GU or ew?

Yesterday morning I ran a 14 mile run with the FitCorp crowd, and was powered by Linda's awesome shrimp scampi from Friday's dinner. I got really lucky with the weather-sunny and pretty warm for the middle of January. It only got really chilly about miles 6-10 while we were in the Chestnut Hill/Newton area. Basically the course took us from One Beacon Street (right near the Park Street T) down Beacon St to Cleveland Circle, and then hanging a left at CC, we ran around the Res and up to Centre Street in Newton- which was the 7 mile marker. (Originally I had thought we were going to run down Comm Ave.) The course was fast and since it was so early in the morning, we didn't hit too much sidewalk traffic.

A couple weeks ago, I bought several packets of GU to practice eating while on my longer runs. I had never had GU before and I bought 4 flavors thinking that I could find the least offensive and stick to that in the marathon. Yesterday, I debuted "Orange Burst" knowing that it would probably taste like cough syrup. At mile 7 I fished the GU out of my fuel belt (that's right, I rocked the fuel belt too) and couldn't open the packet because I couldn't move my hands that well because they were so cold. So, like the running animal I am, I ripped the packet open with my teeth. For those unfamiliar with GU, it's exactly like it sounds. A flavored blob that's the consistency of baby snot- thick and mucous-like, but not runny at all. I knew that I had to get used to eating this stuff, so with my water bottle in one hand I stuck the packet in my mouth and pushed the contents into my mouth while trying not to taste anything. It hit my stomach with a thud and for a minute I was scared I was going to throw it right back up. I chased it with water and got shouts of encouragement from people running opposite me: "Oh yeah! The GU! GU! GU! GU!" They must have recognized me as a first timer from the repulsed look on my face. I have to say though that it gave me the kick I needed, so hopefully next week's Lime flavor will go down better. Or, at least I'll know what to expect. In the end, I finished in 2:29 and felt good with the exception of my feet. Today I'm going to EMS to buy a new pair of spandex to replace the pair I tore in my fall.