Trying out Gu and Fuel Belt

I learned several very important things about myself and running on my 12 mile run today.

1. I have not suddenly become a morning runner. There is a whole new schedule you have to develop in order to be a morning runner that requires waking up early enough to eat, consume some liquids, void that food and liquid, and hit the road before it gets too warm. I am NOT that person. I am the person who didn't run the evening before because she was celebrating the Dynamo's back-to-back MLS championship!!!! and had to push her long run to the following morning. I am the person who gets up, gets dressed, pees, takes a sip of water, and then proceeds to try and run 12 miles. Hmmm, what was missing there, besides Zwiebelmettwurst? OH, that is right, breakfast!!!! No fuel in the tank = no vroom vroom.
2. Lemon Supreme Gu shots activate my gag reflex and make me want to SPEW Lemon Supreme Gu all over someone's driveway of sidewalk. BLECH BLECH BLECH. Help! Anyone have a better flavor they can recommend? Although, it wasn't so much the flavor as the consistency. Gu is a very apt name for their product, or perhaps it should be called BLECH BLECH BLECH, I WANNA PUKE. Doesn't have quite the same ring, does it? Obviously this was my first time to actually use an energy supplement while running. I recently bought a Fuel Belt - which I will talk about in a minute - and decided to try Gu while I was at it. I think I should have gone with the Clif Shot - Margarita did sound tastier... I realized that I definitely need the liquids to help wash that stuff down and to get the taste out of my mouth. Did I mention, BLECH? So, calling all Drunkrunners, give me your tried and true alternatives to energy supplements. What flavors and what brands? I would have almost rather eaten a big ol' brick Clif bar and have that thudding around in my stomach!
3. TMI: Either I am one mucousy mother f*cker or Gatorade + Gu = very very evil! I would have brought water, but I know that I need the electrolytes in a sports drink. At least I am a very conscientious spitter and always try to aim for either grass or the road but never anyones driveway or the sidewalk. I think that balances out the vulgar activity, right? Besides, spitting makes you look really tough (and nasty) which helps keep the crazys away.

On that note, I finished my 5th week of training. I am really keen on this Fuel Belt. I thought I would HATE it and that it would be very awkward, but I quickly became accustomed to it. It didn't bounce or slide, which meant I practically forgot it was there. Of course, I was only carrying 16 fl. oz. I am sure all of that will change when I carry the full 48 oz., but for now I am really satisfied with the purchase. How can you go wrong with a fuel belt called the "Terminator." In fact, after stopping off at home around mile 9.5 (when Pooperella reared her ugly head), I finished up the run without the belt and it actually felt "weird." So thanks Sixpack for the recommendation. I like it. Quick question: what is the consensus on running while drinking vs. stopping and drinking?

Other than that, this week has been pretty uneventful. My times are still coming down, which is nice, but like Deetschei, the fatigue is starting to set in. My calves, no matter how much I stretch, have stopped loosening up while running... Hmmm. Probably not a good thing. I think this next week will be spent focusing on maintaining my current speed and maybe even slowing down a bit to avoid aggravating the problems.

Miles: 20.3
Time: 3:04:28
Avg Pace: 8:57