Fatigue, memory loss and other losses

uBefore I start, all this talk about the "pat down" was put in a different perspective in a cartoon sent to me by a friend. Here it is:



After a third week of 75-80 hour work weeks including Saturday/Sunday of over 26 hours on those two days on successive weekends, I tend to find I have a loss of memory. I used to get concerned over this, but not any longer. What is amazing is how people will tell me what I accomplished and I look at them like "where have I been".

I started to compare this to my long running efforts. I have had several training runs which were over 20 hours. As I look back, I recall a common thing, once I reach a certain level of fatigue, my body goes into some type of auto-pilot before it crashes.

Like the 2008 ST 100 attempt. I recall so much of the race, until about 4 AM (20 hours after the start). Then the memories fade and by the 25th hour, I am totally unaware of what happened. My mind just shut down. I recalled when I quit at 28 hours, like my mind took back control of the body and that was the end.

In these long weeks I find the same. I go into auto pilot. I just float along. I am actually much more productive then when I am aware of my surroundings. It is an interesting phenomena. I am not sure if it has been studied or not but would be interesting. But sadly, I do not realize who I have spoke to or what I said. This could be dangerous. But the general consensus of others I as is my facts are significantly accurate and I can answer much more detailed questions on the fly. This is just strange.

I had read taking extra vitamin B12 can assist in reducing this activity. I used to take a Multiple B vitamin each morning but lately, I have skipped taking it on a regular basis. I should consider taking it for 2 weeks and track the progress since I have two more bad weeks before I get to come back to a 50 hour week. At times I think this is all a bummer but in reality, in this time of job difficulties, I am just happy to be working. I have many friend who would love to be in my shoes, so it is not bitching, just the facts.

I read an article today which was actually sad for me to read. Many might have know the 53 year old Mike Broderick. He finished Western States 100, in August finished the 50K Green Lakes Endurance Run and in September, he finished a marathon and half-marathon. On November 4, 2010, he died. He had an aggressive lung cancer.

He was a lawyer left the profession to do hat he liked - run, coach and teach. He threw himself into running with knowledge was so vast that he was in demand as a coach. I only met the man once. He reminded me of me with little tact in what we said but we were also funny and charismatic. There is that trait of being happy with running whether we were first, last or in between.

One website posted a e-mail from mike which read:

"It turns out that the shortness of breath and other symptoms which I have been experiencing over the past several weeks are not due to pneumonia after all. I apparently have lung cancer and am now in the process of further testing and evaluation to determine the extent to which it may have spread and to begin a course of treatment."

He died just weeks later.

As I age, as we all age, we see life just for what it is... Precious. It is times like these I really need to look in the mirror and not see the fat, out of shape runner, but the person who has been given another breath, another step and another moment to either cherish, or waste.

May we all cherish our loved ones, friends and even enemies on the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Carry on my friends, carry on!