So That's What a Second Wind Feels Like

I have never been overly athletic.  As a kid I played all the requisite sports with my friends and I was a pretty decent baseball player back then.  But I was never a fitness buff.  When I was in basic training in 1982, I ran every morning but I never got used to it and each run was a struggle - the only thing that kept me going was the sheer embarrassment of dropping out of the run and then having the whole platoon turn around to pick me up.  I hated it so much that when we took our final physical fitness test I was the last guy to finish in the 2-mile run with a time of 14:47.  Fortunately, you had to beat 17:55 to pass the test so I passed.  But I hated every step and huffed and puffed in protest the whole way.

So this Saturday, when I woke up at 5:15 to get ready to go to Griffith Park (and by getting ready I mean 2 cups of coffee, a banana, a power bar and of course, a constitutional) I was in no mood to do an 8-mile run (Note: I say "run" even though we don't run the entire time - we are on a run 3-minutes, walk 1-minute cycle).  And sure enough, Saturday's run was all about hills to get us ready for Diamond Head in Honolulu.  So the first two miles were uphill.  And it was not pleasant.  I did not think I was going to make it but again, I was motivated by embarrassment.  And after two miles, I thought, this is it, there is no way I am ever going to do this.  How the hell am I ever going to finish a marathon when I am spent after two miles?

And then a funny thing happened.  Around the 3-mile mark, I suddenly started to feel good.  I never experienced that before (the fact that we were no longer going uphill helped).  And I think it was a group feeling too because instead of the 13:00 minute pace we were supposed to run we did mile 4 in just over 10 minutes.  It was great.  I'm not saying I got the "runner's high" which I've heard about and never came close to experiencing but I felt good.  Like "Hey, I can do this" good.  At one point, I even got a little ahead of the group because that's how good I was feeling.  I sure hope that keeps up for next week's 10-miler. 

And by the way, my new shoes were awesome.  I didn't experience any pain at all during or after the run.  And today, my feet don't hurt (my thighs and calves are a little sore but the balls of me feet are fine).  So that was some of the best money I've ever spent. 

No video this week.  I was too busy focusing on carrying my foods/gels but next week I will bring the camera because I know the 3 of you who actually read this are dying for more video.  Instead today we will talk about energy food.

This week, I tried Gu.  Gu is a high carbohydrate energy gel that comes in a plastic pack and delivers high-quality and easily digested energy while replacing fuel burned up during the run.  It comes in various flavors and is lightweight and easy to carry and is surprisingly not untasty.  This is Gu:

Personally, I like the Strawberry-Banana.

Another nutritional item is Clif Shot Blocks.  Also designed to provide energy and replace your body's fuel.  They taste like Gummy Bears and who doesn't like gummy bears.  I'm partial to the grape ones.

3 shot blocks is one serving.  Every 45 minutes, I have either one Gu packet or 3 shot blocks with water to keep up the energy and put back some fuel and calories.

I like Gu.  I love shot blocks.  And Gatorade.  I carry all this and water on my "hydration belt."  This is what my hydration belt looks like. 

But here is the most important thing I use.

Appliy liberally before the run in those "sensitive" areas (don't forget the nipples). 
Note:  don't share your Body Glide with anyone.  That would be gross.

Please visit my AIDS Marathon Home Page and donate.  I've already made my goal of raising $5,000 for AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) but why stop now?  This disease is not going away anytime soon so please help.  If you've already donated, thank you so much.  Maybe you can pass it on to someone else who would like to donate.

Thanks again.

Bart