There is lots of evidence here to suggest over-training. For example, a paradoxically and persistently low hemoglobin with no other explanation is consistent with a phenomenon called "march hemoglobinuria and hemolysis" due to excessive trauma to the feet and red blood cells. Trail marathons and long runs that last 3-4 hours are also excessive for most people. The author of the post also mentions that he notices a "reduction over time in my libido levels and muscle recovery after long runs or lifting."
I probably should clear some things up then. My total training volume is lower now than it was in the summer. For example, in the summer, as I am doing a lot of running races and duathlons, my total volume of running averages 50 miles or so a week. On top of that I am riding 100 to 130 miles per week, and on top of that, I am strength training as well.
Right now, yes I have a long trail run on the weekends that lasts 3 to 4 hours (on technical trails so its at a slower pace), but my total mileage per week is just 40 to 43 miles per week and since its Fall / Winter, I am only riding 40 to 60 miles per week. I only maintain those super long training runs for a couple of months a year as I train for a trail marathon or 50k. After that, my weekend long run drops to 12 to 15 miles. Right now though I actually take more off days from training than I do at other times of the year.
I am very cognizant of over-training so I take an off day anytime I am feeling off. I also monitor my heart rate on runs and rides religiously, and if I start creeping up in my heart rate for a run at a given pace, then I reduce my training volume.
I looked back at some results I had from 2008. Back then I ran less than 20 miles a week, didn't ride at all, and only did body weight strength training.
Despite that, in 2008:
HCT: 42.3%
HGB: 14.4 g/dl
So my hemoglobin levels were not very high even when I did not run that much.
I poorly worded something in my initial post. What I meant was that my libido slowly drops the further I get from when I last injected, same with my recovery from workouts and this has become more pronounced over time since I switched from 100 mg every 7 days to 100 mg every 10 days. My personal hypothesis is this: When I was at 100 mg every 7 days, I was not metabolizing the testosterone faster than I was getting it. Thus little by little - week by week, my trough and peaks were drifting up a little over time. When I switched to 100 mg every 10 days, the opposite was happening and I was metabolizing it faster than I was getting it. Thus little by little - week by week, my trough and peaks were drifting down over time. So hopefully the new schedule of every 100 mg every 8 days will be the happy medium.
That all said, I eat a whole foods pesectarian diet and really do take care of my health. I am hardly ever sick, and always have a fairly high energy level. This was true even before TRT. Moreover, I have set many of my PRs in the last year, so I can't imagine I am over trained. The only difference I have ever noticed in my labs after a long hard training run or race is mildly elevated AST levels.
