Nasty Nitrates

When it comes to trying a new session I nearly always embrace it with anticipation and enthusiasm. However when it comes to nutrition, I am far more sceptical and am nearly always unwilling to embrace change. Aside from being the world's fussiest eater, I need convincing that something is actually good for me. So that means reading lab testing, reviews etc etc. But even if it is good for me, I've always refused to try anything that looks, smells or even just sounds disgusting. One such food is beetroot. For 45 years the sight and smell of it has just turned my stomach. I've been crook these past 2 days and have been stuck home in bed. In between dosing in and out of sleep I've been reading about the benefits of beetroot juice. There seems to be plenty of credence behind it improving endurance and oxygen uptake and even the AIS website had positive things to say about it. So here's the dilemma, I like the sound of the benefits but the idea of drinking beetroot juice turns me right off. I looked into supplement alternatives but it seems that the real thing is best. Beet It branded shots of just 70 mls, which pack 300 mg's of nitrates sounded tolerable. I figure I could hold my nose, close my eyes, throw it down and wash it away with water immediately. Only problem, I can only get them online and wanted to try a loading phase for an upcoming race on Sunday. Once I make up my mind, I hate to wait, so I decided to go down to the health food store and buy some beetroot juice. Here's the even bigger problem. To get the same desired 300 mg's of nitrates, I have to consume 250 mls of the concentrated stuff I bought, plus 5-6 parts water. I don't know the maths, but that's shitloads of the most disgusting vile looking stuff I ever saw. And the smell, jeez I wanted to puke just mixing it. So as a compromise, I decided to settle on 1/2 now, 1/2 in the morning. Putting the cup to my mouth was far more intimidating than any session or race I've ever done before. I had to remind myself with every mouthful that I'm doing this to hopefully race faster. Well the final verdict. What my eyes and nose have been telling me for 45 years has officially been backed up by my taste buds.

Like any stubborn runner, I won't be defeated. I'll back up in the morning for the next serve of red pee fuel. And again in the evening and right up until Sunday morning when I do a low key trail 1/2 at Newnes. If this stuff adds even a 1% benefit, I'll buy the Beet It branded 70 ml shots and use them for pre race nitrate loading for goal races.

I'm looking forward to hitting the trails on Sunday and testing myself against a few trail specialists. No doubt I'll be left behind on the technical stuff and also the downhill sections but hopefully I can keep a few runners honest on the flat and uphill.