Training 3/15-3/21

 3/15- Not pleased at all.  4 miles on Lakeshore in 37:53 (9:28 pace).  Compared to yesterday afternoon, I saw essentially no improvement.  I did double the distance but the pace was slower by 14 ticks and it would have been worse at Veteran's Park on the gravel.  Faded on the back half and it took a rally in the last quarter mile just to be under 9:30 overall.  It is looking like abstinence from the forbidden drinks will not be enough.  I may need stronger adrenal suppressants temporarily.  I have ordered Thym-Adren.  Will it arrive on schedule?  As of now, there is no way that I can finish a half mary without lots of walking. Weather looks iffy for the next 2 days.

Distance=4.0

3/16-AM- Hated interval workout at Montreat.  Half lappers plus a cool.  Ran the opener on zero ADHS pills then popped 2 pills after each interval.  Splits were 1:59-1:43-1:31-1:16.  Last week, I was crap on no pills as well but fared no better on 5 instead of 3.  Today, I was significantly better on 6 instead of 4.  WHAT THE _______!

PM- Break in the weather enabled me to do 2 after work also at Montreat.  Finished in 16:22 (8:11 pace).  Again, it was a significant improvement over yesterday with even splits this time (8:13-8:09).  To what do I attribute this gain?  Rhetorical, Farley.  Every reader should know it was the extra pills.  Problem is that even mega doses probably won't be enough to get back to respectability.  I need to try Thym-Adren.  It is supposed to arrive on Friday but will it really?

Distance=3.0

3/17- Planned rest day.  Predicted severe weather.  

3/18- Thym-Adren (strong adrenal suppressant) arrived a day earlier than expected.  Workout was the hated better with or without test.  Did 1.5 miles on just ADHS then 1.5 on Thym-Adren.  Came through the first 1.5 in an about as expected time of 12:41 (8:28 pace) then although it was not a night and day difference, I was significantly faster on 2 Thym-Adren pills.  Ran the back half in 11:19 (7:32 pace).  Stopped the watch at 24-flat but it turned 3.00 1 tick before.  Still, this does NOT count as a sub-Mendoza line performance because of the stops.  Nevertheless, I am pleased.  Significant improvement probably would have been evident on just 1 pill.  I think I'll go with 3 until further notice.  Is it over?  I highly doubt it but this is still good news.

Distance=3.0

3/19- HORRIBLE and I knew it before I started.  Hated intervals again.  3x800.  Did the opener in 5:25 then improved marginally to a 5:20 AFTER a half can of Rockstar.  This proves that forbidden drinks never were the problem.  I had already taken 3 Thym-Adren pills but that obviously was not enough.  A 4th pill brought me down to 4:45, which is MINUS 70 on a per mile basis.  Added a half mile cool.  I'm going to need mega doses for a few days then the need should diminish.  I should have seen this coming.  Probably have to scratch the long run AGAIN.  

Distance=2.0

3/20- The opener was not as horrible as I expected today.  Clocked a 1:45.6 at Montreat (10:33 pace).  Took 6 Thym-Adren pills and came back with a 59.6 (5:57 pace) for a whopping MINUS 4:36.  However, as is often the case, the ability to run a good pace in a sprint doesn't carry over to longer distances.  Real workout was the Trak Shak 3.  Distance was a little short but I already had 1/3 mile in so I didn't care.  Finished with a 9:40 pace but did manage a slight negative split.  I'd like to do 10 tomorrow and I don't care if it takes 2 hours.  The gaps will diminish as always and I'll do better in longer distances soon.  Then, a need for another pill will show up almost certainly.

Distance=3.0

3/21- Goal was 10 miles and I had to settle for 7.  Time was 75:28 (10:47 pace). I thought I was going to make it at 3.33 miles in but faded shortly thereafter.  I was just north of 50 at the 5 mile mark then the pace slowed dramatically and I decided it was not worth it to continue.  It probably would have taken 45 minutes to complete the next 3 miles.  13 days out from race day but it is still early in the adjustment period and I should do better next week.  Key word is should.

Distance=7.0

-22 miles on the week.  YTD- 194

Training 3/8-3/14

 Only 10 miles of running last week.  Almost all of it was CRAP.  The Probiotics came yesterday.  This is the same stuff that gave me fits last summer and fall until I ditched it in favor of Lactoferrin.  I have a faint glimmer of hope after yesterday afternoon's workout.  In the morning, I could not run at all.  It took me 11 minutes to do just 1 mile.  After the Probiotics, I managed 2 in 15:52 (7:56 pace).  I passed the mile mark in 8:10 then popped an extra Probiotic and finished with a 7:42 on the back half.  I may have upped the effort a little but not by much.  Also, I felt no noticeable ill-effects from Glutathione though I did not run after taking it.  Apparently, I need BOTH Probiotics and Lactoferrin to solve the gut issues.  

3/8- AM- Lakeshore 2 in 16:34 (8:17 pace).  Another VERY positive development.  Before the Probiotics, I had disastrous results when I took either the TRS or Lactoferrin alone.  It had to be BOTH or NEITHER. The neither option worked only if I took extra the previous evening.  This morning,  I took only ADHS and still passed 1 mile in 8:23.  Took the sprays of TRS WITHOUT Lactoferrin at the turnaround and did the back half in 8:11.  That's not a significant improvement but I didn't want one.  A SINGLE DOSE should NOT have much of an effect.  The fact that I was able to maintain my pace was YUGE and would have been impossible without the Probiotics from yesterday.  Now, I will see if I can maintain the pace on Glutathione.  

Success I did it at Lunch:

Half lap at Montreat in 75.5 without Glutathione.  Jogged another half and ran the next half in 74.0.  On a per mile basis, that's a MINUS 9.  Perfect.  Not a significant gain but I just wanted to maintain.  This pill was DISASTROUS just last week.  YUGE!  Stable chemistry is something most people take for granted but for me, words can't express the difference it would make in my life.  I'm not on solid ground yet.  Two milestones left:  Avoid an adrenal spike after a caffeine binge and deliver a non-horrible performance the morning after a day without pills.  After that, I just need to maintain for at least 4 weeks before I declare victory.

PM- Back to Lakeshore for another 2.5.  Did not want to waste a beautiful evening.  Finished in 19:54 (7:58 pace).  Half mile away from the Mendoza line and I think I can do it.  This was not an all out effort either.  I was at 10:02 at the half then finished with a 9:52 and did not need a kick to get the sub-8 pace.  I was under with a quarter mile to go.    Not on solid ground yet.  I could still face an adrenal spike tomorrow or Wednesday then we will see how I do without pills for 1 day later in the week.

Distance=5.0

3/9- Crestline 3 mile.  2 loops on Dexter.  1.5 miles each.  Time was a little slow at 24:54 (8:18 pace).  No cause for alarm.  This was 20% longer than yesterday on a route with some rollers so 20 seconds slow is no big deal.  A couple of observations:  I thought about going without pills today but it was clear upon rising that ADHS (adrenal modulator) was needed so I declined to try going without pills.  I was curious to see if extra ADHS would benefit me.  It did not.  I did the first loop in 12:26 then fared no better in the 2nd loop with a 12:28 after 2 extra pills.  I may have hit another 12:26 if not for a truck backing up at the end.  Either way, it's not even close to be considered significant.  I need ADHS every day but get no additional benefit beyond 3 pills.  I suppose that is good news.  Now, tomorrow we'll see about the caffeine withdrawal.  I binged over the last 4 days but that's part of the plan.  Hopefully, there will be no adrenal spike thanks to Probiotics and I may not be as dependent on the ADHS if I'm off caffeine.   

Distance=3.0

3/10- Curious findings.  Yesterday's caffeine binge (4th day on caffeine) did not seem to hurt me during the workout and I fared no better on extra ADHS.  Today, it was a totally different story.  I don't think it was withdrawal because the symptoms showed up within 15 hours of my last dose (it shouldn't hit for 24-48 hours) and taking another dose after the ill-fated workout did nothing to relieve the symptoms.  Instead, it was an adrenal spike.  

AM workout hoping to beat the withdrawal symptoms was not to be.  Hoping to run 4 miles, I had to settle for 2 in a turtle time of 20:56 (10:28 pace) with splits of 9:50-11:06.  Felt no better after another dose of caffeine.  In fact, I was probably worse.  Went out on my lunch for laps at Montreat and clocked a 3:49 1st lap BUT  This time I did fare better on extra ADHS.  A lot better too.  Just 2 additional pills and I was down to a much less horrible 3:11.  On a per mile basis, that's a MINUS 1:54.  Added a lap for a cool down.  

Reaction:

Still not sure what to make of this.  Most likely, caffeine will be tolerated on a limited basis but binges are not allowed.  Yes, I know it is not good for me but it was part of the plan to experiment.  I needed to know what, if any changes would occur after the Probiotics.  Probiotics combined with Lactoferrin will likely allow for occasional sugared drinks but not caffeine in any form.  No drinks or pills.   Now, I want to know if I will be less dependent on ADHS after I am off caffeine.  Perhaps next week, I can deliver the non-horrible performance the morning after a day without any pills.  Also, I am hoping that the adrenal spike fades and I'll be up for a workout by tomorrow evening.

Distance=3.0 

3/11- No real withdrawal symptoms and the adrenal spike is beginning to die down.  Enough daylight to run the Canterbury loop.  3.5 miles plus a half mile cool.  Finished in 32:24 (9:15 pace), which is a massive improvement over yesterday morning.  Could have done better if I took extra ADHS but this was done on just 3 such pills.  Pace was very even all the way through despite rather hilly terrain.  Actually, even splits indicate a mild fade because the back half is mostly down but I'm still okay with this.  Hopefully by the weekend, I'll be ready to go 10.

Distance=4.0

3/12- Planned rest day.

3/13- FAILED again.  This time, alcohol was the culprit and it was hardly a binge.  Curcumin was supposed to stop that but apparently it failed.  Turned around after just a half mile and completed the full mile in 11:14.

Distance=1.0

3/14- AM- 2 miles on Lakeshore in 21:42 (10:51 pace).  Better than yesterday.  Pace was crap from the start but I was able to hold it and managed a slight negative split.  

PM- Another 2 miles this time at Veteran's Park.  Improved to 18:28 (9:14 pace) with splits of 9:21-9:07 so I again have a glimmer of hope.  No more than 1 cheat day per week with either caffeine or alcohol and none until further notice.

Distance=4.0

-20 miles on the week.  YTD- 170

Various Rants

 Workouts have been so terrible that I won't even list them this week.  My best showing so far is 2 @ 8:43 today at Montreat.  I did do my blood donation today.  No serious effects.  I'm a little weak and light headed but that actually didn't kick in until a couple hours later.  Earlier this week, I reacted TERRIBLY to Glutathione.  For the last time, if a pill is not the right fit for me, I should feel a little weakened after a few days but NOT like that!!  I think my best (and last) hope is to take BOTH Probiotics and Lactoferrin in low doses.  When I did that before, I was NOT nearly as sensitive.  The local store is out of the brand that I need so I had to order on Amazon.  Maryland is now only 4 weeks from Saturday.  Not looking good at all but I've got to get this done.  I'd like to be at 49 by year's end and finish next Spring.  

COVID:

I really cannot predict where we will be in 6 months.  Under a best case scenario, herd immunity will kick in and the vaccine is effective against the new variants.  If the disease is no longer a threat, hopefully the travel restrictions will be lifted and there will be no vaccine requirement to travel internationally.  Worst case scenario is that the virus is resistant and we could be back to Square 1 if there is a spike.  If the vaccine is not effective, why should it be required?    Who knows?  I predict that the outcome will be somewhere in between.  Cuomo is on record supporting a vaccine passport to attend a Yankee game or a concert.  As I predicted, it won't be illegal to refuse it but it will be de-facto required to live a normal life.

I had to jump through hoops to get into Hawaii and many states still require a negative test prior to entry.  That could affect my travel plans.  I've got to go through with the test to visit Maryland and Maine.   I will do it because there is no guarantee that I'll be able to run next year or beyond.  I will not submit to a test to visit a non-race state such as New York or Oregon.  That means that a beach hopping trip will likely be in North Carolina and Virginia rather than New York and New Jersey even though I need the latter but not the former on the Catch a Wave Challenge.  

While restrictions on my movement are pretty stiff, hundreds of ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS have tested positive yet have been released into American cities.  I still cannot drive to Canada or walk to Mexico and if I am to visit the latter, I will need a negative test to get back into the USA.  Welcome to the Bizzaro World.  

LGBT:

I've been silent on this issue and for the record, I believe that you should be allowed to live your life free from harassment and discrimination.  I have no problems unless you infringe on the rights of others.  Allowing biological men to compete in women's sports definitely crosses that line.  For example, a time of 50 seconds flat was good for 4th place in the Women's 400 meters at the Rio Olympics.  Some years, it is good enough to medal in major international championships.  In the US alone, there are over TWO HUNDRED HIGH SCHOOL BOYS who can beat that time.  Granted, hormone therapy will slow you down a bit but you retain the advantages of a larger bone structure, increased muscle mass and greater lung capacity.  Every scientific study confirms this to be true.  My high school 800 PR of 2:13 would have put me among the best in the state if I had competed as a girl but sometimes, it was not even good enough to place in a dual meet.  More recently, I beat the 1st place overall female at Statue 2 Statue but did not even place in my age group among the Men.  Nobody is saying that trans athletes can't participate in sports.  They just have to compete against the boys.  EDIT:  There are calls to allow children to take puberty blockers without parental consent.  Many kids with gender dysphoria will grow out of it too.  If I wanted to go on a field trip or play sports, oh that permission slip had better be signed.

Global Warming/Climate Change

It is indisputable that the Earth's climate has undergone cycles of warming and cooling over its history.  There was a medieval warm period that was followed by a "little ice age" during the American colonial period.  We are currently in a warming cycle, which actually began before the Industrial Revolution.  The question is to what extent is human activity a contributing factor and what should be done to stop it?  That's where people disagree.  My opinion is that humans are partially responsible for the current warming cycle.  I want clean air and water just like everyone else and support reasonable and common sense regulations.  How far do we go?  It should stop once the costs exceed the benefits.  Simple. 

 I don't buy into the alarmist rhetoric that we must act drastically before the end of the decade or it will be too late nor do I believe predictions that much of Florida will be under water by the end of the century.  My best guess is that global temperatures will rise by about 1 degree F in 50 years if we do absolutely nothing.  If the entire world imposes the whole Green New Deal, the temp still rises by 0.6 degrees.  If the US alone acts while China and India do nothing, the effects will be negligible.  

If you are in a head on crash, would you rather be driving a big long Cadillac or Volkswagen Bug?  How about if you get T-boned?  Do you want to be driving a Ford F-150 or a little Toyota Tercel?  Rhetorical, Farley.  We all know the answers.  If you value your safety and choose to drive a gas guzzler and pay through the nose at the pump, that should be your choice.  The free market will decide the point in which fuel economy trumps safety in the unlikely event of a serious crash.   

Cancel Culture-

I'm all for taking a strong stance against racial injustice but teaching people to be ashamed of being white?.  I have a BIG problem with that as well as double standards and such garbage as the Coca Cola training to "be less white."  I guarantee that if any major company taught their employees to "be less black," they'd be finished.  Every store would pull their products and no apology or tears will ever be good enough.  And rightly so.  I would never support a business that promotes such blatant racism.  If I am to drink a Coke, it will be Pepsi products from now on.  Southerners will know what I mean by that.  

The n-word is disgusting and should never be used under any circumstances.  That said, I don't believe that you should be ruined forever if you are caught saying it especially if it was when you were a kid.  I recall hearing about a girl who had her admission to the Univ. of Tennessee rescinded because a recording with the offensive slur from 3 years ago resurfaced due to a jealous ex-boyfriend.  If the word was directed at black students after she was enrolled, yes I would punish her.  I may even support expulsion depending on the nature of the incidents.  In this case, she was 15 years old and was actually quoting lyrics of a rap song.  If a black student in the same position was caught saying something anti-Semitic, I highly doubt that he or she would be punished.  Nick Cannon called white people "savages" and "closer to animals" and though he took some heat, he was not permanently cancelled.  Some say that black people have a license to be hateful given the history and ongoing discrimination.  I vehemently disagree.  Actual white supremacists will point to that crap to justify their sick views.  Anyone who accepts racism in any form is part of the problem.  I predicted that the mob would go after America's Founding Fathers but I never saw attacks on Dr. Seuss.  I'm at a loss for words on that.  

MLB Reforms

Spring Training has already begun and Opening Day is less than 1 month away.  During the worst of the quarantine, I watched several old games from the late 1970s through the '80s.  I found those games to be a lot more interesting than today's edition.  The Collective Bargaining Agreement expires at the end of the year and we expect to see at least some rule changes.  Here are some that I support:

Universal DH-

The strategy is more complex in the NL with the double switches and decisions as to when to pinch hit for an effective starting pitcher.  Still, pitchers hitting has become progressively worse over the years.  It used to be that the average pitcher batted about .160.  Now, that's down about 50 points and nearly half the plate appearances end in a strike out.  Also, if they do get on base, they frequently dog it running the bases.  Make it interesting with the DH and give players who are blocked by a superstar a chance to play more often.  I'd also like to see more two way players.

Salary Arbitration and Free Agency

A 2nd or 3rd year player who is All-Star caliber deserves to make more than the League minimum.  I would support moving arbitration eligibility up by one year.  Free agency is a bit more dicey.  Let's suppose Pittsburgh gets the number one pick and drafts a once a decade type talent who makes it to MLB by age 20.  Currently, a player is not eligible for free agency until he has reached 6 full years of MLB service.  There is talk of reducing that to 5 or even 4 years.  I am opposed to that.  Under that system, a superstar player will become a free agent before he even hits his prime.  If you look at Ken Griffey Jr's baseball cards, you will see that his numbers were good from a young age but they were not other-worldly.  Same with Barry Bonds.  The team that drafted him should have 6 years of team control.  What about a late bloomer who doesn't make it until he is 25 or 26?  He's not eligible until age 32 and past his prime.  He's not going to get a big contract even with a very good track record.  In that case, give him a shot at free agency early but make it based on age.  I'd make it his age-30 season.  That may also entice his home team to give him a long term guarantee to pre-empt free-agency.  

Manipulating service time:

A player raked in AAA last season and does the same in Spring Training but he doesn't break camp with the team.  Instead, he's sent down for the first 3 weeks of the season to "work on his defense."  Everyone knows, it's all about getting an extra year of team control.  Something needs to be done about that.  Make it 5.5 years to be eligible for free agency and the player can and should be able to file a grievance if it is obvious that he is being held back when he's clearly MLB ready and better than the team's current starter.

Playoffs:

Currently, 10 teams make the playoffs.  This won't happen but I want that reduced back to 8.  I'd prefer 2 divisions per league with the division winners and next 2 best records per league.  I'm really not a fan of the 1 and done wild card especially when an otherwise average team can ride its ace who could be in the midst of one of the most dominant stretches ever.  The top wild card could be fighting for a division title and thus use their ace in the last game of the season.  With 16 playoffs teams last year, we saw 2 sub.500 playoff teams.  One of them got hot and came within 1 game of making the World Series.  Yes, we could see a sub.500 World Champ with expanded playoffs and that just doesn't sit well.  My prediction is that the playoffs will be expanded to 12.

Guaranteed Contracts:

Unlikely to see reforms here but I strongly support changes.  Yes, we should discourage bad contracts to aging players but sometimes, regression is not so easy to predict.  Suppose a player in his early 30s with a good track record decides to go into Operation Shutdown.  He dogs it on the field and his clubhouse conduct is detrimental to the team.  He's a negative WAR player that still must be paid $30 million per year even if he is released.  Under my proposal, the team that releases such a player is only liable for HALF his salary.  I'd expand that rule for salary dump trades in which other teams buy prospects.  

Balls In Play:

Currently, about one third of plate appearances end in either a walk, home run or a strikeout.  Not very exciting.  What is the point of having an elite defender if the ball is seldom hit in his direction?  I'd like to see more doubles, triples and stolen bases.  Supposedly, balls have been deadened a bit this year and are expect to carry about 5 feet less.  I support that.  Home runs should not be so easy to come by.  If that happens, the all or nothing hitters won't be as valuable and we will start to see fewer strikeouts.  

Tanking:

This is a problem.  Currently, Pittsburgh is following Houston's model of blowing up the whole team for prospects that are still at least 3 years away.  They will likely be historically bad for the next 2-3 years then hope to be contenders when the prospects and high draft choices are ready.  Other teams have done the same with mixed results.  As a result, many quality mid-level free agents go unwanted.  The theory is that a single free agent could make the difference between 58-104 and 61-101.  Why pay $10 million per year for 3 extra wins when you will still finish last?  

 The Mookie Betts of the world will still be paid very well but I recall Nick Markakis was coming off a season in which he hit .300 with about 15 homers.  He had to settle for a 1 year deal for just $6 million.  One great player does not make a great team.  You could sign 3 quality starting pitchers for the same money and get more combined value than from one Trevor Bauer.  Suppose a losing team (expect to win 70) strikes gold on 3 mid-level free agents and gets a little lucky, they could be in the race especially with expanded playoffs.

My proposal is if a team is deemed to be tanking, they must go back 10 spots in the draft for consecutive 100 loss seasons.  I would allow for an appeal.  Sometimes, luck can be all bad.  If 2-3 starting pitchers are lost for the year due to Tommy John surgery, even the Yankees will struggle to win.  Still, there is no good reason to see above average players in their early 30s go unwanted in free agency when they could surely help some teams.  The Commissioner decides whether or not a team is making a legitimate effort to win. I'm not a fan of a payroll floor.  Teams that are tanking will simply overpay their own journeyman players rather than sign a quality free agent.  My prediction is that a payroll floor will be imposed.  I suppose it's better than nothing.  

EDIT:

You don't need a team full of superstars to win.  Let's suppose that a team has 3 starting pitchers with ERAs under 4.00 and two others around 4.50 along with at least 3 reliable bullpen arms.  Also, 6 out of 8 starting position players deliver at least average (maybe slightly above) offensive production.  The rest of the roster is merely adequate.  Chances are, this team will score more runs than they allow and thus win more than they lose.

Catch a Wave Challenge

 It's self explanatory.  The goal is to catch a wave in every state that has an ocean coastline.  I'm off to a good start so far and yes, this can be doable.  

I'm listing my favorite beach in every state, which is subject to change as I visit more of them.  If I've never caught a wave, it's listed as TBD with the planned stop in parenthesis.

Pacific Coast:

Only in So-Cal is it warm enough to swim without a wetsuit and even there, Santa Barbara is about the northern limit.  I'm shooting for San Diego here but would not mind a visit to an LA beach as well.  Just completed Hawaii.  Nor-Cal and points north will always require a wetsuit.  Alaska will be tough but if I'm one state away, I've got to do it.  I only need to be in the water for 1 hour.  

So-Cal- Pacific Beach San Diego

Nor-Cal- TBD (Crescent City)

Oregon- TBD (Newport)

Washington- TBD (Westport)

Hawaii- Kua Bay

Alaska- TBD (Kodiak is best bet)

Gulf Coast- Here, water temps will be comfortable from April through the end of November in most years.  Problem is that the surf can go flat especially in the summer.  I've managed to catch a wave in all 5 states.  I got lucky with the conditions in Louisiana but there was barely enough wave action to qualify in Mississippi.

South Florida- Clearwater

North Florida- Ft. Walton

Alabama- Orange Beach

Mississippi- Ship Island

Louisiana- Grand Isle

Texas- South Padre

Atlantic Coast- It's a good bet that you will find rideable waves any time of year.  Depending on the location, you could see all year round comfortable temps in South Florida to a narrow window in Maine.  Yes, water temps can crack 70 for a few weeks in August even in Maine so I plan to do it.

South Florida- Miami

North Florida- Daytona

Georgia- Tybee Island

South Carolina- Isle of Palms

North Carolina- Carolina Beach 

Virginia- Chincoteague Island

Maryland- Ocean City

Delaware- Bethany Beach

New Jersey- Wildwood

New York- Rockaway

Connecticut- Ocean Beach (never any waves due to Long Island Sound)

Rhode Island- Narragansett

Massachusetts- Horseneck Beach

New Hampshire- Hampton Beach

Maine- Ogunquit

USA Travel Bucket List Revisited

 #1-The next trip is Delmarva there is no need to rehash the plan.  In short, it's Philadelphia down to the southern tip of Eastern Shore Virginia with a race in Salisbury, Maryland.  Number 47.

#2- North Dakota.  I've only been to Fargo and this one really would not be on my bucket list if I didn't need Minnesota as a half marathon state.  I hope to find a race in the western part of the state that is closer to Fargo than Minneapolis.  Government Bay and Theodore Roosevelt NP are both on my want to see.  This would be state #48.  I'd like to go to Manitoba and Saskatchewan on this trip but the border is closed.  Just to finish the challenge, I'd be willing to do just about any Minnesota race that is in person.  

#3- Maine/New Hampshire- I've been to each multiple times but I need Maine as a race state.  The time to go is August or early September.  Water temps should be in the upper 60s-low 70s so yes, I can swim without a wetsuit.  I also want to see Mt. Washington, one of the highest peaks in the east.  Again, late summer is the best chance to see it safely.  There are quite a few race options.   

That takes care of the race states, except for Hawaii.  Here are some other trip ideas:

Outer Banks, North Carolina- beach hopping trip from Wilmington up to Virginia Beach.  There's a good chance that I can swing this in early summer.  I have been to the Wilmington area as an adult but never the Outer Banks and not VA Beach since I was a small child.

Pacific Northwest- Again, I was there fairly recently (2018) but have some unfinished business. Now that I have a thin wetsuit, I should be able to tolerate the water there for at least an hour to complete my other challenge.  I could check off Washington, Oregon and California on the same trip.  The Oregon coast is especially beautiful.  I can also see the full Mt. Rainier NP and Redwoods NP on the same trip.  Again, late summer is the best time of the year so I can't do this one plus Maine/New Hampshire in the same year.  

Jersey Shore- I need New York and New Jersey for the Catch a Wave Challenge.  I would opt for Wildwood, New Jersey then drive up the coast to Rockaway in New York.  Perhaps I can see a Yankee game if fans are allowed.  Mid-late summer is the time to go.  I would have to choose between this trip and North Carolina.  

California (2)- One big trip or 2 small ones.  The latter is more my style.

Pacific Coast Hwy and Palm Springs to Lake Tahoe.  The first trip is probably best in late Spring-early summer.  Obviously, late winter is best for the latter.

Idaho- I've only seen the panhandle here.  I've thoroughly explored southern Utah but haven't even touched points north of Salt Lake City.  Idaho looks awesome from YouTube, especially the Sawtooth Hwy.

I have a few others but they would require a border crossing into Mexico so I'll leave those out for now.  Plenty left to explore in the USA even though I've visited all 50 states.

Training 2/22-2/28

 2/22- I keep reminding myself not to worry about the paces right now.  Just focus on getting decent mileage.  At this stage, that's a weekly total in the 25-30 range.  Do that consistently and the times will come down.  It's hard to stay positive on a day like this.  3 miles in 29:36 (9:52 pace).  True, 5 of these plus a long run will get me to 25 but this was really not good.  Started off in the low 9s and finished in the mid 10s.  Aimed for 4 miles but had to cut it short.  Good news is that I was noticeably better after taking extra ADHS after I got home.  Most likely, I just need to increase that dosage.  Hopefully, the blood donation next week will help in that regard.

Distance=3.0

2/23- Well. I found the culprit.  Once again, it AIN'T MY FAULT!  I had been taking Curcumin from NOW Foods.  I had to switch brands because it was out of stock.  Guess what, the brand that I chose triggered a reaction!  Just my luck!  I confirmed it when I got home.  Almost certainly, it contained an added ingredient that I just can't tolerate.  One or two days on it will weaken me but it won't be debilitating.  Taking it every day over the long haul is another matter. Fortunately, I found a good brand that will work as a substitute from a local food store.  The workout was just 1 mile and I cut off the watch in disgust.  Time was over 10 minutes.  I should be better tomorrow.

Distance=1.0 

2/24- 2 miles at Veteran's Park on a crystal clear evening.  3 laps around the lake in a time of 17:52 (8:56 pace).  Much better than yesterday.  This probably translates to 8:45 on Lakeshore because of the slow gravel trail.  Didn't expect to set the world on fire because I'm still clearing out the bad Curcumin but this was a LOT better than yesterday.

Distance=2.0

2/25- This is really getting ridiculous.  Took 3 ADHS in the morning and it clearly was not enough.  1 mile in 9:54 plus a half mile cool.  Again, noticeably better after taking ADHS after getting home.  Blood donation next week.  They had better let me donate.  Worried that I could be denied because I went to Cancun over Christmas.

Distance=1.5

2/26- Loaded on ADHS right before the workout.  I was better but not by much.  Lakeshore 2.5 in 24:09 (9:40 pace).  Again. the pace fell off rapidly on the back half.  I was at 11:25 at the turnaround then slipped to a 12:44.  The culprit is likely Lactoferrin.  Yesterday's medicine has become today's poison.  Nothing should surprise me anymore.

Distance=2.5

2/27- I knew that I could not go long today so I didn't even try.  Confirmed last night that the Lactoferrin in the culprit so I had to wait for it to clear.  1 lap at Montreat took me 3:20 (10:00 pace)  then I was slightly worse with just 1 Lactoferrin (3:27/10:21 pace).  By mid-afternoon, I was better (2:49/8:27 pace) but still in no condition to go long.

Distance=1.0

2/28- I cannot tolerate TRS without Lactoferrin so I went with neither this morning.  I was beyond awful.  Over 12 minutes for just 1 mile.  Took 1 Lactoferrin with TRS afterwards and felt noticeably better but so disgusted that I'm not going back out.  I'm going to have to go with low dose TRS plus Lactoferrin going forward.  May add back a small amount of Probiotics.  

Distance=1.0

-12 miles on the week.  YTD- 142.

Time is running out.  It looks like once again, I'll be heading into a race totally unprepared.  Only 5 weeks out now and next week's outlook is not much better.

Delmarva Road Trip Plan

 On April 3, the Salisbury half marathon is a GO and it will be state number 47!  It will NOT be a "virtual event."  I actually lived in Salisbury during the summer of 2000 but have not even stepped foot in the state of Maryland since 2005.  Yes, I've been to every other state in the Union at least once since then.  How did I skip Maryland for so long?  At any rate, there are still some questions about the logistics but those will soon be settled.

Which airport?

Baltimore, Reagan National and Philadelphia are all about 2.5 hours away but I will opt for Philly.  Birmingham used to have a direct flight there but apparently not anymore  I'll probably have to connect in Charlotte or again fly out of Atlanta.  One of the things that I wanted to do when I lived in Salisbury was to drive the entire Delmarva peninsula all the way from the Pennsylvania border down to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in Virginia.  It's only about 4.5 hours.  Back then, I was too much of a chicken but not so now.  

Arrival?

The race is on a Saturday so I could come into Philly either Thursday morning or Wednesday night.  I'm leaning towards Wednesday night.  If I do that, I might have a shot at seeing the inside of Independence Hall on Thursday, which I was unable to do last time.  Yes, it is open but tickets are sold in limited quantities on a first come first serve basis.  I would have to be there first thing in the morning.   

Stops on the way:

There is Delaware's State Capitol in Dover as well as several hidden gems on the Eastern Shore of both Maryland and Virginia.  I'll probably spend Thursday night near Cape Charles, Virginia.  It ought to be a good place to catch the sunset over the Bay.  Other possible stops include Chincoteague Island, Virginia and Jones State Park in Crisfield, Maryland.  

Friday will be a relatively leisurely  day and I expect to get into Salisbury by early afternoon.  I'll just chill and check out my old stomping grounds.  I've been told that Salisbury has experienced considerable growth in the last 20 years so I may not even recognize much of it.  I know that my old apartments are still there but the K-Mart where I worked is not.  

Saturday is race day.  After that, the plan is to walk on the Ocean City boardwalk then head up the Delaware coast towards Philly.  Even with a wetsuit, it will be too cold to swim there in early April.  Water temp will likely be below 50 degrees. 

When to fly back?

That's another question.  I'm starting to lean towards Atlanta because they will likely have several direct flights to and from Philly.  Sunday is Easter and I will NOT miss church on this day.  I do have a friend in Philly that I would like to meet and we've talked about attending church together.  I must find a flight late enough to give me enough time to do that.  Otherwise, I'll have to fly back on Saturday.  I cannot miss any work the following week.    

Big Island Hawaii Trip Report

 2/10- Got the negative COVID test so I was off to Atlanta after work to catch my flight the next morning.  I've done that many times and that went without a hitch.

2/11- Flight to LAX and Kona both went off as planned.  In LAX, you are not allowed to eat inside the airport restaurants.  Instead, you must take the food and drink to your gate, which creates MORE crowding and makes no sense.  In Kona, there was a NEAR DISASTROUS SNAFU.  They wanted a hard copy of my negative COVID test and I don't have a printer at home.  I was told that I would have to go to quarantine.  I protested that I did not have access to a printer and threw in that my results didn't come until I had already left for Atlanta.  Add to that, they did not provide a printer for such cases.  Fortunately, the boss overruled the employee and let me go free when I provided the e-mail from my phone which proved that I tested negative within 72 hours of my departure.  When that was over, I had to get ANOTHER COVID test.  This one was a rapid PCR test in which the results came back within 2 hours.  I would be informed only if the test was positive.  I never heard back.  So now, why the hell would they send me to quarantine without a proper test before arrival?  Just hold me until the rapid test comes back negative!  Fortunately, it did not come to that and I was off to the rental car pickup.  I had to provide proof of the negative test to rent a car AND check into my hotel.  Those 2 instances were no problem.  

2/12- As expected, because my body was still adjusting to the time change, I was up before the sun this morning.  First stop was a sunrise hike down to a black sand beach.  After that, it was on to Akaka Falls, where I caught some views of snow capped Mauna Kea along with some impressive water falls in a jungle environment.  As for the weather, days always dawned crystal clear but clouds increased throughout the day.  The farther south and east you go, the rainier it gets.  On my last day, it was raining pretty hard just a few miles inland but it remained dry on the beach itself.  Temps were about the same every day.  Low 70s in the morning and low 80s in the afternoon with a water temp in the mid-upper 70s.  

 

By the afternoon, I made it to the closest beach to Akaka Falls, which was at Hapuna State Park and what was probably the largest stretch of white sand on the island.  Conditions were fairly calm but I did manage a decent body surfing session.  

2/13- Drive down to Volcanoes National Park, where I saw no lava flows but a large crater and several steam vents.  Much of the park roads passed through lava fields   From there, it was on to New Black Sand Beach.  Unfortunately, there were too many sharp rocks on the ocean floor so I never got too deep in the water.  Still, I had never seen such exotic scenery so it was well worth the trip.  Dinner was a pineapple and ham pizza at a nice overlook just after sunset.  

2/14- Drove up to Mauna Kea Visitor's Center to 9200 feet altitude.  Temperatures dropped to the 40s and there was certainly snow at the summit.  I really wanted to go sledding just a few times but the road was closed.  Rental cars are not allowed past the Visitor's Center so my best bet would have been to hitch a ride up.  I was not worried about getting up but back down could have been a problem.  Today, the road was closed.  It was raining at 9000 feet so that meant snow at 13,000.  After some deliberation, I decided not to try again.  Being stuck up top and riding back down with a stranger was not real appealing.  Afternoon was an epic surf session at Kua Bay with a water color just as blue as Cancun.

2/15- I had planned to stay in Kona at Magic Sands Beach today but because of a freak high tide, the sand near the water had disappeared, leaving a rocky shoreline.  This is a fairly common occurrence.    The water looked the same beautiful blue as Kua and there were people in the surf but the lifeguard advised me against it.  I went with my gut and obeyed.  If I fell off my board and landed head first on a rock, I could be seriously hurt.  Instead, it was back to Hapuna.  I thought about going someplace different but really did not want to risk another beach out of the way that was not suitable for swimming.  This time, it was rough at Hapuna and I went down several times but caught plenty of good rides to the shore.     

2/16- Pretty much a full day because my flight did not leave until 9:40 PM.  My choices were Rainbow Falls in Hilo or Waipio Beach, another steep hike to a 3rd black sand beach.  I chose the latter.   Actually, it wasn't really black, more like dark grey that turned black when wet but still pretty cool.  This one had a beautiful overlook and a STEEP hike down, which later caused blisters on my feet but it was well worth it.  As a bonus, this beach was good for swimming and the waves were nearly perfect.  Not strong enough to be dangerous but plenty big enough to be exciting.  There was no food down there so I left for a food truck on the road then it was back to Kua Bay for another great surf session.  

2/17- Sleepless night but no delay.  Layover in Seattle and not surprisingly, I was totally whipped back in Atlanta.  After 20 minutes on the road, it was clear that it would not be safe to drive the 2.5 hours back to Birmingham.  I got off at the next exit and just crashed out.  The next morning, I was back in Birmingham.  

Training 2/15-2/21

 2/15- 1 mile junk run this time in the morning near the hotel.  Ran this one on the same road as the Ironman Start/Finish.  Moderate effort brought me home in 7:48 on a route that included a tough climb at the end.  Not bad.  Just want to maintain some level of fitness.

Distance=1.0

2/16- I may be cheating by counting this but it was a 3 mile hike that included 2400 feet of elevation change.  I didn't run it but it was a real workout.  

Distance=3.0

2/17- Flight back to Atlanta.  Planned rest day.

2/18- Elective rest day.  Jet lag is easing up a bit.  Good enough for a junk run but I'll save it for tomorrow.  

2/19- Lakeshore 2.5 in 22:18 (8:55 pace) plus a half mile cool.  Still recovering from jet lag but didn't feel too awfully bad.  1st half in 11:09, 2nd half in 11:09.  How about that!  It won't be great but I may be up for going long tomorrow.

Distance=3.0

2/20- 10 miles in 97:34 (9:45 pace).  Most important thing is that I made it.  My pace fell off a cliff after a respectable first 5 miles.  (45:36-51:58).  9th mile was over 11 minutes before a mild rebound at the end.  A half marathon today would probably be around 2:10 but I believe I can do better.  I'm not fully recovered from the trip and I don't think I took enough Lactoferrin given that I loaded on TRS.  If I can manage 3 tomorrow, that's 20 on the week.  This was my longest run since October of last year.

Distance=10.0

2/21- I had nothing today.  Too sore from yesterday.  I am neither surprised nor disappointed.  Probably didn't gain any fitness from this but I did manage to total 3 miles naked.  Did 3 laps at Montreat this morning then another 6 in the afternoon.  I was slightly better in the afternoon so I may deliver a non-terrible workout tomorrow.

Distance=3.0

-20 miles on the week.  YTD- 130