I'm McLovin' it

I did something during my long run on Sunday that I haven't done for oh, five years: I ate a McDonald's breakfast.

It started out innocently enough. It was supposed to be 29K, and 2K in, I knew it wasn't going to be an easy run. It was only a little after 8:00 AM, but already very hot and humid, and I was drenched in sweat. I couldn't seem to run slowly enough. It didn't help that I'd chosen a different route than usual, through Kits, along the beaches, out to UBC. I've done the same route before, but always in the other direction; I'd never run up the steep hill along NW Marine from Spanish Banks to Chancellor Blvd. That was a mistake. I did my best, God bless me, but frequent walk breaks became my good friend.

When I finally made it up to the Museum of Anthopology, I was feeling dizzy and fatigued. Although I was only 15K in, I was ready to pack it in and take the B-Line home, when I remembered the five-dollar bill in my Fuel Belt. After a little tour to see what's changed at UBC (answer: a lot), I decided to get something to eat. I found myself in the McDonald's at University Village, and glancing at my Garmin, I realized it was 10:57 AM and I still had three minutes to partake of a McDonald's breakfast. I hadn't had one in years, but it seemed as though I'd wandered in to some sort of eerie cosmic destiny that it was best to take advantage of.

The decision process was actually very difficult. Did I want a McMuffin of some sort? Hashbrowns were a given, of course. Fajitas? Sausage or bacon? Maybe hotcakes? With 11:00 closing in, I decided on a Sausage McMuffin. Might as well get all your daily recommended protein intake in one go.

After totally enjoying my meal and relaxing for a bit with my coffee, I was ready to hop on the B-Line. But then I realized I felt rejuvenated and despite all the processed, saturated goodness rolling around in my digestive system, capable of running the rest of the way home.

And so it came to pass that I ran 26 KM fueled by a McMuffin instead of gels. It wasn't a great run by any means: I didn't complete the scheduled distance and there were still plenty of unscheduled walk breaks along the way. But I did learn that having actual food in the middle of my run drastically improves my mental state. If I could only find a way to attach a feedbag to my Fuel Belt, I'd be set.