Thu 20 Aug 26: Another sign of the macro-clusterf*** of weather in the middle of the biggest drink on earth: weather is absolutely clear. In fact, 1980s clear like I remembered it during summers. Except of course, 10F hotter... The walk's gonnna be a bit of a palaver, then... luckily I already take a source of shade... tho at risk of barely-concealed amusement on the minds of fellow walkers, am sure. --- There's another system forseen by our not-quite-Delphian oracle of weather the NOAA, to crash into us by Sat, given the most cynical forecasts. This plug of high pressure's just the rest of the atmo filling the void of two cyclones passing thru... so guessing it's not enough to dissuade this yet-to-be-name 2C depression from aping its older sister. It's rather scattered at its borders but much bigger and finding rotation a lot earlier and further away from the state than Lala. If it hugs the warm water track that may've neutered a bit of Lala's power... that may mean an Iselle-Julio-like situation where the state were blackeyed by an initial storm, then at risk of being hit again whilst in recovery (as place is in a relatively-low-risk area for wind-flood dmg... the risks are to utilities, as this is still one of the hottest summers I can remember, thanks to the Big Little Boy making ocean's surface as warm as 1980s shallows at the beach -- 86 - 88F -- which rolls out a red-hot carpet for storms to rock right up to the state from Central America). But for now it's 0639, and already over 86F / 30C, 2K ft above sea level. And Sep's our peak month for temps... --- Hope it's not wishful thinking... but do feel a bit different today. Had my scoop of creatine dry with some water (as even more water's a non-optional add'n to the diet on this stuff)... and yeah, different. Hard to explain -- already know what non-empirical thinking does to the likable but naïve who desperately want supps to work, so trying to stick to what I know's real. Tbh am more monitoring how this stuff'd make things worse, than become its fanboy-by-purchase... as things have been going rather good anyway, despite circumstances. If this is a cheap, safe and effective supp tho, why wouldn't I try it? But has to actually work, not pi$$ down my back and tell me it's raining... Hmm. Well, most of the change is to the cognitive side, really. Feel more calm, clear -- still non-plussed by the usual bad drivers and such, but a notch easier to relax away fro behaviour a past Me would've already red-misted into instant regret. That's not been super-intense of late, or anything... but when does inevitably happen enough to elicit grumbles -- today that much less stressful. Next thing's the quality of sleep. Supposedly this stuff enables release of more ATP into your interstitial fluid (granted sufficient Mg levels are present) -- ATP's used by all cells, not just muscle cells. Of note is its effect on CNS neurons as mentioned before... but now can feel what that change actually means: took it before bed last night, not sure if made any difference as take glycinate supp at the same time. But sleep wasn't like a log as after 5 - 6 x 1.5-hr clients... but got up clearer-headed. Guess it's so rare I feel that way, caught me off-guard a bit. That clear-headedness, is what I began the lap with today... almost as if a filter were switched on, for proprioception and moving mind to limbs and other parts of the body, namely the bum knee. Is this what it's like, for the brain to have more ATP available to it? Haven't felt this kind of connection to my body in ages. Sounds like a big f***ing deal but irt were more like 'wow, I don't have to power thru figuring out that area as much'. Nothing spectacular but is noteworthy, esp since need be on this stuff several weeks to work. Didn't feel any stronger on the forefoot of Clencher (where the first backwalks begin)... but did notice by the 2nd backwalk, could do all 10 steps without difficulty. How weak, uncoordinated, and lactic-acid-burning my lower legs felt doing this routine weeks now, all gone. Yeah of course there were wobbles but far less intense and all were recoverable but 2, in the whole lap. Could do 10 sets of 10 backwalks, with 2 wobbles that required redo. Versus 15 or more, esp on Chute. Would say that's a plus for taking this stuff, if it's the reason -- just didn't think it'd do much, Day 2 of taking it Would that be due to CNS absorption of it, or in the muscle cell / PNS part? Not sure... but defo exp'd some performance improvement, esp when backwalks would get real on Chute and down Drain. When needed to push to reach a bit deeper, there it was -- the ability to do just that (long a deterrent from pushing 5y ago... as seemed the smallest change in diet or stretch or warmup, would take 10s from the 2-mi run). Not gonna call it a multiplier yet, has to work more consistently over time. But'll take the win today Yep -- faaack it's hot on Doggo already. No stratus sombrero on the WMM to shield us from any of it, and clouds were absent from the big mtn as well, normally our best block of AM sun (however hope this allows some of the Lala mess to dry and allow heavy equipment up into the worst-hit areas Upcountry). 'Breller deployed nearly the whole trail Whilst seemed to help squelch some of the usual head static, conscious and beyond... creatine mh's not at all some kind of magic bullet. First, makes one retain water, an effect of its metabolite creatinine. Second... speaking of which, if you have a physical with a blood draw coming up, can't be on this stuff as raises creatinine levels to a point where your PCP may interpret it as kidney disease. So have to wean off weeks before, then tell your PCP you're on it and how much per day, to get a useful interpretation. That's not great for someone who wants its benefits all year. Will talk to my PCP about it, as she's been a sane advocate of more exercise for my old arse than less. More tomorrow
Fri (barely) 21 Aug 26: Welp, not been able to get on until well after dinner; forum's going tits-up soon I suppose. Any forum that doesn't allow 24hr access with password challenge, has more than a cashflow problem. Appreciate any sacrifices behind the scenes to keep it up at all, but this is a joke Back to me Interesting -- that incredible clarity's faded a touch, but not as much as imagining it... very odd for 3rd day of dosage. Took at exact same time this AM, 3g dissolved in plain water. Took CLO, glycinate and multi last night, exact same diet. Mostly what's changed is the novelty of the amplified sensory experience, I suppose... but control over esp coordinated movement of large leg muscles under load's still much better than I'd felt in years (ex: walking downhill or down stairs on a bum knee). Driving to the park, were ~10 mins early. Weather looked another blazing-clear morning, already hitting 80F at 0625 -- gonna need my portable shade. But oddly the gate were open -- thought this didn't open until 0630 (beyond, if past month were any indicator). Took off up the hill by 0643... Only 1st backwalk had any of the old 'weak-feeling' wobbles -- guess that 300m of warmup isn't actually using the extra phosphorus (from phosphocreatine) to 'recharge' ATP from ADP; will only happen once close to the Chute, methinks... and thru 2nd backwalk, finally did get that 'steadying' boost in balance from ankles, once were feeling actual strain in them. Next: Chute gauntlet... Quite difficult today -- bit more tired climbing. But when doing backwalks, no problem at all. All 3 BWs were done without a single wobble. Didn't feel some kind of Superman boost, if this creatine regimen's working at all and not just in my head. Felt actually rather less enjoying the walking / climbing part... but felt better doing the BWs, if that makes any sense Reinforced that, coming up to the Drain. BWs all perfect except one wobble, right at the end. That's 5 sets of 10 steps in a row, on a >1-in-3 incline. Were even taking a bit extra time to explore going lower in these one-legged squats, and still dealt with them fine. Suppose that's where creatine's benefits lay, only when using muscles intensely. Must be taking longer on BWs as again, the walk's stretched again time-wise. No idea how much until I actually time them, but seems the only things possible to take any longer to do, are BWs. Btw hams are indeed growing -- haven't seen growth like this since mil 30y ago -- eccentric contraction does work, even for us old farts Doggo was Doggo... no one but a couple of walkers passing by today. Boy does knee feel good tho -- may have to e-contract quads, if the growth in hams and glutes keeps this pace Have since learned about benfotiamine, a fat-soluble form of normally-water-soluble thiamine (B1) and its similar positive cognitive effects to creatine (esp for ADHD, which may be comorbid with) + ability to cross blood-brain barrier into brain's fatty tissues. Fairly convinced of creatine's benefits but will wait out the requisite month+ more; holding off on benfotiamine just for diagnostic reasons. There's another form of fat-soluble B1 extracted from garlic, called TTFD (thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) which has 2 sulfur atoms (makes sense from garlic) and a purported better efficacy over benfotiamine; will do a bit more digging to see if it's worth it but need to test regular benfotiamine first
