Excited for another shirtless selfie.
The most important measure of this experiment will be how sustainable these improvements are so I will try to monitor that over a number of years. Pictures are better than the scale.
Day 432 Still Cruising Along
2nd age group and 64th overall (field of 1,400+).
Just a quick update. 169lbs. Taking a .5ml capsule every two to three days depending on how I am feeling. Still feeling better than I can remember. Running is additive and the longer I can stay healthy and keep the miles up the faster I should be able to run. Training to qualify for the Boston Marathon and finish a 100k this Fall/Winter.
Having expanded the Beta testing pool I can report that these results are not unique to just me. Have reproduced similar effects in three others. These capsules are special and unlike anything I have ever worked with.
Day 384 Toughest 50K Yet
Solid effort. Minor stomach issues but it was a hard course at elevation. 7:03:36 for 32.2 miles which was 9th overall and 3rd in my age group. Three days into recovery and feeling good.
Day 377 Capital Reef 50K
Did 40ml enema of FMT last week to see if there is a difference from the 20ml I have done before. Last week I did feel off and finally by the weekend the urge to run extra miles returned.
All-in-all, feeling good and looking forward to getting back on the trail. I have been running slower since my San Diego Rock n Roll weekend. Not sure if it is just too much competition runs or that I never recovered from my Marathon effort. I have pulled back on the mileage (not more than 40 mi./week) and curious how this will go. These high elevation runs are a challenge for me living at sea level. My last race 15 miler at Holcomb Valley Big Bear, which was only 7,000 ft, was hard to catch my breath. This race starts at 8,500 ft. Yikes! Word is this is a spectacular place and I am excited to see it for myself.
Latest uBiome data is at the lab and next week I am due for all my blood tests for the hookworm sero-surveillance. I will post when I have the results.
Day 370 Wrapping Up
One of the better data points I have for recent running times are from the Low Tide Ride n Stride. An 8.1 mile run that is flat as a board and at sea level. Here are the times:
Pre- FMT
2012 1:05:09
2013 1:03:15
Post-FMT
2016 57:37:09
This time is about 10% faster than my previous efforts and when you figure in I ran a 5K the day before (3rd place overall), which I did not do in previous years and that I am three years older this is probably a 12%-15% improvement.
uBiome changed their user interface and my data change (always something with this company). My pre-FMT biodiversity is now 50% and after a year it is at 73%. I have another sample at the lab waiting for test results.
I weigh 168lbs. this morning and inflammation looks fantastic.
Day 356 Almost a Year
I feel like I look - healthy.
167 lbs. Just missed the podium in my age group for the 5K with a 19:54. Day later ran a 3:30 marathon.
Day 344 New uBiome Data
5/6/16 Data
Couple observations that stand out are the increase in biodiversity. Started in the 66th percentile and now up to 80th so that is encouraging. Not sure what to make of my Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes ratio which seems worse than when I started, but I am certainly leaner and running faster so not going to read too much into that data point.
At the genus level seeing some improvements in Blautia, Roseburia and Akkermansia which all, according to my readings, correlate with gut health; and that trend is consistent with my observations on my gut function day-to-day and during races. I only tentatively mention the genus level changes because I do not put much faith in this test to accurately determine those but it is interesting.
Day 330 Born To Run - Burning Man Meets an Ultra Event
Personal record in the Beer Mile 8:56
Might seem silly but last year I did the beer mile and the next day my stomach was bloated, gassy and upset. This year more than two minutes faster and no gastrointestinal symptoms. I drank sorghum beer, last year and this year, which is gentler than wheat/barley based beer but it is still another dramatic improvement in my GI robustness.
Day 322 First "Real" Ultra
50 mile finish in 11:03:00.
Tough course and longest distance to date. No gut issues the entire 50 miles!?! I managed 3rd place in my age group and top ten (8th) overall. What can I say? Even the Tarahumara were proud of my effort. This was the third consecutive weekend of running at maximal effort across a range of distances and terrain. Three weeks ago short/fast on asphalt, two weeks ago middle distance on slippery trail and this week long on sandy/technical. Results a 1st in age group, a 2nd overall (1st age group), and a 3rd age group. No injuries.
In less than a year, I have transitioned from being constantly hurt, middle-of-the- pack half-marathoner to a sub 20min 5Ker who, at least once, made the podium in a half-century. If you have been reading the blog from the beginning the question is no longer if there is a difference, but how much of a difference? Quantifying that change is going to be challenging. Metabolically, the most recent uBiome data should be back next week and I can compare the biodiversity changes vs. the changes in running times. How to quantify the inflammation and injuries vs. non-injuries is going to be harder (other than to say it is just better - much better).
Day 317 Selfie Time
Will be nice when I do not have to do these anymore.