Hammer Gel Espresso

I know it's been in like forever since I did a full blown blog.  With simple one-liner status spew outs, what's the point.  Well, it's once again time to keep track of my progress towards something.  Today marked the first real workout towards the Baltimore marathon this fall.

I got this crazy idea to try and run Boston when I'm 40.  It's like my mid-life crisis.  Along with doing Boston at the age of 40, I'm going to do another Ironman.  What better excuse to get out there for 10+ hours of exercise than to try and tell myself I'm not really 40.  40 is a big number.  Life is pretty much half over.  Only 40 more years to have fun.  Anyway, I hated the first Ironman so I probably would never do one again until I got this hair-brained idea to do one for my 40th and then I get to wait 10 more years before trying again when I'm 50.  I got 18 months before the Ironman but only 6 months before Baltimore.

My goal is run Baltimore this year and use it as a qualifier for Boston 2012.  That way I can just train for Ironman Arizona in all of 2011 and not worry.  Well that's if I can run Baltimore in under 3:15.  I think I can do but it won't be a walk in the park like my old days of running.

Back to the here and now, I just did 10 miles and felt a little slow at the beginning but man things picked up nicely after consuming an espresso flavored Hammer Gel.  I got this for Easter from a fellow runner.  I had tried Hammer Gels in the past and never really liked them at all.  I figure I'd give it a go since it was just a training run.  I'm glad I did.  It tasted exactly like a condensed mocha.  I washed it down with some water and about 5 minutes later my pace picked up without much effort.  I wonder if Hammer makes Egg Nog gels.  Those would rock.  So now I have 2 flavors of gel I like, PowerGel strawberry/banana and Hammer Gel espresso.  I got a few more flavors to try over the next long runs.

Well now the rest of the day will be slacking in front of the TV and I'll just ride tomorrow to give the legs some rest unless I feel like a quick 4 miler off the bike.  The weather and my 2008 Ironman picture are fueling my workouts right now.  I can't believe how slim and in shape I was for that Ironman.  Hopefully, I can get back into that shape for Baltimore.  I've started back on the diet and made it through Costco yesterday without buying chips.  Doritos are no longer part of my diet.  Frito Lay may have to tell shareholders and readjust Q2 forecasts. ;)