I posted earlier that once I got a sub-30 5K I'd do a novel of a RR. So here it is. I put the race first so those that aren't interested could skip the history.

St. Maria Goretti One Mile and 5K Race

A couple of months ago I asked Sly to pace me to a sub-30 5K and he agreed, “Just pick a date.”  I was still training for my marathon so I wanted to wait until I recovered from it. The SMG 5K seemed to fit perfectly. A small race local race with a fairly flat course I thought. This turned out to be a great race overall. It was hosted by a Church/School and we were thanked at least a half dozen times by people for coming. Everyone was so friendly and helpful asking if there was anything we needed. It started raining right after the race so they packed up everything and moved into the gym for the awards. Definitely one to put on the calendar for next year.

There was another member of our club who hadn’t yet gotten a sub-30 and wanted to try with us. We ended up with 7 or 8 members of our club running.

I got to the race about 7:30 and drove past Sly on my way in. He was running the whole course in advance.  It was overcast  with a chance of rain 75 degrees and 80% humidity so the air was pretty thick. We met up and Sly went over the course with us. I ran the mile fun run with our a few members as a warm up.

I’m not to good at this especially on a 5k. I don’t remember much but here goes.

The only problem with the course was the start/finish it was in a parking lot with a short distance to the street and a 90 turn. We lined up close to the front and to the outside so we wouldn’t get cut off at the first turn.

We got  off to a good start, no problem at the turns and got to the main street where we regrouped and Sly kept the pace. The first mile had a slight downhill in the second ½.  Mile 2 was just a few rolling hills but I could feel em. Sly keeping an eye on us, headup breath. Mile 3 was more of the same gradual uphill with a few rollers. .1 a right turn to a hill and a left to the parking lot 50ft to the finish. I kicked what I had left, hit a new max HR and done! 29:41 I’m sure a lot more happened along the way but couldn’t take notes.

We were successful as a team as well. Sly led 3 of us to PRs 2 new sub-30.

1st overall - 20:36

1st overall male 20:40 <- My AG

1st (50-54)F 25:10

1st (65-69)M. 27:25

2nd (35:39)M29:24 PR

4th (50-54)M 29:41 PR Me.

1st (35-39)F 29:44 PR

Stop here if your not interested in a rambling history...

How I got there...

Five  years ago after carotid artery surgery on the left and right, stents in aorta and iliacs for peripheral artery diseases, the Dr. said I had the arteries of an 80 year old. No definitive cause really, heredity, smoking untreated high bp who knows.

So I thought maybe I should try to do something about it.

I tried to quit smoking, and finally did 3 years ago. I changed my diet, I’ve gone from no red meat, no meat Monday, vegetarian, and vegan now for about 5 months.I started resistance training, aerobic work on an elliptical.

Before I got the stents I couldn’t walk 100 yds. without stopping because of  intermittent claudication, cramps due to lack of oxygen to the muscles that goes away with rest.  Most things you read about PAD don’t go beyond just improving walking distance, or preventing gangrene. Nothing about running.

A Dr. I recently exchanged email with who is doing research on PAD and nitrates(beetroot), gave me this analogy:

“I always look at this issue as a highways versus the small streets and side roads.

In many conditions the peripheral tissue maladapts to the supply-it happens in PAD but also in heart failure and likely lung disease tissue too.  

In PAD the capillaries (small streets) become less in number and therefore less able to deliver any oxygen then the tissue itself starts to maladapt, to shrink to the supply and actually not work as well (less houses on the street and they don’t  function as they should).  In fact the types of muscle lost the most are the oxygen dependant ones more (left with a higher %age of what are called fast twitch fibers-good for short bursts but tire out very quickly).

The ABI is a measure of the blockage in the larger arteries (interstates).  Even following surgery when the blockage is physically removed often exercise performance doesn’t actually change that much.  There is a better flow on the interstate but not many streets and house left to supply and function.

So with exercise and with inorganic nitrates (in beet juice, kale etc) we are trying to make  a molecule called nitric oxide (NO) more available as it helps muscle tissue work better and grow small vessels (over time).  The actual plaque on the interstate may take much longer or not change much.”

So, I helped the interstate with the stents. Now I’m trying to rebuild the neighborhoods. It took years to do the damage, and it’s taking  years to repair.

I challenged my boss to run a 5K, and started  C25K training in 2010. The C25K plan seems to be focused on 30 minutes. So I figured  a 30 min 5K must not be too hard for most beginners. In reality it’s not that easy for a normal person to run a 30 min 5K, and second I’m far from normal.

About four weeks into  the C25K training I hurt my back. I went to the Dr. got an x ray that showed nothing. Dr. said it was probably just muscle spasms and to take it easy. So, that ended my running. Six months later I decided to give it another try. Again after about 4 weeks I hurt my back. Another x ray showed nothing so the Dr. referred me to a specialist who ordered a MRI. The MRI showed 3 compression fractures. One recent, one about 6 months old and one several years old. Next up was a bone density scan. When I went in for the test and the nurse said to hop upon the table and lay down.  She ran the test and saw the preliminary results and tried to help me off the table so I wouldn’t  fall and break something, Severe Osteoporosis, something postmenopausal women or much older men get. Pretty rare for somebody my age.

After pretty much every blood and urine test there is I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Osteoporosis.  Translation,  we don’t know why. I started  forteo, a drug I had to inject daily for 2 years. You can only take it once, something about it causing cancer in mice… I think Ryan Hall took it to speed up the healing from an injury.

After a year of the injections I decided to give it another try. Insanity right. I finally ran/walked my first 5k in june of 2012. 37:32. I guess I was hooked at that time even though I hated running, it was just a means to an end. And the rest they say is history.

So, now I’ve run 3 10Ks, 1 15K, 3 HMs, and 1 Marathon. And finally after 57 5Ks a sub-30 5k.

So what’s next? Boston of course, it’s what comes next right? But that’s another story.

FYI: Beetroot juice works, at least for me. I’ve been drinking 8 ounces a day for a couple of weeks and I’ve had a noticeable difference.

Thanks for reading...

Congrats on the sub-30!  And with 2 friends from your club, and Sly to lead the way...I'm sure that made it even more special.

 

I had no idea you'd overcome so many health issues.

 

So what exactly have you noticed improvement in from the beet juice?

Thanks. My legs just feel more lively. I can go longer before they start to cramp, they don't feel tired right away. My average pace for my normal MAF runs has increased 15+ seconds at the same HR. There are a lot of studies on Nitric Oxide (NO) and it's affects on BP and circulation. I just recently ran across a few that were dealt specifically with PAD.

Congrats, PAD!  I am glad to hear your health is doing much better!

I didn't know about all the health issues either. Quite a path! Congrats on sub30! Mostly congrats on drastically improving your healthy though. 

Congratulations on finally breaking the elusive sub-30.

I knew about PAD from my husband, who also had it before he started hiking.  Like you, he was a heavy smoker.  Another friend who had it died young of a stroke, so I know it can be very dangerous.  For my husband, going from little exercise to daily exercise has kept the PAD from being a problem.  He hasn't had cramps in his legs for years now.

Have you had another bone density test to see if the shots are working?

PAD - I saw this posted on FB today and your story seems like it would fit!!

Interested in being featured in a new book about running? Pete Magill, ElliptiGO rider and author of Build Your Running Body, is writing a new book focused on getting, reluctant, returning, older, injured, and non-runners off the couch and out the door... and then on the path to a healthy running lifestyle.

If you are a runner who had to clear some big hurdles (addictions, medical issues, injuries, lack of motivation, etc.) before getting on the road for your first run, your success story is what he needs. Professional athlete or casual jogger, share your happy ending of what got you up and running!

If this sounds like fun, you can reach Pete at coachmagill@gmail.com. No need to send him your full story in email, all he needs are a few lines indicating why you would be a great fit and he’ll set up a phone call with you to get the details.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Thank you for sharing your story.  You have persevered through so much.  Hopefully you're also enjoying it.  Glad that the beet juice is working too!

Thanks everyone. I guess I'm just a stubborn SOB.

Thanks Oski that sounds interesting. I'm not much for publicity more of a shy introvert but I'll think about it.