I had an appointment with the thyroid specialist on Friday. He told me my hormone levels are back in the normal range and I'm to continue with a daily dose of 50 micrograms of Thyroxine. This is great news! It means that (all things being equal), I should no longer suffer from fatigue, low energy, muscle soreness, and numerous other symptoms which interfere with good running. He has ordered another blood test to check my Vitamin-D levels. If those are low I'll be on 2-3000 IU per day for 2 to 3 months.
So, I'm good to go! The only thing holding me back over the next 3 weeks is an excessively busy schedule at work. Last week I slaved through three consecutive 12-hour days. It's an effort to squeeze in even a 45-minute jog on such days. I'm wary of pushing myself over the edge in terms of stress. It's like a jungle sometimes — I often wonder how well Jaouad Gharib or Tirunesh Dibaba would run if they had to fit training around 12-hour work days? I guess they'd be a little slower, and not win so many races!
Last week I ran 55 kilometres — about 40 below par for my Hadd/Lydiard base-building plan. On Monday I had an inkling that my heart-beats per kilometre were falling slightly — a sign that my aerobic fitness might be improving. Yesterday I ran 20 kilometres with my mates on bike-paths near a swollen, muddy and debris-filled Lake Burley Griffin. Amazingly, this was my longest run since March! I need to become more familiar with this sort of distance for a long run. I hope all of you have been training well and are good to go. Race well!
So, I'm good to go! The only thing holding me back over the next 3 weeks is an excessively busy schedule at work. Last week I slaved through three consecutive 12-hour days. It's an effort to squeeze in even a 45-minute jog on such days. I'm wary of pushing myself over the edge in terms of stress. It's like a jungle sometimes — I often wonder how well Jaouad Gharib or Tirunesh Dibaba would run if they had to fit training around 12-hour work days? I guess they'd be a little slower, and not win so many races!
Last week I ran 55 kilometres — about 40 below par for my Hadd/Lydiard base-building plan. On Monday I had an inkling that my heart-beats per kilometre were falling slightly — a sign that my aerobic fitness might be improving. Yesterday I ran 20 kilometres with my mates on bike-paths near a swollen, muddy and debris-filled Lake Burley Griffin. Amazingly, this was my longest run since March! I need to become more familiar with this sort of distance for a long run. I hope all of you have been training well and are good to go. Race well!
My shirt says it's time to go!
22 comments:
They have the rhythm but could they run 20 kms. Those long days at work will wear you down very quickly. I'm almost in the same boat at work, too many hours.
Great news! Onward and upward!
Keep things on the easy side - I just discovered that undertraining slightly is dramatically better than overtraining slightly.
Yay, running with mates is the best, especially the coffee afterwards! Great to see the sun out there today - a tiny reprieve from the rain!
Good news, Ewen. And I'll tell you, we'll all be down to see your thyroid specialist if it means we will "no longer suffer from fatigue, low energy, muscle soreness, and numerous other symptoms which interfere with good running."
Ah, good luck solving the thyroid puzzle. I've been on 75mcg since I had surgery back in high school. It's crazy how much impact a hormonal imbalance/nutrient deficiency can have on athletic performance. 12 hour work days, yowch. Sounds very very draining - hope you can cut back a bit!
It's good to hear that you're good to go! It is funny how a little pill (in my case a red iron pill) can make such a difference. Now looking forward to better days for you this season ;-)
I was diagnosed with low Vit D recently. Living in the Sunshine State who would guess it would be a problem. There certainly is some interesting research in this area which is worth persuing.
A regular long run is the absolute corner stone to a strong aerobic base.
Go! go! go!!! Good to hear. Roger that. Affirmative etc etc . Nice 20k sounds good. Lake Burley Griffin, now thats one place I wanted to visit as a racewalker for the annual LBG 20 mile race...
All the best with finding the right balance between work and running. Of course you will cope better with fullon work schedule if you run, but you have to find the slotrs of time to run...way to go!
That is good news about the thyroid. Managing 55 Km in a week that included three 12 hour working days is impressive. Do not overdo things while your working week continues like this. When work is stressful, running should be something that alleviates the stress rather than adding to it. As Thomas implies, you will get more benefit from under-training than over-training. I hope you are able to reduce those 12 hour days soon.
Ewen, Great to hear you are good to go!!! Our yoga teacher says often that 'we in the west push ourselves too hard'. Too much stress, whether it is from training or work, requires recovery and rest.
Fantastic! Looks like you're ready to roll, Ewen. Great thyroid, lowering HR, longest run, now if you could just quit your job... :-)
Am glad all the clinical signs have improved. Take the entree back into full-on training easy so you don't have any unwanted set-backs, particularly in light of how many long days you are going to have to work. Easy does it ..... Of course, post run coffee on Saturdays is an essential part of training and recovery. Make sure you maintain that.
2F, no, but they could get me up on the floor ;) Yes, my motto of "work to live, not live to work" is being tested.
Thanks Andrew!
I will Thomas. I'm following your progress closely and will heed any advice.
Strewth, hope you're not saying that because we had good coffee at the WM and plenty of sun for a change.
Bob, I'll give you his number. It'll only cost you $250 for a 15-minute consultation and $25 for a box of Thyroxine ;)
SK, that's interesting. You must be on an even keel, as you're running well. I'm counting on things easing off after Christmas.
Mike, yes, it's amazing. Great for us both to get the correct diagnosis and 'cure'.
Robert Song, that's interesting. I think we cover up and stay in the shade a lot these days. True about the long run... unless you're Hosaka and running 210k a week ;)
Jonathon, yes, the LBG 20 mile is very popular. Ask Trevor how many times he's done it next time you see him.
Canute, I think the 'easy' Hadd-style running is relatively stress-free. Today was 10 hours, which is much better than 12! Work will be easier post-Christmas.
Nev, thanks. I'd take up yoga if I had the time ;) True about west v east lifestyles. I'll have to ask Scott Brown how he stays so relaxed.
Flo, thanks. I'm hanging out for early 'retirement' in a little over 18 months' time :)
Jog, that's good advice. I'm trying to be super careful - especially after my sickness a while back. Definitely - I run for coffee!
No need to ask me for advice about the Asian way to relaxation. Half the tuime I'm like a coiled spring and the other half wound up like a two bob watch!
But I can give you some advice Ewen. If you want any Vit D you may want to think about removing the wool around your chin! Or at least trimming that sucker so some health giving light can shine through!!
That's a coincidence! I got the "Go Ahead" from the Ortho Man today too!
Another thing, however, that will hold you back, apart from work, is my ever-increasing speed which you will have little chance of beating in 2011!!
That's good news from the doctor.
Fitting training in around work is tough. Too bad we all can't just quit our day jobs and focus on the run.
Scott, you've destroyed my image of you as one of all calm and serenity! I can remember having a two bob watch (and spending two bob for a bag of sweets!) in primary school. It was a bugger of a thing to wind up.
Luckylegs, I can see myself studying your 2011 racing schedule so as to avoid head-to-head smackdowns!
Robert, thanks. The ideal job would be the one Andy Lloyd had at the AIS - working 4 or 5 hours daily in the library between training sessions.
Nice shirt and you now?, Who does not steal or inherit?, Works until he dies!. Take it easy at work, and remember that you have no qualifications to work ;-).
I started taking codliver oil last winter and had no colds or flu since!
Good to hear your fit to go , enjoy :]But maybe cut down on the work!
Glad to hear you are feeling better. It is so hard to be tired and drained while training. Stay well & strong! :)
With Hadd/Lydiard, I figured the shorter runs would even be 20K.. or is that later in the training. High mileage training, right? I'm still reading more and more books to pick what plan I will be starting up. What are your thoughts so far (even though I know you are a bit behind as you haven't been well).
Rinus, it's one of my most treasured shirts. I'm working on winning Lotto or the Lottery, but until then I'll try and take it easy at work. Play is more important than work!
Rick, that sounds horrible. I've heard whale oil is pretty good, but Scott's mates are catching all the whales ;)
Dubs, once I'm working less and sleeping more I'll be able to tell for sure that the medication is working. As to Hadd/Lydiard, my thoughts so far is that it's working. I think that it is mileage/consistency dependent, in that there's probably a minimum number of consistent miles per week (for me I think that's around 90k). The more miles the better (provided one is recovering well day-to-day). If I was running less than 70k a "mixed" type of program would be better, but I feel it wouldn't produce as good a 5k race time in the long term as Hadd training (followed by Magill training) would. My shorter runs are 10 to 12k.
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