Running on Bacon

I think bacon is my spirit animal. 

"In certain spiritual traditions or cultures, spirit animal refers to a spirit which helps guide or protect a person on a journey and whose characteristics that person shares or embodies." (Dictionary.com)  I'm a little salty, a blend of protein and fat, and living here in the Sunshine State I am regularly "cured' with heat and dehydration.  Perhaps, I AM bacon....

I like bacon pretty much all of the time: for breakfast, in my salad, on my sandwich, as a snack, wrapped around a steak, on my macaroni and cheese, on my baked potato... It's a list that could go on for quite awhile. I'm not exactly sure how I stumbled upon bacon as part of my go-to fuel for race day, but it's my favorite so far. I think I found some leftover cooked slices in the fridge while I was rushing around one morning before a race. I said, meh, what the heck, grabbed it and hurried out the door. I ate those along with a store-bought blueberry muffin and as I recall had a pretty good race day. I've tried a good handful of other things but find that most proteins feel heavy to me. The standard I hear for many runners is peanut butter on something: a bagel, toast, a banana, or as an alternative to the PB some nut-based granola bar. But if I have to run within 2 hours of chowing down some Jif then I feel like I've got a lead weight in my belly. Nutty things just seem to be a no-go for me.

I've also tried a few 'protein' bars, but those usually don't taste that great and again, sit like lead for me. Bagels and cream cheese? Ran out of energy too fast. Protein shake? Sounds like a great idea until you have to pee at mile 3. Oatmeal? Yeah, eating glue is for kindergarteners. Whole wheat bagel drizzled with honey? Fiber bites back at mile 7. 

Fueling is a funny thing. You can read about all the "right" ways to fuel but none of that sage advice amounts to a hill of beans if it doesn't work for you. Google "pre-race meal plans" and you'll likely find what I did: page after page of what you should do, what the elites do, and all the don't-dos for every race distance. It's almost like a threat. If you don't eat this or that, you will not run well, you will hit the wall, you will have GI upset, you will... but what if I don't? What if fueling on buttered quinoa and a Swiss Cake Roll does the trick?

Although I think all meat-eating people should be lovers of bacon, I also know that there are plenty of fine folks that don't eat pork or eat meat at all, so advising you that bacon is the best fuel wouldn't quite work out. What I could advise is that you take a chance on your fueling and think outside the box. Try out some of your favorite foods on training days and see how it goes. Look in the fridge, see what's floating around in there. Begin with small portions before a low-mileage or easy-effort run. Pay attention to the other conditions as well such as temperature, sleep, time of day, etc., since that might affect how well a food works with your body.

Each runner is unique. Each of us has a different set of tastes and a different metabolism. Cottage cheese and strawberry jam sprinkled with granola? Leftover meatloaf and mashed potatoes? Turkey and cheese sandwich? Birthday cake? Bean burritos? Sliced pears with gorgonzola and prosciutto? The possibilities are endless. With a little creativity, you might just find a magical combination of everyday foods that works for your body and your lifestyle. Of course, if you need a fun place to start this journey of self-discovery, might I suggest some crispy bacon?