Marathon Update: Week 10
Howdy, Partners!
Well, y'all, I cannot tell a lie. Getting through these longer runs is becoming tough, and it's all come down to Gatorade and goo. We hit 12 miles this weekend, and as my knocked-knees and torqued hips-- a year older than last year's that gave all of these leg wheelies a go through two marathons-- begin to sound their rebel yell of "No mo'! Don't want to any mo'!!!" through an ibuprofen haze and start to engage my mind with a pain-management tug o' war-- it's that nectar of the gods, Gatorade and it's royal cousin, the energy gel that 'provides balanced hydration, sustained energy and electrolyte replacement' that keeps them ambling on. I suck on a gel pack and wash it's yummy deliciousness down with that finest achievement of the University of Florida's chemistry department: Gatorade, resplendent in it's many different available colors. And my body lives to see another mile.
Why imbibe the results of some kind of mysterious nuclear fission instead of water (or gasoline, or gamma rays, for that matter)? Supplying 127 mg/l of potassium and 464 mg/l of sodium, and 59 g/l of carbohydrates (in the form of sugars), the current (2006) Gatorade panel claims that Gatorade rehydrates athletes better than water because the flavor makes it easier to drink. (Duh, people; c'mon... these are the folks with PhDs here, albeit in Phys. Ed.) They also remind us that Gatorade also contains the elements above, along with electrolytes, that water does not have. Aaaah, now we understand.
After much experimentation last year (and not all of it pretty, people), I selected Crank Sports' e-Gel as my endurance supplement of choice. And I thought last year's e-Gel flavors of 'Vanilla Strawberry Slam!,' 'Cherry Blast,' and 'Profoundly, Offensively Sweet Plastic Goo!' were bad, but Gatorade (formerly of wan flavors like 'Blue Thunder' and 'Riptide Rush') now employs 'Fierce ... Crash' and 'Furio ... Intenso' and 'Artic ... Extremo' as actual phrases to describe some flavors' essences. Mucho ... Bizarro. But down the hatch it all goes.
However, I'm grateful for all that these fevered scientific (and marketing) minds have dreamed up, for they allow me the illusion, however briefly and without a steroid/testosterone shot in a scary place, that I'm somehow an athlete, and can sustain myself.
Not unsimilarly, AIDS Project LA is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of people-- only these are people affected by HIV/AIDS. APLA is up to reducing the incidence of HIV infection, and advocating for fair and effective HIV-related public policy. The organization now serves more than 10,000 men, women and children, including an average of 50 new individuals that come to them each month seeking help. With events such as these marathon training programs, the funds raised continue to provide home care visits, medical referrals, legal services, groceries, dental care, counseling and many other essential services. In other words, helping to keep people with HIV/AIDS alive until there's a cure.
I'm up for doing what I can to see that continue. I'm at $1125 so far with your help, and have until August 25th to run my butt off [at this rate, I may literally have to go retrieve it one of these training runs.... giving new meaning to a Pooper Scooper] in order to raise at least $2675 more dollars and make the difference I can make by earning my place on behalf of APLA in the Florence marathon, and I can't do that without you. So, if you can and would like to give a tax-deductible donation in any amount, or even are able to be a water volunteer for our training runs, please go to http://www.aidsmarathon.com/participant.asp?runner=LA-4492&EventCode=FL06, or www.aidsmarathon.com, click on 'Sponsor a Runner' and enter my runner #4492 to read more about what's provided by your generosity. Or call me directly at 323.828.2040 to volunteer.
In the meantime, a new Gatorade variety is brewing in Mama Danielle's kitchen, and I may just share it's name with you if you contribute. I'm a clever girl, so it may just be worth it! Spread the word.
Thank you, for everything!
Danielle D.
