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Unfortunately, I have to return the Lactate Scout Sport, as the device turned out to be too inconsistent and unreliable for field use.

After consuming over 20 strips, only about five readings seemed trustworthy — the rest were completely off.
For example, during today’s easy run (cool weather, HR ~142 bpm, pace ~6:20/km), the device reported absurdly low values of 0.5–0.7 mmol/L.
Just two days earlier, after 7 × 1.5-minute intervals at 3:57/km, it showed 9.4 mmol/L, which made sense.
Similarly, on an earlier easy run (~6:20/km), I got 2.4 mmol/L, again plausible.

So the pattern is clear:
👉 the meter performs fine indoors, but becomes unreliable outdoors — especially in cold (6–10 °C), humid, or rainy conditions typical of autumn.
The strips are extremely sensitive to temperature and moisture, which makes real-world measurements impractical.

For verification, I ran a control test using the manufacturer’s calibration solution:
at a reference of 10 mmol/L, the device displayed 10.3 mmol/L, confirming that the analyzer itself is accurate.
The issue clearly lies in environmental sensitivity, not the internal calibration.

A word on Allmed

The distributor, Allmed, showed remarkable professionalism and empathy throughout the entire process.
They advised me patiently, suggested potential troubleshooting steps, and supported my efforts to identify the root cause.
Wanting to be fair, I even asked them to reduce the refund amount slightly and covered the cost of the test materials myself — it felt right to do so after such great customer service.

Conclusion

While the Lactate Scout Sport works fine in lab-like conditions, it’s not a reliable tool for field testing during typical outdoor training seasons.
Consistency is everything when you’re tracking physiological adaptation — and this device simply can’t deliver that under variable weather.

Still, it was a fun experiment — and I learned a lot about how sensitive lactate testing really is.
Also… quite a painful one 😅 — I used the deepest 21G / 2.4 mm lancets, which left real bruises. Now I know: 1.8 mm max next time!

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Finally, I’ve got my Lactate Scout Sport — and, unlike most people, I actually started by reading the manual 😄
(Good thing I did: the strip code had to be changed in the device first.)

As it turns out, measuring lactate isn’t that simple.
My first test was a mess: the blood drop was too small, I pressed the strip too hard, and the result came back 4.0 mmol/L at rest, which made no sense.
A moment later, more blood started flowing (the 2.4 mm / 21G lancets are no joke).

Then I went for a run:

• Easy run: ~5:40 / km, upper Z2 → 3.8 mmol/L.
• Tempo segment: 3.2 km @ 4:42 / km, avg HR 171 → 177 bpm at the end → 4.3 mmol/L.

Testing blood mid-run was a hassle:
blood flowed much faster with high HR, I ended up with a hand literally covered in blood, strips kept throwing errors, and each test took over a minute.

Three hours after the session, lactate was 0.9 mmol/L at rest,
and the next morning (fasted) 1.2 mmol/L.

Takeaway

Garmin’s LTHR estimate (177 bpm at ~4:42 / km) seems reasonably accurate.
But the key insight is that what my watch calls “easy” may not actually be easy for my body —
my real Z2 could be sitting in the gray zone, with lactate already between 2–3 mmol/L.

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From the beginning, I’ve treated running, calisthenics, and mobility as an investment in health.
These are not just workouts, but part of my daily framework designed to regenerate the brain and sustain intellectual performance.

When balance breaks

I’ve noticed this three times already: when training intensity goes too high (as it is now in week 12 of Amy’s plan), things start to fall apart:

• brain fog — harder to enter flow,
• fewer deep work sessions, and the ones I do manage are shallower,
• even NeuroForge, which normally gives me a huge cognitive boost, doesn’t help this time.

It’s not just a subjective feeling. The body also signals overload:

• HRV fluctuations — values lost their stability,
• heart rate drift — less control at given paces,
• sleep not fully restorative — hours in bed are there, but recovery is incomplete.

Takeaways

This confirms that excessive physical load drains mental fuel.
The point is not to avoid intensity, but to seek symbiosis: physical activities should support intellectual ones, not exist at their expense.

What’s next?

I’ll finish Amy’s plan — three weeks left.
After that, I’ll take two weeks of deload and move into a very easy base and technique phase.
The goal for winter is to create a system where running, calisthenics, and mobility are a natural support for mental work, not a drain on the nervous system.

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October 1st, and something finally clicked.
The grind started paying off.

Mile benchmarks

• Week 11 (Sep 28) – Benchmark mile in 6:18. Stable pace ~3:55/km, with gas left in the tank.
• Week 12 (Oct 1) – Benchmark again: 6:11. Average 3:51/km. This one hurt. I kept it stable, but the last stretch was no joke.

Two mile PRs in just four days.

The grind

I know where it comes from.
The 7 × 3 minutes at ~4:00/km (with 3-minute rests) are the hardest workouts I’ve ever done.
They broke me mentally.

When I saw them on the plan, I dreaded them days in advance. Like a dentist appointment — or worse.
But those sessions built this result. No shortcuts.

Metrics and adaptation

• HR: topping at 186–187 instead of 191–192 in repeats. Progress.
• VO₂max: now 51 — back on the rise.
• HRV: still high, often ~130.
• Sleep: steady, 80+ Garmin scores, thanks to earlier bedtime.

Reflection

These mile benchmarks prove the suffering isn’t wasted.
Amy’s plan is brutal, but it’s forging something new.
I don’t know yet if I can carry 4:20/km for a full 5K — but mile by mile, rep by rep, I’m closer.

Grind. Adapt. Survive. Break PRs.
That’s the cycle.

September 8th 2025 — I start my third cycle of brain-health supplementation (NeuroForge 3.0).
I couldn’t wait for this moment – it feels like stepping into a new level, not just “taking supplements.”

This is not about a temporary boost.
This is systemic building: like bones and muscles build slowly from raw material, the brain also needs time and foundations.
The guiding principle: no shortcuts, no hacks. I’m creating conditions for long-term neuroplasticity, stable energy, and sustainable growth.

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Daily protocol

Morning (with breakfast, include fat)

• Uridine (Nootropics, 250 mg) → synaptogenesis, neuronal membranes, synergizes with DHA and Alpha-GPC.
• Alpha-GPC (300 mg) → acetylcholine precursor, memory, processing speed.
• PQQ (20 mg) → mitochondrial biogenesis, higher ATP yield.
• CoQ10 (100 mg) → mitochondrial support, heart health, antioxidant.
• ALCAR (500 mg) → fatty acid transport, mental stamina, neuroprotection.
• Rhodiola (100–200 mg) → adaptogen, stable energy, resilience to stress.
• Thorne 2/Day – 1 capsule → micronutrient base.

Midday (after lunch)

• Bacopa (1 cap) → long-term memory, cortisol modulation, calming effect.
• Gotu Kola (1 cap) → neuroplasticity (BDNF), microcirculation, mental clarity.
• Thorne 2/Day – 1 capsule → second half of the multi.

Evening (2–3h before bed)

• Neuro-Mag (Magnesium L-Threonate, 3 caps = 144 mg Mg) → synapses, working memory, deep sleep.
• Phosphatidylserine (100 mg) → lowers cortisol, sleep support, neuronal membranes.
• DHA (480 mg DHA + 205 mg EPA) → neuronal structure, memory, nervous system health.

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Functional roles

• Uridine – raw material for synaptic plasticity.
• Alpha-GPC – acetylcholine fuel → focus, coordination.
• PQQ – creates new mitochondria.
• CoQ10 – supports ATP production.
• ALCAR – energy transport, neuroprotection.
• Rhodiola – adaptogen, cortisol balance, steady energy.
• Thorne 2/Day – micronutrient foundation.
• Bacopa – long-term memory, anxiolytic.
• Gotu Kola – raises BDNF, circulation, clarity.
• Neuro-Mag – deep sleep, memory.
• Phosphatidylserine – lowers evening cortisol, recovery.
• DHA – neuronal structure, myelin.

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Plan & timeline

• Most compounds: 2 months (Sept–Oct).
• Some extend to 3 months (DHA, PS, Neuro-Mag, Thorne 2/Day).
• Rhodiola → 8 weeks, then pause.
• October → add Olimmuno stack (NAC + resveratrol + citrulline).

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Reflections

This cycle aligns with my Berkeley Executive AI Program – the brain stack will fuel heavy learning, while training (running + calisthenics) keeps the system in balance.

Daily rhythm for growth:

• Morning → power & mitochondrial energy.
• Midday → plasticity & memory.
• Evening → regeneration & consolidation.

Outside the stack:

• Running (VO₂ intervals, Z4/Z5 sessions) → boosts BDNF.
• Calisthenics → discipline, body-brain integration.
• Piano (10 min daily) → bilateral neuroplasticity.
• Chess (2–3×/week) → working memory & planning.
• Books → Presence Process (inner regulation) + Mastery (strategic growth).

The feeling is clear: this cycle will mark a new level.

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Mindset

• This is my 3rd cycle.
• The first gave me proof it works.
• The second stabilized my system.
• This one → I expect a leap.

No rush, no shortcuts.
Just systematic growth, built day by day.