gu.

for those of you who don't know what gu is, i googled it for you:: GU is an energy gel designed to be quickly and easily digestible so it can be eaten during endurance events, especially long distance running and cycling.

i'm getting up there in mileage, so before i collapse on the olentangy trail, i need some nutrition to make sure i can make it home.  last week, i tried the Clif Shot Bloks.

while they were indeed tasty, i found them cumbersome, quite a big bite, and a lot of effort afterward to clean them out of my teeth. (also found out AFTER the run, that for maximum effect i should have taken THREE! at a time - too much).

since gu will be the supplement offered at the cap city half, it was suggested i give gu a try during training.

after hearing horror stories about the texture, horrible taste, gagging, and the flavors, i was a bit terrified of taking a gu at the 45 minute mark.

i went with the vanilla bean flavor.  it was recommended and contained caffeine!

at the 45 minute mark, i bit off that top, and gulped it down like a champ in 3 swigs.

while it wasn't the worst thing i've ever tasted, it wasn't necessarily pleasant.

luckily, i was on an unoccupied stretch of the trail and was able to let off a loud, "eeugh..."

took another swig and let out another, "UUUGHHHH..."



chased it with some water.

whoa.

the texture combined with the vanilla bean flavor made it seem like slightly melted cookie dough.

not the refreshing uplift i'm looking for around mile 4.

next week will be strawberry banana.

maybe it'll be like a milk shake.