Eat To Win

We all have read articles about how to best prepare for a marathon. Run your miles, get plenty of sleep, visualize the course, visualize crossing the finish line, hydrate properly and then of course EAT PROPERLY!!!! Theories abound on what is the right way to eat. Most people think that there is merit to eating pasta, other people swear by "turtle soup" (The Chinese I think but have they ever run marathons?) Some of us keep eating what they eat all year long whether they are training for a marathon or not. And some believe EVERYTHING they read and therefore change their eating regimen every week. So here is an example of what one member of SLG has been doing for his "Eat to Win" diet in the last few months. If you are in need of a good chuckle, continue reading.
A few weeks ago, before some race or long training run that was planned for Saturday morning, Gil reported that he had gotten up at 5 a.m. and had consumed the following items for breakfast : 2 cups of coffee, a pint of orange juice, 2 waffles, a banana, a power bar and a triple caffeine cappucino drink out of a tin can. The running went quite well but afterwards, Gil reported that he felt nautious. How odd is that? So the diet changed the week afterwards, and although I don't remember the specifics,he did not seem to have too much appetite after another long training run because of an upset stomach. So the week after that, rollaids became part of the regimen and he continued his research.
After reading and comparing numerous articles Gil decided that the reason he had not been able to join in the festivities after the marathon for the last two years was that he had been overhydrating which caused an electrolite imbalance. He swears he will be dancing on the kitchen table with Petra after he finishes the Chicago marathon this year and this is what he believes will be the winning combination of nutrients : He has almost sworn off his copious amounts of Gatorade that he consumes before and during a race. No more Squeezy or Powergel for him, just little tablets of grape sugar after having cushioned his stomach with rollaids before a long run or a race.
And yesterday, a new thing appeared on his desk. A little package of salt (like you find in restaurants and on airplanes) to be poured in ones throat before the race and then again at mile 12 (when running a marathon). He tried it out yesterday and interestingly enough, he washed the salt down with not only water but a couple of pretzels!!!! Now this is a new one and I almost feel inclined to say : "Don't try this at home!"
Oh by the way, he has also started his carboloading, and plans to eat mostly pasta for the next three weeks. But everybody is familiar with that strategy so I will not bore you with those details.

Runner's high

Well, for the sake of full disclosure I thought I would let you all know that I had one yesterday, a runner's high that is. The day started bright and early with a 7 a.m. organized training run from the NYRRC. For years I have found these runs the "easiest" way to run 20 miles and yesterday was certainly no exception and one of my best training runs from the last few years. There did not seem to be a lot of local SLG interest so there I was, at 6.50 a.m. at the SLG fountain, where I met Gil and off to the start we went. By the time we got there we had logged 1.5 miles. We joined the 9:30 pace group and the pace leaders were quite good. The first 6 miles went by in a flash, I didn't seem to even be aware of the uphill parts. The other nice thing about running with a pace group is that Gil can tell his stories over and over again, to diffrent people so it is a WIN-WIN situation. He can do what he does best (talking or running, running or talking) and I don't have to try (and fail) to tune him out. I did not even seem him the first 6 miles. After that we ran two more 5-mile loops with the pace group and after that
Gil and jumped on the bridle path to finish our last few miles on the dirt. We said goodbye at the SLG fountain after having run 20 miles (having timed our last mile at 8:37) and I had half a mile to get home. I felt fantastic and I am sure I could have run another 6, and probably would have finished the marathon distance in 4:05 to 4:10. But reason prevailed and I just ran down to Tavern on the Green to greet the finish line of the NYC marathon and turned around to run back home.
Truth be told, I felt so fresh after the run, I could I have thrown a party, but it is lonely in SLG New York these days, and the only person who came by for B'fast on the terrace was Gil.
Anyway, in case you runners out there have forgotten this year's motto, let me remind you. I feel just the slightest bit cocky right now but when I think "Catch me if you can" I get a smile on my face, and in my head.
Anyway, I would love for this posting to elicit a bit more response than I have had lately. It would be great if the runner's high would be supported by an "SLG high".
By the way, can we have a count on who is going to Chicago at this point? I know Clem and Patrick are pulling out all training stops in Belgium so they will definitely be there. Dora will join (?), David, Grant, Larry, Steve, Erik, Stefan, Gil, Mike and myself. Of course, Philippe will be there on his home turf. Philippe what is going on with you? Haven't heard a peep out of Chicago for a long time.
Anyway, the Chicago marathon is 5 weeks away. Anybody interested in a group T-shirt. Is there a final design for a logo, David? Are any fans coming to Chicago? Liesbet?, Tom? Do I need to say it any lowder? I AM IN DESPARATE NEED OF SOME SLG SPIRIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!