Fueled By Krystal?

Eat Right.

So there's a lot of talk about nutrition. Training nutrtion. What to eat for meals, what to eat pre-workout, what to eat on the bike, the run...what to eat post-workout for optimal recovery. And there are as many opinions as there are products. I am generally a fan of the Hammer product line, but as of late have been simultaneously re-acquanting myself with my Southern roots while re-acquanting myself with training.

Let me give you my favorite example. Workout gels (Gu, Carb-boom, Hammer Gel, Clif shots, etc.) are designed to give you quick and easy access to simple carbohydrates. Sugar. A few weeks ago I was fixing to head out for a morning run and scanned the kitchen for the solution to my complaintive grumbling stomach.

Nothing.

Then, I saw it....my leftover birthday cake from John. I thought - now this is a stretch - as I popped a 2"x2" square - with icing, thank you - into my mouth and chased with water, then headed out the door.

It worked. Apparently the simple sugar compound of the icing as fuel and the tad of protein from the eggs (did I mention the sugar) made for a delightful run fuel. Plus let's face it...when you burp while running, do you want to be tasting a gu...or birthday cake? Cake, please!

In this vein, yesterday I found myself headed to do a brick on Columns drive about an hour late after helping John print some stuff for his finals studies. It was past 11, and I was now hungry again from breakfast. He suggested Krystal for lunch and I thought, why not a single Cheese Krystal (if you don't know that they are small, square, and delicious, you probably shouldn't read this blog because you don't know me well) for a long bike ride? Tender warm bread, cheese, a delightfully thin patty of beef, a solitary pickle, and a dab of mustard and (user added) ketchup...I even had the signature cooked onions left off. How bad could that be for me?

Bad.

About half an hour later I had parked the car in a shady spot, let the 70 degree air blow through the truck while Tilley napped, and I was off. There was a bit of a headwind, so going out was less than great. BURP. Ohhh, yes, there you are again! My little square friend. I then tried to catch a woman in green (never did). Another burp. Not good. I finally settled into a rhythm (trying not to lose too much pace to the three boys about half a loop ahead; they and the Green Lady were my measure of mental success) and am delighted to report that the Krystal stayed down, but not without a fight. By the time I got back to the truck, the Krystal had burned up in my fuel tank and I was ready to run.

I grabbed Tilley and after a quick chat with the Green Lady, we were off along the shady path along the river. Bliss! It was maybe 70 out and just gorgeous. At the turnaround at the riverbank (no gators this time) Tilley met a Golden named Bailey and her sister Trixie, and they played and played in the water while I chatted with their owners...who were going that afternoon to look at Golden puppies. I told them all about Cooper and our brood. Tilley and I had a nice run back to the truck, followed by stretching (me), Recoverite recovery drink (both: she's addicted to it), and a belly towel off (her).

Maybe the Krystal wasn't so bad after all. They do have a cycling team cosponsored by Litespeed after all...maybe it's fate...