Doping

I made some interesting discoveries this week about my daily medications, one is a banned substance and the other is only banned during competition.   USATF does do drug testing and there is a long list of no no's and also a list that are no no's during the meets but OK the rest of the year.  It makes it pretty messy to stay legal.  I went to my doctor today and we worked through the scenarios and we have changed my blood pressure medicine to a legal active ingredient.   The old drug was basically a diuretic and they do not like that stuff in your system because it will mask other illegal actives by changing the urine.   I will start my new BP med this week.

My allergy medicine is a whole other kettle of fish.  I use Allegra D and the D is the bad boy. D is the antihistamine and it really works to dry up my sinus and keep me from becoming a snot factory--literally. The pseudoephedrine is the bad boy in this medication and it is legal during the part of the year you are not at a meet.  During a meet it is illegal.   I take 240 mg a day and need to figure out how quickly it leaves my system so I can get legal for races.  This will take some effort, I think I will need to consult the authorities at the USADA.(United States Anti-Doping Agency).   This is the group that busted Lance Armstrong and brought him back to earth.  I think they know what they are doing in terms of doping and need to get this corrected if I want to be a serious competitor. 

In the meantime, I will continue to be a "user" and hopefully I can get this squared away by July and meet time.

I did join the So Cal Track club.  They were very interested in getting me on board.  I think they always have a need for relay teams and I can definitely help out in that respect.   Plus!  they have some great looking colors!!

 

I have not run for the last ten days.  I have done some weights, but really I have been busy with a little back porch remodeling job and I am doing my resting.  Running the indoors meets  this year did throw off my winter schedule.  I like to get the feet healed up and just get some rest.  I am at the point now, where I will start doing some running. I am really hesitant to run in cold weather as well.    I am also signed up for an adventure in early November this year where I will be a group of family members and we will be hiking the Grand Canyon --Rim to Rim.   It is a four day adventure and we will be doing a lot of elevation changes in those days.  So, I can also work on my power and stamina with a 40 pound pack as a change of pace.  It is a heck of  a view from the bottom.  

 

Linda has been doing some very interesting core work at a local studio and I have went along the last two weekends to join in the fun.   The sessions are yoga based and are designed to get your core activated and performing properly.  I have enjoyed the sessions and it is a great way to connect your mind to different body parts and make them respond.  

 

My next meet is probably May 20, which is an all comers meet held in Nashville and sponsored by Fleet Feet and some other local running groups and retailers.  Last year we had this very young girl ( 4 or 5) wearing a  tutu running down the track with her arms waving like a butterfly!  She was way cute and having a blast. I really enjoyed it and I will go to get in a lap or two and break up any training monotony.