Friday, May 7, 2010

OMG McDonalds is good!

Fourteen miles on the trail all by my lonesome was quite a feat in itself. After mile nine (What is it about mile 9??) I started feeling delusional. I couldn't remember what mile I was on and what I had passed. Resorting back to my coaching class I knew that my body was using up my glycogen stores leaving my brain depleted. I started to focus on what I would eat when I was done to keep me motivated. I needed a carrot, except I was not in the mood for veggies.

Mile 10 (or was it 11?) I was going over a recent article I put up about recovery foods. Should I feel guilty about suggesting such glutinous, junky things? Mike suggested maybe I make it clear that the foods I mentioned are really meant for those who logged in many miles and not just some recreational once-a-week jogger. Gorging on a cheeseburger after completing 3 miles can be counter-productive!

With three (four?) miles to go, the word cheeseburger ran over and over in my head...then the image of it...THEN the taste of it! I tried to summon up the brain power to determine which McDonalds was closest to the Phoenix parking lot. I decided Jacksonville, though receiving bad service before, was still the most geographically convenient location.

Cheeseburger...and what goes with a cheeseburger? A chocolate shake! I semi-quickly deducted that I would not have the suction power to drastically intake the triple-thick chocolate calcium source my body so desperately required, so I switched gears to the easier source: chocolate milk.

At this point it didn't seem economical to not just make a meal of it. The more I thought about it, the more I realized french fries would be the ticket. So we have chocolate milk, french fries, and a cheeseburger. Scratch that, DOUBLE cheeseburger--better meat-cheese:bread ratio.

Last two miles (I'm pretty sure) I am plotting my plan of action once I get back to my car and cool off. Taking on my new philosophy of stretching when I get home due to the damage caused to our muscles, I walk for a bit and hop in my car. Feeling obnoxious, loopy, and exhausted I crank up the stereo--Jay-Z-Empire State of Mind...ah.

I zip through the drive thru and get my Mighty Kids meal; I consider which kid will get my prize (William. Ashley is getting too old anyway). Like they knew I was coming, the food is dangling out the window so all I had to do is grab and go. I down the chocolate milk (cold+chocolate=heaven) before I even leave the parking lot, then I dive into the french fries. Licking the salt off my finger tips, I remind my body that french fries have valuable potassium and sodium, both things lost through sweat, and I sweat a lot.! I save the best for last.

Cheeseburger The perfect marriage of salt, meat, cheese, crunchy pickles, katsup-mustard and those little-bitty dehydrated onions (can you buy these somewhere?). I feel like the picture of health! My body says,'Yes, you are!'

Fourteen freakin' miles all alone. I did make a friend though, perhaps you know him? He's this Scottish fella' and he makes fast, convienent tasty food.