removal:
I am still considering this but will not pull the trigger unless both this hair test and the next one while on the B-12 show strong evidence of Mercury toxicity. I will be using Cutler's counting method to determine that. Look it up if you are interested. Again, it's a risky procedure that cannot be undone so I believe that I am wise not to rush into it. If by some miracle that it is the answer to my problems, I will come out of retirement and race again next year and beyond.
Anti-depressants:
That's the only thing that a traditional MD (Mineral Denialist) has ever given me. I know that my genetics will not allow me to tolerate SSRIs or SNRIs. The only one that I would take is Wellbutrin, which is dopamine based. I have no anxiety or crying spells common when serotonin is low but cannot feel pleasure or happiness regardless of circumstances. Going down that route is also a long shot and also represents a concession on my part that the natural approach, which I once believed to be my life's mission to promote, has failed me. It will be done only if both the B-12 and amalgam removal fail. I will also come out of retirement in the unlikely event this works.
Once again, it will likely come down to the right mix of B-12 and Thym-Adren and I expect to know 1 way or the other in 20 days.
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