If I can finish Detroit next weekend and that is an IF, it would take me up to 39 race states. I've given up on the idea of racing half marathons on back to back days. Unless I am in sub-3:40 full marathon shape, back to back 13 mile training runs will not be a lot of fun. I'd also prefer to avoid back to back weekend combos unless I can find LOTS of stuff to do in the 5-6 days between races. The rental car is often the biggest expense of the trip. They may quote a reasonable $30/day rate but there are all sorts of hidden fees, taxes, insurance and prepaid fuel that it usually ends up being more than double that amount. A 7 day rental will cost an arm and a leg. No thanks. On the bright side, this does open up a lot of new possibilities. Here is what's on my mind:
Set in Stone:
Washington- RnR Seattle. This race is in June, which is the dry season up there. I'll turn it into a near epic road trip with stops in Cannon Beach, Mt. Hood, Mt. Ranier and Vancouver, BC
South Dakota- Spearfish Canyon in July. Heat could be an issue here but it does start at high altitude and goes downhill. In something that only I would do, I'll go 8 hours out of my way to see Regina, Sasketchewan. I've only got 3 more Canadian provinces to go and this is my best chance to check off this one. Closer to the race site, I definitely want to see Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands National Park.
Maryland- Salisbury in April. This is probably the front runner for next Spring. I'll fly to Philly and head down the Delmarva peninsula then come back through Richmond and the Chesapeake Bay.
Rhode Island- Newport in October. I won't say it is completely set in stone but it's pretty close. There are a few things that I'd still like to see in both Boston and NYC including a Fenway Park tour and the Empire State Building. This will be a scenic but somewhat difficult course so I hope I am up for it.
Maine and New Hampshire- Yes, I am willing to double here. Maine has a Monday race near Portland in May as part of the same New England challenge that I used for Vermont this year. From there, I will go to Quebec, Montreal and Ottawa before returning to the USA in New Hampshire for a Saturday race. I'll be gone a whole week but this would be epic.
Hawaii- I'm saving this one for state #50 and I'm hoping to finish by 2021. Odds are the one that I will target is a race in November on Veteran's Day weekend so it would be the last race of the year.
Flexible:
Utah- There are 3 Cottonwood Canyon races that are basically the same course in May, June and September. I'll get to see at least 3 National Parks, possibly even the full Mighty 5 going to and from Salt Lake City.
Delaware- I can pick just about any race any time of year now that the combo with New Jersey is out. The one that I am leaning towards is Caesar Rodney in late March. The race is held in Wilmington on a Sunday. It's just over 30 minutes from the Philly airport so I can do this one without missing any time at work. I can also get a quick sample of Philly including the Rocky Statue, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.
Iowa- Again, just about any race will do since I've already got Nebraska. I'd probably go with one of 3 possible options in either Des Moines or Cedar Rapids. I'll fly into Chicago and want 2 days of touring there. Must sees include either the John Hancock or Willis Tower, Rush Street, Millennium Park and Lake Michigan.
Connecticut- I'd lean towards something in Hartford here. I know there is one in early October but a Spring race will do as well. Odds are in this case, since I would have already done lots of touring in New England, I'll just fly up and back within 2 days and may not even rent a car.
Unfinished Business:
New Jersey- I've not raced on the road or trail here. My only organized race was a Junior Olympic track meet at Rutgers way back in 1995. Yes, it's a real race but not a half marathon and not as an adult. I found one in September that could allow me to swing another birthday visit/race trip similar to DC this year. It's in Jersey City partly along the river with views of the Manhattan skyline. I could fly to Newark and just take Uber to the hotel.
Minnesota- Here, I did finish an organized race and completed 13.1 miles but the official race distance was cut short due to heat and humidity. Not my fault but it's still iffy to count it and my unofficial time was over 2 hours. The official race would be in early June in Fergus Falls near Fargo. It should be nice and cool further north and allows access to Winnipeg, Manitoba. That would leave only Newfoundland to visit in Canada.
Pennsylvania- I did finish here but it was over 2 hours in a low key race. Pittsburgh in May is the replacement. As long as I am in shape to break 2 hours, it's a go.
Massachusetts- Again, I finished but running with a nasty sinus headache, I was over 2 hours. The replacement race would be in Boston on Memorial Day weekend and could be combined with another Atlantic provinces Canada trip. This one will likely wait until I finish 50.
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Colorado/Nebraska Road Trip Report
I decided pretty much on a whim to take this trip. I saw that there was a western Nebraska half marathon on Columbus Day weekend (State holiday) in the town of North Platte. It's roughly 3.5 hours from Denver, which is one of my favorite cities to visit. I wasn't expecting much in the race so this whole trip was just for fun. Lastly, Nebraska was my only visited state that did not include a tourist attraction so I wanted to shore that up now rather than later.
Weather:
For the 3rd straight trip, this would be a major factor. I was looking at a dry and pleasant day on Saturday (60 in Denver) with a chilly and windy rain (40F/20 mph) over the next 2 days. For this reason, I decided to reverse the initial plan to save the mountains for after the race. Saturday would be my best chance and I knew that a chilly rain in Denver meant snow in the mountains with possible road closures and unsafe conditions. The only downside would be lots of driving and a late arrival before race day. So What! I wasn't going to set any records anyway.
Saturday:
I was up at 4 AM to catch a 6:05 flight out of Birmingham with a short connection in Dallas. Due to an unexpected long line at Security, I got there with just a few minutes to spare but the rest of the trip was smooth and I got in at 10 AM as planned. I ate quickly at the airport then hit the road to the mountains. The route was I-70 W to US-40 then hopefully Trail Ridge Road before the Interstate to Nebraska. Although I saw some pretty awesome scenery, Trail Ridge Road, which goes up to 12,000 ft. elevation was closed at the top due to snow the previous day. Rats! That meant I would have to take a detour and instead of getting to Nebraska at 9 PM, I would not arrive until 11. Ouch! I really can't fault them for closing the road. There are not many guard rails and if you hit the ice and slide off that road, you are a goner. Better safe than sorry.
The detour road was Hwy 14, which was a winding canyon road with a creek to my right and extremely steep rock formations to my left with occasional views of snow capped peaks in the distance. Beautiful scenery but not so good if you are in a hurry. Fortunately, I got to the Interstate at Fort Collins before dark and it was clear sailing to Nebraska. Despite being up since 4, I held up okay and would get 6-7 hours of sleep that night.
Sunday:
The race was called the Autumn River Run. It was super convenient with a start and finish at the host hotel. All I had to do was go down 1 flight of stairs then out the door and I was at the starting line. It was actually a pretty interesting course with highways and dirt trails partly next to corn fields and partly alongside a river. It was nearly dead flat but the elevation of 2800 probably cost me 60-90 seconds over 13.1 miles.
Fresh off a relapse on the medical front and running with a tender ankle, I was just looking to survive with a finish under 2 hours. I set out at a comfortable 8:40 pace and held it for 10 miles before the expected fade. Comfortably under the barrier and running in nasty weather conditions, I just cruised it in with a 1:57:xx and didn't really care. Another state is in the books and I still have a shot at all 50 under 2 hours. I still need the B-complex but the Molybdenum needs to be cut out and it probably hurt me out there today.
The perception of Nebraska is that it is nothing but high plains and corn fields. That is not accurate. If you venture off Interstate 80, you will find a mix of flats and rolling terrain with lots of sand hills in addition to cornfields. I stopped briefly at a lake as well as Chimney Rock but the real treasure was Scottsbluff Monument and the old Oregon Trail. It was a beautiful rock formation with stunning views from the summit despite a bit of fog. From there, it was back to Estes Park, Colorado for the night. I did treat myself to a steak at a local restaurant in Cheyenne, Wyoming on the way. If you have a goal to visit all 50 states, Scottsbluff, Nebraska and Cheyenne, Wyoming are legitimate tourist destinations within reach of Denver so that could be 3 states right there.
Monday:
I awoke to a dusting of snow and clouds which dipped below the mountain peaks. That made for beautiful scenery at 7,000 feet but very poor visibility at 10,000. Even if Trail Ridge was open, I would not have been able to see anything. Instead, it was Canyon Blvd into Boulder then US-36 to Denver.
Once I got into town, I parked my car and took a stroll down 16th St. Mall in the LoDo district plus a couple of side streets to Cherry Creek. I purchased a nice blue Colorado sweatshirt and some Mellow Mushroom Pizza. Fortunately, there was a free shuttle along the road so I hopped on when I need to stay warm. Next, I went down Broadway to the Capitol area and ended up inside again at the Colorado History museum. That was pretty interesting as well.
Finally, it was a ride on Colfax to City Park. I did a junk run around the lake and got a decent shot of the skyline from the top of a small hill. Darkness was coming soon so I headed back towards the airport and splurged a bit on the hotel. The flight back home was direct this time and went off smoothly.
Weather:
For the 3rd straight trip, this would be a major factor. I was looking at a dry and pleasant day on Saturday (60 in Denver) with a chilly and windy rain (40F/20 mph) over the next 2 days. For this reason, I decided to reverse the initial plan to save the mountains for after the race. Saturday would be my best chance and I knew that a chilly rain in Denver meant snow in the mountains with possible road closures and unsafe conditions. The only downside would be lots of driving and a late arrival before race day. So What! I wasn't going to set any records anyway.
Saturday:
I was up at 4 AM to catch a 6:05 flight out of Birmingham with a short connection in Dallas. Due to an unexpected long line at Security, I got there with just a few minutes to spare but the rest of the trip was smooth and I got in at 10 AM as planned. I ate quickly at the airport then hit the road to the mountains. The route was I-70 W to US-40 then hopefully Trail Ridge Road before the Interstate to Nebraska. Although I saw some pretty awesome scenery, Trail Ridge Road, which goes up to 12,000 ft. elevation was closed at the top due to snow the previous day. Rats! That meant I would have to take a detour and instead of getting to Nebraska at 9 PM, I would not arrive until 11. Ouch! I really can't fault them for closing the road. There are not many guard rails and if you hit the ice and slide off that road, you are a goner. Better safe than sorry.
The detour road was Hwy 14, which was a winding canyon road with a creek to my right and extremely steep rock formations to my left with occasional views of snow capped peaks in the distance. Beautiful scenery but not so good if you are in a hurry. Fortunately, I got to the Interstate at Fort Collins before dark and it was clear sailing to Nebraska. Despite being up since 4, I held up okay and would get 6-7 hours of sleep that night.
Sunday:
The race was called the Autumn River Run. It was super convenient with a start and finish at the host hotel. All I had to do was go down 1 flight of stairs then out the door and I was at the starting line. It was actually a pretty interesting course with highways and dirt trails partly next to corn fields and partly alongside a river. It was nearly dead flat but the elevation of 2800 probably cost me 60-90 seconds over 13.1 miles.
The perception of Nebraska is that it is nothing but high plains and corn fields. That is not accurate. If you venture off Interstate 80, you will find a mix of flats and rolling terrain with lots of sand hills in addition to cornfields. I stopped briefly at a lake as well as Chimney Rock but the real treasure was Scottsbluff Monument and the old Oregon Trail. It was a beautiful rock formation with stunning views from the summit despite a bit of fog. From there, it was back to Estes Park, Colorado for the night. I did treat myself to a steak at a local restaurant in Cheyenne, Wyoming on the way. If you have a goal to visit all 50 states, Scottsbluff, Nebraska and Cheyenne, Wyoming are legitimate tourist destinations within reach of Denver so that could be 3 states right there.
Monday:
I awoke to a dusting of snow and clouds which dipped below the mountain peaks. That made for beautiful scenery at 7,000 feet but very poor visibility at 10,000. Even if Trail Ridge was open, I would not have been able to see anything. Instead, it was Canyon Blvd into Boulder then US-36 to Denver.
Once I got into town, I parked my car and took a stroll down 16th St. Mall in the LoDo district plus a couple of side streets to Cherry Creek. I purchased a nice blue Colorado sweatshirt and some Mellow Mushroom Pizza. Fortunately, there was a free shuttle along the road so I hopped on when I need to stay warm. Next, I went down Broadway to the Capitol area and ended up inside again at the Colorado History museum. That was pretty interesting as well.
Finally, it was a ride on Colfax to City Park. I did a junk run around the lake and got a decent shot of the skyline from the top of a small hill. Darkness was coming soon so I headed back towards the airport and splurged a bit on the hotel. The flight back home was direct this time and went off smoothly.
Training 10/8-10/14
10/8- Junk run around the lake in Denver's City Park. Not concerned about the time especially at altitude and the day after a race. For the record, I covered 1 Mile in 8:17 with the last quarter mile near 7:00 pace. No complaints. Added a half mile cool. I may tweak a couple things in my formula.
Distance=1.5
10/9- Hurting. Jet lag always is harder going east. I don't think it's anything more serious than that. A couple of tweaks today. It appears that the adrenal support doesn't really matter. I could take the suppressant or the modulator and not feel much difference. I'll go with the modulator unless the HTMA is way out of bounds. The Ultimate B-complex is still needed BUT the molybdenum will be stopped. Extra Liver made things a little better. It was another junk run on Wisteria and covered the same distance as yesterday.
Distance=1.5
10/10- Gold's 3 in 26:54 (8:58 pace). Better than yesterday but still not good at all. Yes, I am still off the sugar (Day 10 now). Nearly halfway to 21. Is that the cause of the shift in chemistry? I am off the molybdenum now but something is still clearly off. Perhaps Paramin needs to be cut out as well. Does sugar increase oxalates?
Distance=3.0
10/11- Day 11. I confirmed last night that Paramin was the culprit. Less than 4 weeks ago, I needed that stuff to function. Now, I cannot function with it. Nothing surprises me anymore. Again, I managed only a junk run on Wisteria in a time of 9:27 for just 1 mile. I had better start feeling better by tomorrow. Fall has finally arrived in Alabama. It was a perfect sunny and 75 this afternoon.
Distance=1.0
10/12- Day 12. AM- Vestavia Mile in 7:41. Even splits. This was the best I could do today. 1 week from now, I'll be on my way to Detroit. I'm doing everything right and if it doesn't turn around by then, I declare it's over.
PM- 4 miles at Canterbury in 31:20 (7:50 pace). Not too bad out there today. This time, I did use the downhill to bring home a negative split on the back half. 1st half: 15:54, 2nd half: 15:26. Need 10 this weekend. Not sure if it will be Saturday or Sunday.
Distance=5.0
10/13- Day 13. I was tempted but held on. New day, new relapse, new culprit. I really should have seen this one coming. Since I am off the Paramin (citrates), my need/tolerance for Liver has decreased. I had been taking 2 of those and I upped it to 3 today, which proved to be disastrous. One piece of good news is that I got a little better after taking extra Sarcosine, which did not happen with the Paramin. Odds are that 1 Liver pill will be tolerated as long as I don't miss the Sarcosine. If not, I must go back on the synthetic B-12 and probably the molybdenum. Given the choice, I'll take the Liver. Workout was an 11:24 Mile on Wisteria. OUCH! It is quite possible that the abstinence from sugar has radically altered my chemistry. 8 more days until what I sure hope is the final resolution one way or the other.
Distance=1.0
10/14- Day 14. AM- Tried to go without Liver and the CBS NOS caps. Opened with a 2:28.5 lap then popped a CBS NOS pill and repeated the first lap almost to the tenth of a second. Continued on for a 9:59 Mile at Vestavia before another pill stop. This time, it was the Liver. Improved to an 8:56 (MINUS 63) then called it quits for this session.
Reaction:
I fared NO BETTER on the CBS/NOS versus without it. That could be a sign of a future rejection. If that pill is unnecessary, I will go without it but that will be confirmed later in the week. Odds are that I will carry it on race day but not take it unless I have to. As for the Liver, 1 pill was beneficial but I know that if I go up to 2, I will go backwards again. The fact that I did improve means that my flickering hopes will remain alive.
PM- Felt MUCH better just a few hours later. Out again at Lakeshore actually before noon. Did 2.5 miles in 19:42 (7:53 pace). After an 8:08 1st mile, I was sub-7:45 the rest of the way. Hope will remain alive. Added a half mile cool.
Distance=5.0
-18 miles on the week.
Distance=1.5
10/9- Hurting. Jet lag always is harder going east. I don't think it's anything more serious than that. A couple of tweaks today. It appears that the adrenal support doesn't really matter. I could take the suppressant or the modulator and not feel much difference. I'll go with the modulator unless the HTMA is way out of bounds. The Ultimate B-complex is still needed BUT the molybdenum will be stopped. Extra Liver made things a little better. It was another junk run on Wisteria and covered the same distance as yesterday.
Distance=1.5
10/10- Gold's 3 in 26:54 (8:58 pace). Better than yesterday but still not good at all. Yes, I am still off the sugar (Day 10 now). Nearly halfway to 21. Is that the cause of the shift in chemistry? I am off the molybdenum now but something is still clearly off. Perhaps Paramin needs to be cut out as well. Does sugar increase oxalates?
Distance=3.0
10/11- Day 11. I confirmed last night that Paramin was the culprit. Less than 4 weeks ago, I needed that stuff to function. Now, I cannot function with it. Nothing surprises me anymore. Again, I managed only a junk run on Wisteria in a time of 9:27 for just 1 mile. I had better start feeling better by tomorrow. Fall has finally arrived in Alabama. It was a perfect sunny and 75 this afternoon.
Distance=1.0
10/12- Day 12. AM- Vestavia Mile in 7:41. Even splits. This was the best I could do today. 1 week from now, I'll be on my way to Detroit. I'm doing everything right and if it doesn't turn around by then, I declare it's over.
PM- 4 miles at Canterbury in 31:20 (7:50 pace). Not too bad out there today. This time, I did use the downhill to bring home a negative split on the back half. 1st half: 15:54, 2nd half: 15:26. Need 10 this weekend. Not sure if it will be Saturday or Sunday.
Distance=5.0
10/13- Day 13. I was tempted but held on. New day, new relapse, new culprit. I really should have seen this one coming. Since I am off the Paramin (citrates), my need/tolerance for Liver has decreased. I had been taking 2 of those and I upped it to 3 today, which proved to be disastrous. One piece of good news is that I got a little better after taking extra Sarcosine, which did not happen with the Paramin. Odds are that 1 Liver pill will be tolerated as long as I don't miss the Sarcosine. If not, I must go back on the synthetic B-12 and probably the molybdenum. Given the choice, I'll take the Liver. Workout was an 11:24 Mile on Wisteria. OUCH! It is quite possible that the abstinence from sugar has radically altered my chemistry. 8 more days until what I sure hope is the final resolution one way or the other.
Distance=1.0
10/14- Day 14. AM- Tried to go without Liver and the CBS NOS caps. Opened with a 2:28.5 lap then popped a CBS NOS pill and repeated the first lap almost to the tenth of a second. Continued on for a 9:59 Mile at Vestavia before another pill stop. This time, it was the Liver. Improved to an 8:56 (MINUS 63) then called it quits for this session.
Reaction:
I fared NO BETTER on the CBS/NOS versus without it. That could be a sign of a future rejection. If that pill is unnecessary, I will go without it but that will be confirmed later in the week. Odds are that I will carry it on race day but not take it unless I have to. As for the Liver, 1 pill was beneficial but I know that if I go up to 2, I will go backwards again. The fact that I did improve means that my flickering hopes will remain alive.
PM- Felt MUCH better just a few hours later. Out again at Lakeshore actually before noon. Did 2.5 miles in 19:42 (7:53 pace). After an 8:08 1st mile, I was sub-7:45 the rest of the way. Hope will remain alive. Added a half mile cool.
Distance=5.0
-18 miles on the week.
Monday, October 1, 2018
Training 10/1-10/7- Race Week
10/1-AM- Junk mile on Wisteria. Time was 10:50. Not a lot of effort but I still should be better than this. Back on Day 1 off the sugar. Day 2 could be worse.
PM- Lakeshore 2 in 17:18 (8:39 pace). Much better than the morning session. Negative splits too. Last half mile was 4:02. I could see another crash tomorrow but at least in theory, I should improve from here.
Distance=3.0
10/2- Day 2. Usual step backward. Typically, the withdrawal symptoms peak after about 48 hours and today was no exception. 1 Mile in 9:44 on Jemison.
Distance=1.0
10/3- Day 3 and saw improvement throughout the day. 5 miles on Lakeshore in a time of 41:54 (8:23 pace). Negative splits and felt stronger as the run progressed. 1st half: 21:24, 2nd half: 20:30 with a last mile in 7:56. Foot was a bit sore afterwards but I expect to be okay. MAYBE I have a shot at a sub-2 finish in Nebraska. I can afford to slow the pace by 45 seconds but need to last 8.1 miles longer. Further improvement is possible over the next 4 days.
Distance=5.0
Weather update:
Not this again. Because of the remnants of Hurricane Rosa, the weather will be cold and unsettled. It won't rain all day but it will be hit or miss at key times of the trip. My best chance to hit Trail Ridge Road is Saturday. The forecast high in Denver on Monday is 45F with a 60% chance of rain. That means that it will be snowing at 9,000 feet and the road will be unsafe and probably closed. Saturday's high will be near 60F so even at 12,000, it probably won't snow.
10/4- Repeated the Lakeshore 5 and my time is down to 40:46 (8:09 pace) MINUS 14. Body clearly felt different today on Day 4. Legs are beginning to loosen up but there are still a lot of kinks to work out. Today, I went out faster with a 1st half in 19:53 but faded to 20:53 on the back half. Still a LOT of work to do to get back to even semi-respectable showings but I think I've got a shot at a sub-2 in Nebraska. 8.1 miles longer but I have a full minute cushion on the pace AND I'll be fresh.
Distance=5.0
10/5- Into the taper. 2 miles at a leisurely pace on Wisteria. Didn't even time it. As for the pills, I am cutting out the synthetic B-12 and will go with the Liver alone. B-12 is no longer necessary and may be slightly harmful. I may eventually quit the B-complex but that will wait until after race day. Made it through Day 5 with no problem. Almost a quarter of the way there but I had better see some big improvements soon.
Distance=2.0
10/6- Planned rest day. Just a few strides. Lots of driving.
Distance=0.5
10/7- Autumn River Run in 1:57:xx. Expectations keep getting lower and lower. I was actually somewhat pleased just to finish under 2 hours. I'm pretty much back where I started from.
Distance=13.5
PM- Lakeshore 2 in 17:18 (8:39 pace). Much better than the morning session. Negative splits too. Last half mile was 4:02. I could see another crash tomorrow but at least in theory, I should improve from here.
Distance=3.0
10/2- Day 2. Usual step backward. Typically, the withdrawal symptoms peak after about 48 hours and today was no exception. 1 Mile in 9:44 on Jemison.
Distance=1.0
10/3- Day 3 and saw improvement throughout the day. 5 miles on Lakeshore in a time of 41:54 (8:23 pace). Negative splits and felt stronger as the run progressed. 1st half: 21:24, 2nd half: 20:30 with a last mile in 7:56. Foot was a bit sore afterwards but I expect to be okay. MAYBE I have a shot at a sub-2 finish in Nebraska. I can afford to slow the pace by 45 seconds but need to last 8.1 miles longer. Further improvement is possible over the next 4 days.
Distance=5.0
Weather update:
Not this again. Because of the remnants of Hurricane Rosa, the weather will be cold and unsettled. It won't rain all day but it will be hit or miss at key times of the trip. My best chance to hit Trail Ridge Road is Saturday. The forecast high in Denver on Monday is 45F with a 60% chance of rain. That means that it will be snowing at 9,000 feet and the road will be unsafe and probably closed. Saturday's high will be near 60F so even at 12,000, it probably won't snow.
10/4- Repeated the Lakeshore 5 and my time is down to 40:46 (8:09 pace) MINUS 14. Body clearly felt different today on Day 4. Legs are beginning to loosen up but there are still a lot of kinks to work out. Today, I went out faster with a 1st half in 19:53 but faded to 20:53 on the back half. Still a LOT of work to do to get back to even semi-respectable showings but I think I've got a shot at a sub-2 in Nebraska. 8.1 miles longer but I have a full minute cushion on the pace AND I'll be fresh.
Distance=5.0
10/5- Into the taper. 2 miles at a leisurely pace on Wisteria. Didn't even time it. As for the pills, I am cutting out the synthetic B-12 and will go with the Liver alone. B-12 is no longer necessary and may be slightly harmful. I may eventually quit the B-complex but that will wait until after race day. Made it through Day 5 with no problem. Almost a quarter of the way there but I had better see some big improvements soon.
Distance=2.0
10/6- Planned rest day. Just a few strides. Lots of driving.
Distance=0.5
10/7- Autumn River Run in 1:57:xx. Expectations keep getting lower and lower. I was actually somewhat pleased just to finish under 2 hours. I'm pretty much back where I started from.
Distance=13.5
Sunday, September 30, 2018
EXTREME sugar intolerance
Here's what's up now:
ALL sugared drinks will most definitely trigger a relapse even in very small quantities such as a half can of Coke. It does NOT matter if the drink is non-caffeinated (Sprite) or non-carbonated (Powerade). The same holds true for beer for sure and probably sweet tea. Also, it does NOT matter if the drink is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup or organic cane sugar. Both are equally bad for me. Extra Liver is helpful. A small amount of Zinc is a game changer but only works if I am cheating. Otherwise, it's just as bad as the forbidden drinks.
Strangely, the only culprits are drinks NOT FOODS! I ate a bunch of strawberries and peaches this week from a local fruit stand and did not have a problem. Both contain high amounts of natural sugars. Even stranger is that salt water taffy was also tolerated. According to the labeling, just 5 pieces contain as much sugar (corn syrup) as half a can of Coke. A candy bar would likely be okay as well. Same with protein bars, which are usually loaded with artificial sugar.
Fructose malabsorption?
I thought about it but it seems highly unlikely. This has a totally different feel. With FM, without the xylose isomerase supplement, I was sensitive to EVERYTHING including fruit, which contained naturally occurring fructose. BUT drinks such as Red Bull (sweetened with glucose) were NOT a problem. I badly flunked the toe touch test within minutes of a forbidden item and that is NOT happening this time. How did I beat FM? It was caused by an extreme Magnesium deficiency as the key enzyme is dependent on Mag so once that was restored, I no longer needed the enzyme supplement. What's my current Mag status? I've not tested it in a while but I'd predict it to be sub-optimal but not nearly bad enough to explain THIS.
Any explanation or solution?
There MUST be different digestion pathways for foods and drinks. I see no other explanation for the differences in reactions. It's quite possible that the drinks have greater ill-effects on liver and kidney function than the foods. If that's true, copper dysregulation is likely to blame. Ceruloplasmin is a carrier of copper and indispensable but copper that is not bound to it can wreak havoc. Cp support is ABSOLUTELY necessary now that I must take the Paramin, which is why I need the Liver Beef supplement. Sugar breaks the bond between Copper and Cp, hence the problems. So what's up with the Zinc issues? Sugar causes the Copper to be unbound and since Zinc is antagonistic to Copper, it will clear up some of the unbound Copper. However, when I am not cheating and producing the Ceruloplasmin, there is less unbound Copper thus Zinc will reduce the "good Copper"and produce symptoms. Confused? This is more for my reference so that's okay.
Solution:
The only thing I can think of to clean out unbound Copper is Glutathione but I am unsure if it will be tolerated. The best thing to do abstain from sugared drinks for at least 21 days. Milk shakes and fruit smoothies are probably okay but I won't risk it. Water only. I've tried this many times before but lost motivation after a relapse related to the pills.
Nebraska/Colorado Trip:
I'm going regardless of my health and YES, I will be racing. The chances of a sub-2 hour finish are slim right now but I intend to try the half in Nebraska. I won't sign up until the day before race day but if I have to downgrade to the 5K, the 50 state goal will also be downgraded. DC was a freebie because it's not a state. I can't see myself returning to Nebraska any time soon even though the area that I intend to visit (Scottsbluff/North Platte) looks surprisingly beautiful. Also, the training updates will shut down for good after Detroit if this plan fails. I'll be resigned to being a casual jogger limited to 10K and below. I knew that would happen eventually but hoped it would not for another 20-25 years when I am pushing or past 60 years of age.
ALL sugared drinks will most definitely trigger a relapse even in very small quantities such as a half can of Coke. It does NOT matter if the drink is non-caffeinated (Sprite) or non-carbonated (Powerade). The same holds true for beer for sure and probably sweet tea. Also, it does NOT matter if the drink is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup or organic cane sugar. Both are equally bad for me. Extra Liver is helpful. A small amount of Zinc is a game changer but only works if I am cheating. Otherwise, it's just as bad as the forbidden drinks.
Strangely, the only culprits are drinks NOT FOODS! I ate a bunch of strawberries and peaches this week from a local fruit stand and did not have a problem. Both contain high amounts of natural sugars. Even stranger is that salt water taffy was also tolerated. According to the labeling, just 5 pieces contain as much sugar (corn syrup) as half a can of Coke. A candy bar would likely be okay as well. Same with protein bars, which are usually loaded with artificial sugar.
Fructose malabsorption?
I thought about it but it seems highly unlikely. This has a totally different feel. With FM, without the xylose isomerase supplement, I was sensitive to EVERYTHING including fruit, which contained naturally occurring fructose. BUT drinks such as Red Bull (sweetened with glucose) were NOT a problem. I badly flunked the toe touch test within minutes of a forbidden item and that is NOT happening this time. How did I beat FM? It was caused by an extreme Magnesium deficiency as the key enzyme is dependent on Mag so once that was restored, I no longer needed the enzyme supplement. What's my current Mag status? I've not tested it in a while but I'd predict it to be sub-optimal but not nearly bad enough to explain THIS.
Any explanation or solution?
There MUST be different digestion pathways for foods and drinks. I see no other explanation for the differences in reactions. It's quite possible that the drinks have greater ill-effects on liver and kidney function than the foods. If that's true, copper dysregulation is likely to blame. Ceruloplasmin is a carrier of copper and indispensable but copper that is not bound to it can wreak havoc. Cp support is ABSOLUTELY necessary now that I must take the Paramin, which is why I need the Liver Beef supplement. Sugar breaks the bond between Copper and Cp, hence the problems. So what's up with the Zinc issues? Sugar causes the Copper to be unbound and since Zinc is antagonistic to Copper, it will clear up some of the unbound Copper. However, when I am not cheating and producing the Ceruloplasmin, there is less unbound Copper thus Zinc will reduce the "good Copper"and produce symptoms. Confused? This is more for my reference so that's okay.
Solution:
The only thing I can think of to clean out unbound Copper is Glutathione but I am unsure if it will be tolerated. The best thing to do abstain from sugared drinks for at least 21 days. Milk shakes and fruit smoothies are probably okay but I won't risk it. Water only. I've tried this many times before but lost motivation after a relapse related to the pills.
Nebraska/Colorado Trip:
I'm going regardless of my health and YES, I will be racing. The chances of a sub-2 hour finish are slim right now but I intend to try the half in Nebraska. I won't sign up until the day before race day but if I have to downgrade to the 5K, the 50 state goal will also be downgraded. DC was a freebie because it's not a state. I can't see myself returning to Nebraska any time soon even though the area that I intend to visit (Scottsbluff/North Platte) looks surprisingly beautiful. Also, the training updates will shut down for good after Detroit if this plan fails. I'll be resigned to being a casual jogger limited to 10K and below. I knew that would happen eventually but hoped it would not for another 20-25 years when I am pushing or past 60 years of age.
Monday, September 24, 2018
Training 9/24-9/30
9/24- AM- The big questions were answered. Just a couple small ones remain. It was obvious upon rising that I needed BOTH Paramin and Liver Beef. No interval tests needed. Took 2 Paramin and 1 Liver then tried another Vestavia Mile. Time was down to 7:47.8 (MINUS 41) but still didn't feel all that great. Popped another Liver pill and though I didn't have time for another Mile, it was clear that it helped. Sprinted a 200 in an impressive 33.5 seconds (4:28 pace) so no doubt that another Mile would have been MUCH faster.
Reaction:
Took 2 of each and I'd say that's the best I can do right now. I won't exceed 2 but I'd like to see how I do on 1 of each. The synthetic B-12 is no longer needed because I get enough with the Liver. The molybdenum may be cut out as well.
PM- Just a junk run inside on a nasty weather day.
Distance=3.0
9/25- Unplanned rest day. Tried 1 Paramin and 2 Liver. Much better after taking the 2nd Paramin. I've also found that ANY sugared drink (even non-caffeinated) will trigger a relapse.
9/26- AM- 2x800. Tried 1 Paramin and 1 Liver- 4:25
2 of each- 3:35. MUCH better. However, by the afternoon it was clear that molybdenum is indeed necessary. Just a trace of it made things better in the evening. Tomorrow, I may have a full deck.
Distance=1.0
9/27- AM-Operating at what I presume to be a full deck, I managed a Mile in 6:37.9 at Vestavia. Not sure about my splits because it was still dark but I know my last lap was 92 and I hit a pain zone that I rarely feel nowadays. That's a good feeling. Can't be disappointed because this is my best time of the year but something still feels a little off. I was hoping for close to 6:20. Odds are that I should up my Liver to 3 or hope for gradual improvement by staying at 2. I may need to temporarily up my adrenal support as well. I hope to be back out this evening.
PM- Gold's 3 in 24:52 (8:17 pace). Definitely weakened by extra Liver. Even pace but no power or energy. I've got to go with 2 Liver and 2 Paramin and hope for gradual improvement. Another idea is to up my Sarcosine. I'm not sure if there is anything I can do that would result in a radical change.
Distance=5.0
9/28- THIS IS NUTS! Workout was a lame 3 miler on Lakeshore in a time of 25:32 (8:31 pace). Began with no adrenal support and was at 12:28 for the first half, which was comparable to yesterday evening. Took a stimulant and it was clearly not the answer. Slipped to 13:04 on the back half so I was significantly worse but it was not a night vs day difference. I would expect similar results with the suppressant.
In a stunning turn of events, I felt considerably WORSE after just a few sips of Sprite (non-caffeinated) and dumped the rest of the can. Then, I got BETTER after taking a trace of Zinc, which was disastrous just a week ago. Extra Liver didn't hurt. I can only assume that Zinc will only work if I cheat. Otherwise, it is to be avoided. Makes no sense to me. I will go without it and just hope for gradual improvement.
Distance=3.0
9/29- AM- Seaside Mile in 9:43. Extreme detox reaction. Barely made it to the bathroom after I finished but felt better afterwards.
PM- Repeated the Seaside Mile and my time was all the way down to 7:26 (MINUS 2:17). I often feel better after swimming in the ocean because the water is chock full of minerals.
Distance=2.0
9/30- Attempted to run 10 at Vestavia but had to settle for 5 in 44:55 (8:59 pace). I was doing reasonably well through 3 in 26:13 but crashed hard after that. Mile 5 would have been approaching 10:00 if not for a rally in the last lap. I blame the Powerade because I was significantly worse after drinking just a sip after Mile 3 and got "worser" after drinking more after 5. All sugared drinks are NO NOs now. I thought Powerade would be okay because it's non-carbonated. Wrong.
Distance=5.0
Reaction:
Took 2 of each and I'd say that's the best I can do right now. I won't exceed 2 but I'd like to see how I do on 1 of each. The synthetic B-12 is no longer needed because I get enough with the Liver. The molybdenum may be cut out as well.
PM- Just a junk run inside on a nasty weather day.
Distance=3.0
9/25- Unplanned rest day. Tried 1 Paramin and 2 Liver. Much better after taking the 2nd Paramin. I've also found that ANY sugared drink (even non-caffeinated) will trigger a relapse.
9/26- AM- 2x800. Tried 1 Paramin and 1 Liver- 4:25
2 of each- 3:35. MUCH better. However, by the afternoon it was clear that molybdenum is indeed necessary. Just a trace of it made things better in the evening. Tomorrow, I may have a full deck.
Distance=1.0
9/27- AM-Operating at what I presume to be a full deck, I managed a Mile in 6:37.9 at Vestavia. Not sure about my splits because it was still dark but I know my last lap was 92 and I hit a pain zone that I rarely feel nowadays. That's a good feeling. Can't be disappointed because this is my best time of the year but something still feels a little off. I was hoping for close to 6:20. Odds are that I should up my Liver to 3 or hope for gradual improvement by staying at 2. I may need to temporarily up my adrenal support as well. I hope to be back out this evening.
PM- Gold's 3 in 24:52 (8:17 pace). Definitely weakened by extra Liver. Even pace but no power or energy. I've got to go with 2 Liver and 2 Paramin and hope for gradual improvement. Another idea is to up my Sarcosine. I'm not sure if there is anything I can do that would result in a radical change.
Distance=5.0
9/28- THIS IS NUTS! Workout was a lame 3 miler on Lakeshore in a time of 25:32 (8:31 pace). Began with no adrenal support and was at 12:28 for the first half, which was comparable to yesterday evening. Took a stimulant and it was clearly not the answer. Slipped to 13:04 on the back half so I was significantly worse but it was not a night vs day difference. I would expect similar results with the suppressant.
In a stunning turn of events, I felt considerably WORSE after just a few sips of Sprite (non-caffeinated) and dumped the rest of the can. Then, I got BETTER after taking a trace of Zinc, which was disastrous just a week ago. Extra Liver didn't hurt. I can only assume that Zinc will only work if I cheat. Otherwise, it is to be avoided. Makes no sense to me. I will go without it and just hope for gradual improvement.
Distance=3.0
9/29- AM- Seaside Mile in 9:43. Extreme detox reaction. Barely made it to the bathroom after I finished but felt better afterwards.
PM- Repeated the Seaside Mile and my time was all the way down to 7:26 (MINUS 2:17). I often feel better after swimming in the ocean because the water is chock full of minerals.
Distance=2.0
9/30- Attempted to run 10 at Vestavia but had to settle for 5 in 44:55 (8:59 pace). I was doing reasonably well through 3 in 26:13 but crashed hard after that. Mile 5 would have been approaching 10:00 if not for a rally in the last lap. I blame the Powerade because I was significantly worse after drinking just a sip after Mile 3 and got "worser" after drinking more after 5. All sugared drinks are NO NOs now. I thought Powerade would be okay because it's non-carbonated. Wrong.
Distance=5.0
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Citrates, Oxalates, Liver Beef and Ceruloplasmin
Once again, recording the results of medical tests has paid off. I thought I had a Zinc deficiency, which would explain the intolerance to the IP-6, possibly the Beau's Lines on my thumbs and even maybe the weight gain and sluggishness over the past few years. While my Zinc level has usually tested normal in the plasma and in the hair, the best way to assess the status is an RBC (red blood cell) test. I wasn't sure if that was ever tested but a blog post from January of last year revealed that indeed it was. Was there a deficiency? NO! It was actually flagged as high! Forget supplementing with Zinc in that case. I'll go ahead and pitch the bottle.
Q:Why did the high oxalates flare up? Am I sure it was the oxalates?
A: It's possible that Whole Food C was the culprit because it is derived from foods that are indeed high in oxalates but more likely, it was the Sarcosine. Again, that is the one treatment that I cannot do without at this point. Without it, I become sensitive to everything. Yes, I am sure it was the oxalates because the treatment (Paramin) resolved the sensitivity to adrenal support that had only flared up recently.
Q: What is Paramin and is it necessary?
A: Paramin is a mineral supplement containing a combo of Calcium citrate and Magnesium citrate. It's on Morley's NO NO list but I've got to do what I've got to do. Symptoms of high oxalates were intolerable without it. Again, I was on it consistently until early 2013 and was a much better and more consistent performer but was eventually forced off due to intolerance to it. It must NOT be relied upon to keep my Magnesium stores up to par. Jigsaw Magnesium remains in the cocktail but if I happen to miss a day of it or forget to pack it, no big deal.
I believe it is "probably necessary." When I visited my parents last weekend, my need for it spiked and I felt better after taking it. If the Whole Food C caused the oxalates to flare up, it may not be needed now that I am off that stuff for good. However, the more likely scenario is that the Sarcosine caused it and I CANNOT quit that stuff. Nevertheless, I might try to go a couple days without it just to see what happens. The worst that can happen is that I endure a rough morning and get better again after I take it. If in the unlikely event that I don't need the Paramin, I probably won't have to mess with the Liver.
Q: Any risks with Paramin?
A: Unfortunately yes. It can and probably did deplete ceruloplasmin especially at higher doses. That's why I was so bad at the race in DC. That's why it's a NO NO according to Morley. Whole Food C won't work so Liver Beef is the only way to combat that loss. Morley wants ceruloplasmin at 30. I'm not real concerned about it being a little on the low side. I actually felt my best when it was around 20 versus at 25 so IMHO, I only need to keep it from falling below 20. I know from my history that YES, my Cp number DOES respond very well to Liver Beef so even a low dose IN THEORY should offset the loss from Paramin.
Q: Any risks with Beef Liver?
A: Again, unfortunately yes. It can crash Zinc and raise Iron. I likely overshot the balance point by taking too much Liver, which explains the brief improvement after taking Zinc. The theory is that if excess Iron is controlled through regular blood donations, Zinc will NOT crash. If the previous lab test is still accurate, I don't have to worry about low Zinc any time soon unless I really load on Liver. Though unconfirmed, I believe that if Iron is kept in check, my Zinc should be okay. Fortunately, if I can keep the Paramin dose low as it appears I can, high doses of Liver should not be necessary. I may not even have to mess with it at all if I only take 1-2. As an aside, if I do take the Liver, synthetic B-12 will NOT be needed any longer and molybdenum is a question mark. Methyl folate + DMG still is.
Needless to so, I am hurting emotionally. Every time I think I have this solved and can be consistent albeit much slower, something unexpected flares up. I really thought that by taking care of my health problems early, I would prevent chronic disease later in life and age gracefully. Not so! My expectations for the final outcome keep getting lower and lower yet I still end up disappointed and lower the expectations again. That's the exact opposite of Ephesians 3:20 and am questioning its truth. Can a degenerative condition that will ultimately lead to an early grave really happen to me? I have a Facebook friend who recently died of ALS so yes, it could. The only thing I can do if this is as good as it will get is to do as much as I can now while I still can. The Denver/Nebraska trip is a GO but I may alter the dates and take a Saturday-Tuesday trip because I can get a much better deal on the flight
Q:Why did the high oxalates flare up? Am I sure it was the oxalates?
A: It's possible that Whole Food C was the culprit because it is derived from foods that are indeed high in oxalates but more likely, it was the Sarcosine. Again, that is the one treatment that I cannot do without at this point. Without it, I become sensitive to everything. Yes, I am sure it was the oxalates because the treatment (Paramin) resolved the sensitivity to adrenal support that had only flared up recently.
Q: What is Paramin and is it necessary?
A: Paramin is a mineral supplement containing a combo of Calcium citrate and Magnesium citrate. It's on Morley's NO NO list but I've got to do what I've got to do. Symptoms of high oxalates were intolerable without it. Again, I was on it consistently until early 2013 and was a much better and more consistent performer but was eventually forced off due to intolerance to it. It must NOT be relied upon to keep my Magnesium stores up to par. Jigsaw Magnesium remains in the cocktail but if I happen to miss a day of it or forget to pack it, no big deal.
I believe it is "probably necessary." When I visited my parents last weekend, my need for it spiked and I felt better after taking it. If the Whole Food C caused the oxalates to flare up, it may not be needed now that I am off that stuff for good. However, the more likely scenario is that the Sarcosine caused it and I CANNOT quit that stuff. Nevertheless, I might try to go a couple days without it just to see what happens. The worst that can happen is that I endure a rough morning and get better again after I take it. If in the unlikely event that I don't need the Paramin, I probably won't have to mess with the Liver.
Q: Any risks with Paramin?
A: Unfortunately yes. It can and probably did deplete ceruloplasmin especially at higher doses. That's why I was so bad at the race in DC. That's why it's a NO NO according to Morley. Whole Food C won't work so Liver Beef is the only way to combat that loss. Morley wants ceruloplasmin at 30. I'm not real concerned about it being a little on the low side. I actually felt my best when it was around 20 versus at 25 so IMHO, I only need to keep it from falling below 20. I know from my history that YES, my Cp number DOES respond very well to Liver Beef so even a low dose IN THEORY should offset the loss from Paramin.
Q: Any risks with Beef Liver?
A: Again, unfortunately yes. It can crash Zinc and raise Iron. I likely overshot the balance point by taking too much Liver, which explains the brief improvement after taking Zinc. The theory is that if excess Iron is controlled through regular blood donations, Zinc will NOT crash. If the previous lab test is still accurate, I don't have to worry about low Zinc any time soon unless I really load on Liver. Though unconfirmed, I believe that if Iron is kept in check, my Zinc should be okay. Fortunately, if I can keep the Paramin dose low as it appears I can, high doses of Liver should not be necessary. I may not even have to mess with it at all if I only take 1-2. As an aside, if I do take the Liver, synthetic B-12 will NOT be needed any longer and molybdenum is a question mark. Methyl folate + DMG still is.
Needless to so, I am hurting emotionally. Every time I think I have this solved and can be consistent albeit much slower, something unexpected flares up. I really thought that by taking care of my health problems early, I would prevent chronic disease later in life and age gracefully. Not so! My expectations for the final outcome keep getting lower and lower yet I still end up disappointed and lower the expectations again. That's the exact opposite of Ephesians 3:20 and am questioning its truth. Can a degenerative condition that will ultimately lead to an early grave really happen to me? I have a Facebook friend who recently died of ALS so yes, it could. The only thing I can do if this is as good as it will get is to do as much as I can now while I still can. The Denver/Nebraska trip is a GO but I may alter the dates and take a Saturday-Tuesday trip because I can get a much better deal on the flight
Monday, September 17, 2018
DC Trip Report
Drama:
This was a trip that was almost cancelled due to the weather and more drama with the pills. In the end, Hurricane Florence stayed well south of DC. It turned out to be overcast, somewhat humid with a mild breeze and no rain. Race conditions were not bad after all and the walking tours were done in relative comfort. As for the pills, my chemistry shifted shortly after I left Birmingham and never thought to pack the supplement that I need for when that happens. I decided to downgrade from the half marathon to the 5 Miler and even that would likely be a struggle.
Trip:
I took 3 days off work so I could spend my birthday with my parents. I saw my sister, grandmother, niece and nephew as well. I got 3 nice dinners and got to see the new Unbroken movie about Louis Zamperini. Overall, I made the best of it despite not feeling well at all. From home, it was a direct flight to Reagan National (DCA). This one went off as planned. Like NYC, you are strongly advised NOT to rent a car but here, there is no need for Uber or a taxi to your hotel. The Metro is actually connected to DCA so I bought a card at the airport station then hopped on the next train. It was a long ride to the expo at the Armory in the east side of town but I arrived in plenty of time.
After checking into my hotel (Holiday Inn) near the National Mall, I took a stroll through the Capitol Hill district from Independence to Pennsylvania Ave. There are plenty of nice trendy restaurants and bars in this area but nothing appealed to me so I went back to the hotel lounge. It was twilight by the time I got back to the Mall and I highly recommend a brief tour in the dark. It's a different feel to see the monuments illuminated. I got some nice shots of the Capitol and the Washington Monument and also caught the WW2 Memorial before settling in for bed.
Race:
It started just outside the Washington Monument then looped around Tidal Basin with views of the Jefferson Memorial. The midsection of the course was all along the water with a golf course to the right. It then turned back towards the Mall for a finish back at the Washington Monument. Iconic American route. In bad shape, I simply settled into a pace that I hoped to be sustainable for 5 miles. I had NO energy at the start and expected to be reduced to a walk/slow jog within 3 miles. Surprisingly, I held the pace in the 9:30-9:40 range then managed to pick it up at the end. My time was horrible by my standards at 47:31 but the back half was more than 30 seconds faster than the first half. I probably could have finished a half marathon but it was still a good call to downgrade. Otherwise, I would not have had the energy to do any more touring.
Touring:
My first stop was Arlington Cemetery and the JFK grave. From there, I crossed back into DC for the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting pool.
I made brief stops at the Vietnam, Korea and FDR memorials before taking more time at the MLK site. One quote that I really liked was "Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that." It was around the lake to the Jefferson Memorial then back to the Mall and eventually the White House area. There was heavy security so I could not get too close but still got a pretty good picture out of it.
The last stop was the Trump International Hotel. I knew the prices would be outrageous and I paid $24 for a burger and $8 for a beer but yes, it was excellent! I went up to the tower for another good shot of the Capitol and skyline. No skyscrapers here. By law, no building within the city limits can be taller than the Washington monument. Still a nice view however. I was now in the business district just across the street from the Federal Triangle Metro so it was back to L'Enfant to pick up my bag at the hotel. I made a brief stop in Crystal City before arriving back at the airport. The flight back to Birmingham was delayed and I did not get back home until it was nearly 11 PM. Yes, I did show up for work the next day.
Final Thought:
It's been about 15 years since I've been here. Although DC is not a state, IMO you cannot complete the Visit All 50 States goal without visiting our nation's Capitol. However, because it is not a state, I see no need to re-visit for a half marathon. The half marathon in 50 states is still on for now and yes, the Liver supp has made a difference already. Any race here is a bonus but I cannot rule out coming here again for another reason. It's quite convenient with the direct flight and Metro station at the airport. As for the strict/lenient rules, a walk across to Arlington meets the strict category for Virginia because it is a legitimate tourist attraction. All you have to do is walk through it. Maryland would require a bit more effort. You'd have to take the metro to the suburbs and at the very least eat a sit down meal if not spend a night.
This was a trip that was almost cancelled due to the weather and more drama with the pills. In the end, Hurricane Florence stayed well south of DC. It turned out to be overcast, somewhat humid with a mild breeze and no rain. Race conditions were not bad after all and the walking tours were done in relative comfort. As for the pills, my chemistry shifted shortly after I left Birmingham and never thought to pack the supplement that I need for when that happens. I decided to downgrade from the half marathon to the 5 Miler and even that would likely be a struggle.
Trip:
I took 3 days off work so I could spend my birthday with my parents. I saw my sister, grandmother, niece and nephew as well. I got 3 nice dinners and got to see the new Unbroken movie about Louis Zamperini. Overall, I made the best of it despite not feeling well at all. From home, it was a direct flight to Reagan National (DCA). This one went off as planned. Like NYC, you are strongly advised NOT to rent a car but here, there is no need for Uber or a taxi to your hotel. The Metro is actually connected to DCA so I bought a card at the airport station then hopped on the next train. It was a long ride to the expo at the Armory in the east side of town but I arrived in plenty of time.
 |
| My parents |
After checking into my hotel (Holiday Inn) near the National Mall, I took a stroll through the Capitol Hill district from Independence to Pennsylvania Ave. There are plenty of nice trendy restaurants and bars in this area but nothing appealed to me so I went back to the hotel lounge. It was twilight by the time I got back to the Mall and I highly recommend a brief tour in the dark. It's a different feel to see the monuments illuminated. I got some nice shots of the Capitol and the Washington Monument and also caught the WW2 Memorial before settling in for bed.
Race:
It started just outside the Washington Monument then looped around Tidal Basin with views of the Jefferson Memorial. The midsection of the course was all along the water with a golf course to the right. It then turned back towards the Mall for a finish back at the Washington Monument. Iconic American route. In bad shape, I simply settled into a pace that I hoped to be sustainable for 5 miles. I had NO energy at the start and expected to be reduced to a walk/slow jog within 3 miles. Surprisingly, I held the pace in the 9:30-9:40 range then managed to pick it up at the end. My time was horrible by my standards at 47:31 but the back half was more than 30 seconds faster than the first half. I probably could have finished a half marathon but it was still a good call to downgrade. Otherwise, I would not have had the energy to do any more touring.
Touring:
My first stop was Arlington Cemetery and the JFK grave. From there, I crossed back into DC for the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting pool.
I made brief stops at the Vietnam, Korea and FDR memorials before taking more time at the MLK site. One quote that I really liked was "Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that." It was around the lake to the Jefferson Memorial then back to the Mall and eventually the White House area. There was heavy security so I could not get too close but still got a pretty good picture out of it.
The last stop was the Trump International Hotel. I knew the prices would be outrageous and I paid $24 for a burger and $8 for a beer but yes, it was excellent! I went up to the tower for another good shot of the Capitol and skyline. No skyscrapers here. By law, no building within the city limits can be taller than the Washington monument. Still a nice view however. I was now in the business district just across the street from the Federal Triangle Metro so it was back to L'Enfant to pick up my bag at the hotel. I made a brief stop in Crystal City before arriving back at the airport. The flight back to Birmingham was delayed and I did not get back home until it was nearly 11 PM. Yes, I did show up for work the next day.
Final Thought:
It's been about 15 years since I've been here. Although DC is not a state, IMO you cannot complete the Visit All 50 States goal without visiting our nation's Capitol. However, because it is not a state, I see no need to re-visit for a half marathon. The half marathon in 50 states is still on for now and yes, the Liver supp has made a difference already. Any race here is a bonus but I cannot rule out coming here again for another reason. It's quite convenient with the direct flight and Metro station at the airport. As for the strict/lenient rules, a walk across to Arlington meets the strict category for Virginia because it is a legitimate tourist attraction. All you have to do is walk through it. Maryland would require a bit more effort. You'd have to take the metro to the suburbs and at the very least eat a sit down meal if not spend a night.
Training 9/17-9/23
9/17- Tried Liver as soon as I got home from DC and YES, I did feel noticeably better. Still, the next day, I wanted to compare how I did with or without. I was tired from the trip so I didn't expect much.
Did 2x800 on Lakeshore then 1 Mile.
0 Liver- 4:26 (8:52 pace). Felt a little better than DC probably because of the Liver last night.
1 Liver- 3:56 (7:52 pace). MINUS 60 and once again, all it took was 1 pill. Not a night and day difference in how I felt but the effect was considerable nonetheless.
2 Liver- 7:04 Mile with the back half in 3:26 so once again, I cut off 60 seconds per mile.
Can I do better on 3 Liver pills? We'll see tomorrow or Wednesday.
Distance=2.0
9/18- Tried IP-6 and it was clearly a NO. Did not even attempt to run and may be out tomorrow as well. I believe that eventually my need for Liver and Paramin will eventually diminish.
9/19- Hoped to run 3 miles on Lakeshore but had to settle for 1 in 9:54. IP-6 hasn't cleared yet but began feeling a little better before bed time. Even with the Sarcosine, there is still stuff that I cannot tolerate, which really does not sit well with me.
9/20- AM- Vestavia Mile in 7:51.5. Much better but still haven't fully detoxed it. Still on 5 Paramin and 3 Liver but may try to reduce both next week.
PM- Never fails. Fixed the ceruloplasmin with the Liver pills but now my Zinc is depleted. I'm dropping to 2 Paramin and 1 Liver and will add some Zinc. I took some today and not surprisingly, I improved but overshot the balance point. Workout was 400-800-1200.
0 Zinc- 2:20 (9:20 pace)
1 Zinc- 4:16 (8:32 pace) MINUS 52
2 Zinc- 5:16 (7:01 pace) MINUS 91
Last 800 was 3:22. Took time for the Zinc to fully kick in but when it did, it was clear that I overshot. I predict that my Zinc tolerance will be low for a while but the need will spike before going back down again. MAYBE someday, I'll find the right combo.
Distance=3.0
9/21- Gold's 3 in 23:54 (7:58 pace). Had to rally to beat the Mendoza line. I was awful in the morning with the excess Zinc but I got better with Liver. There has got to be an equilibrium here. I'm going with 1 of each going forward.
Distance=3.0
9/22- Only took 1 Zinc in the evening and it was a disaster. Could not run at all without the Liver so it was back to the track for more intervals. 400-400-800-800-800
1 Liver- 2:26 (9:44 pace)
Extra Paramin- 2:25 (9:40 pace)
2 Liver- 4:25 (8:50 pace)
3 Liver- 4:04 (8:08 pace)
1/2 Zinc- 4:44 (9:28 pace)
Distance=2.0
Reaction:
The good news is that the Paramin has stabilized. It is now well tolerated and I don't believe it would make much difference if I took 1 of those suckers or 5 of them. The Zinc is another matter. I'm going to have to go REAL slow with that stuff but I predict that as was the case with Paramin, the demand for it will shoot up suddenly then eventually stabilize. I will NOT exceed 3 Liver pills.
UPDATE:
Found a blog post from early 2017 that showed that indeed I did do a Zinc RBC test. The result came back HIGH NOT LOW! I'm quitting the Zinc and will simply reduce the Liver to 1 going forward while keeping the Paramin at 2.
9/23- AM- 1 mile in 11:40. Zinc is a sustained release so it takes time for it to clear and it got worse before it got better.
PM- Felt better after a nap. Did another mile and my time is down to 8:28
Distance=2.0
Did 2x800 on Lakeshore then 1 Mile.
0 Liver- 4:26 (8:52 pace). Felt a little better than DC probably because of the Liver last night.
1 Liver- 3:56 (7:52 pace). MINUS 60 and once again, all it took was 1 pill. Not a night and day difference in how I felt but the effect was considerable nonetheless.
2 Liver- 7:04 Mile with the back half in 3:26 so once again, I cut off 60 seconds per mile.
Can I do better on 3 Liver pills? We'll see tomorrow or Wednesday.
Distance=2.0
9/18- Tried IP-6 and it was clearly a NO. Did not even attempt to run and may be out tomorrow as well. I believe that eventually my need for Liver and Paramin will eventually diminish.
9/19- Hoped to run 3 miles on Lakeshore but had to settle for 1 in 9:54. IP-6 hasn't cleared yet but began feeling a little better before bed time. Even with the Sarcosine, there is still stuff that I cannot tolerate, which really does not sit well with me.
9/20- AM- Vestavia Mile in 7:51.5. Much better but still haven't fully detoxed it. Still on 5 Paramin and 3 Liver but may try to reduce both next week.
PM- Never fails. Fixed the ceruloplasmin with the Liver pills but now my Zinc is depleted. I'm dropping to 2 Paramin and 1 Liver and will add some Zinc. I took some today and not surprisingly, I improved but overshot the balance point. Workout was 400-800-1200.
0 Zinc- 2:20 (9:20 pace)
1 Zinc- 4:16 (8:32 pace) MINUS 52
2 Zinc- 5:16 (7:01 pace) MINUS 91
Last 800 was 3:22. Took time for the Zinc to fully kick in but when it did, it was clear that I overshot. I predict that my Zinc tolerance will be low for a while but the need will spike before going back down again. MAYBE someday, I'll find the right combo.
Distance=3.0
9/21- Gold's 3 in 23:54 (7:58 pace). Had to rally to beat the Mendoza line. I was awful in the morning with the excess Zinc but I got better with Liver. There has got to be an equilibrium here. I'm going with 1 of each going forward.
Distance=3.0
9/22- Only took 1 Zinc in the evening and it was a disaster. Could not run at all without the Liver so it was back to the track for more intervals. 400-400-800-800-800
1 Liver- 2:26 (9:44 pace)
Extra Paramin- 2:25 (9:40 pace)
2 Liver- 4:25 (8:50 pace)
3 Liver- 4:04 (8:08 pace)
1/2 Zinc- 4:44 (9:28 pace)
Distance=2.0
Reaction:
The good news is that the Paramin has stabilized. It is now well tolerated and I don't believe it would make much difference if I took 1 of those suckers or 5 of them. The Zinc is another matter. I'm going to have to go REAL slow with that stuff but I predict that as was the case with Paramin, the demand for it will shoot up suddenly then eventually stabilize. I will NOT exceed 3 Liver pills.
UPDATE:
Found a blog post from early 2017 that showed that indeed I did do a Zinc RBC test. The result came back HIGH NOT LOW! I'm quitting the Zinc and will simply reduce the Liver to 1 going forward while keeping the Paramin at 2.
9/23- AM- 1 mile in 11:40. Zinc is a sustained release so it takes time for it to clear and it got worse before it got better.
PM- Felt better after a nap. Did another mile and my time is down to 8:28
Distance=2.0
Monday, September 10, 2018
Offensive Mascots
Just some light humor to poke fun at political correctness. Enjoy
New York Yankees- offensive to southerners
Minnesota Twins- offensive to children without siblings
Oakland Athletics- offensive to the out of shape
Atlanta Braves- offensive to cowards
New York Mets- offensive to rural residents
Washington Nationals- offensive to globalists
Cincinnati Reds- offensive to capitalists and Democrats
Milwaukee Brewers- offensive to non-drinkers
Pittsburgh Pirates- offensive to sailors
St. Louis Cardinals- offensive to non-Catholics
San Diego Padres- offensive to single mothers
LA Angels- offensive to devil worshipers
New England Patriots- offensive to British people
San Francisco 49ers- offensive to silver coinage voters
Dallas Cowboys- offensive to Native Americans
Minnesota Vikings- offensive to Scandinavians
New Orleans Saints- offensive to sinners
New York/SF Giants- offensive to short people
New Jersey Devils- VERY offensive to Christians
Calgary Flames- offensive to both gays and fire fighters
St. Louis Blues- offensive to Republicans
Hartford Whalers- offensive to GreenPeace
San Jose Sharks- VERY offensive to surfers
LA Kings/KC Royals- offensive to peasants
NY Islanders- offensive to mainlanders
Golden State Warriors- offensive to pacifists
Philadelphia 76ers- VERY offensive to British people
Charlotte Hornets- offensive to those with bee sting
allergies
Miami Heat- offensive to those from cold climates
Indiana Pacers-offensive to runners who start too fast
Ole Miss Rebels- offensive to Unionists
Miami Hurricanes- offensive to Katrina survivors
South Carolina Gamecocks- offensive to PETA
Holy Cross Crusaders-
offensive to Muslims
BYU Cougars- offensive to older women
Tennessee Volunteers- offensive to military draftees
Michigan State Spartans- offensive to Athenians
USC Trojans- offensive to Greeks
Washington Huskies- offensive to fat people
West Virginia Mountaineers- offensive to flat landers
Wake Forest Demon Deacons- VERY offensive to pastors and
their staff
Buffalo Bills- offensive to people in debt.
Alabama Crimson Tide- doubly offensive to Democrats
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