The “M8B” Q & A Session

After struggling through my mid-week runs, I finally had a run where I didn’t feel like I was struggling. While riffling through my workout bag, I thought about my previous considerations in relation to my running…

My working heart rate has returned to the high numbers that I experienced prior to beginning my string of musical blood pressure meds. This has been the case since changing to a new medication in the week before Chicago. Initially, I was glad to see my heart rate move out of the slow zone that was the result of the BETA blocker. My heart rate was too low when I would run and, as a result, my legs felt dead. I knew that I couldn’t get to Boston on one cylinder.

After making the change, I was disappointed that my heart rate was not back in the range that it was when I was taking the first ACE inhibitor. That zone was the perfect zone; that zone was where I noticed that I was hitting my target paces regularly. Instead, it was back to an average heart rate of the high 160s to 170s. I may have been used to that before, but now it is just hard.

Having finally experienced a “good” run is a step in the right direction. But “long run pace” is quite different from “race pace” or that required for my intervals. Thankfully, CIM is a couple of months away. I have a bit of time to figure it out. In the meantime, I have a lot of unanswered questions and no one to consult but the Magic Eight Ball (M8B) that was in my workout bag.

YaYa was still in the bathroom when I found the ball in my bag. It was a freebie that I picked up at my last job.

I held it and asked the first question:

“Is Cozaar the right drug for me?”
“Answer unclear ask later”

“Is Cozaar causing me problems with my running?”
“Ask me later.”“

Okay, [think]
“Will my body adjust to Cozaar so that running will be easy again?”
“Unable to answer at this time?”

*Sigh*
I gave it a few days and then asked a different set of questions:

“Will I qualify for Boston at CIM?”
“Yes”“Positively”

It does have “yes” answers. But did I ask specifically about this year? I did not.
“Will I qualify for Boston at CIM this year?”
“No”
“Huh?”
“The stars say no”
“If off Cozaar?”
“Looks like yes.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes”
“For real?”
“Cannot foretell now”
“F YOU”
“Chances aren’t good”

So there you have it. I *am* consulting the Magic Eight Ball instead of trusting myself, or my MD. What is this world coming too? ‘That is NOT a question for the M8B”