167 lbs. and the divot between my external obliques and my rectus abdominis is new.
A minute faster than my fastest race at this distance.
Day 110
Had intense sugar craving this weekend. Not sure what that is all about. Feeling unremarkable and am wondering if the enteric coated capsules are adding anything. Will finish the week and return to the normal capsules at 1 ml of material a day every two to three days. Daily doses does not feel "right" for me.
Beta tester 2 had sugar levels above 140+ this weekend and had to return to a sugar free diet. Taking two enteric coated capsules a day did not prevent the elevation. Diet is appearing to have a much larger effect on sugar levels than the capsules which makes sense but is a little disappointing. There has also not been any weight loss and the capsules are not modifying his sugar cravings. Plan is to have him finish the week with 2 capsules a day and re-evaluate.
Fast for me. So even when I feel "meh" seems like I am running better than normal. Will be interesting how this progresses over the coming months.
Day 107
Weighed 166 lbs. this morning. Easing up on the running miles this week. Bowel movements very healthy and inflammation is looking good. This is the new baseline for what I consider healthy.
Started a beta tester last week but had to discontinue when the pre-treatment testing for the beta revealed an infection that had to be treated with antibiotics. This week a new beta tester started and we are collecting data. This tester, beta 2, has glucose issues and is likely diabetic type II. Prior to treatment fasting glucose was >120. After a week of fecal capsules at .5 ml everyday fasting glucose is 101. No changes is weight though. Plan is to increase to two capsules a day and observe.
I am going to try a short course of enterically coated capsules to see if there is any difference for me. Plan is .5ml once a day. If there are any negative effects on my rosacea (which is most likely due to SIBO) I will discontinue and return to normal capsules.
In other news uBiome sent me my results which are just absolute garbage. Despite my desire to move to another testing service I will try one more sample as my desire for continuity is overwhelming my frustrations.
Lab error. Much more common than you would expect.
Day 97 Back from the Race
Things went really well. I paced my father, who is 71, and we averaged 22:00 minute miles over 50K. Last year my gut blew up on a 22 mile Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim hike so I was worried. Every time I have summited Mt. Whitney (which is also 22 miles up and down) I deal with gastrointestinal issues. This year not a single issue with the exception of a little gas at mile 12. Otherwise, my gut was rock solid for 31 difficult miles. I am blown away.
My phone battery was dying at mile 24.88 so I saved my data. We did the whole 31 miles in about 11 hours. This was a huge test for my gut and it did fantastic. Fantastic enough that I am going to do another ultra distance and run it for time - no pacing this time just racing. I did get some inflammation in the days following the race but that is to be expected. Even the Tarahumara get some inflammation after a long race. Immune system has to clean up and repair all the damage and my immune system will never be "normal" but it is certainly better than it has ever been.
I am excited. I never thought I was going to be able to do these long races. It is generally recognized that ultra distance events are actually eating and drinking competitions where there is some running in between. What that means is the health of the gastrointestinal tract and the ability to take in and process nutrition is the real measure of fitness. The races are too long not to eat and drink and that is what has always held me back. My gut starts leaking and then my immune system attacks my joints. That did not happen in the longest distance I have done in 20+ years at elevation on a challenging course. This opens up the possibility of doing distances I did not think I would be able to do. This is so cool!
The beta tester started four days ago and is experiencing the stomach/loose bowel that I felt as well as some sweating. I got that in the form of night sweats so it is a little different. Otherwise, he is feeling well and has even lost some weight (3 lbs.) but it is too early to tell if that will trend or is just some random noise in his day-to-day weight fluctuations.
This is really amazing. I just ran ten miles at near race pace two days from my first 50K. Normally, if would take me four to five days to recover to the point I wanted to run again. I ran an easy six yesterday and was suppose to do an easy eight but I felt so good I pushed negative splits for ten.
These are negative splits! What is going on?
Day 92 Big Bear
Off to the mountains. Wish me luck!
Day 89
Five days to the Kodiak 50K. I have been running well and feel prepared. Couple more days of work and then up into the mountains to acclimate. Weighed 171 lbs. this morning and inflammation looks good. Ran a little 5.7 miler today on a full stomach and no issues. Still no uBiome data and there was a mix up in the lab that does the coprological examination. No examination for leukocytes only cultures for the salmonella, shigella and camplyobacter. So the entire two week wash-out was a waste except to reinforce that the capsules are improving things. Trying not to get frustrated with the lab issues and just focus on how well I have been feeling. This is the longest I have been injury free running these kind of miles. Inflammation looks as good as it ever has and I like the way I look at 170 lbs.
Day 83 - Bacteria Telling Me To Get Up and Move
Impulse to run is returning. If bacteria can hijack our food signals why not bacteria that flourish under metabolic stress hijacking exercise signals? Could it really be working this fast? Vicious competition in the gastrointestinal ecosystem and bacteria seeking optimal conditions are not likely to be passive travelers.
Day 81
Weight 170 lbs. Long hot, hot run.
Day 80 Third Trial
Modifying the plan. I have ten 1ml capsules left and I am two weeks from last capsule and two weeks to Kodiak race. I am going to finish the 1ml capsules at 1 every two days leading up to the race. Started yesterday and had enormous sugar cravings. Today, I woke up with the urge to go for a run which I have not had for the last week. Could be a giant placebo or it could be those sugar loving bacteria panicking because they know their bloom is over and healthy bacteria is establishing and sending signals in my metabolic system for some "run" nourishment.
Day 79
1st Ultra running race September 25th.
It is official. This will be the test. Hard enough to do this distance without the extra pressure of self-experimentation but it will be a good data point on how my gastrointestinal ecosystem is doing.