Date: Thursday, December 21, 2023

Workout: TZC Fartlek 5ks - 45 Min / 5.32 Miles / 8:35 Pace / 154 Avg HR

Fuel Source: Never Second C30 Energy Gel- Fruit Punch

Shoes: Adidas Prime X 2 Strung

Hey there, fellow runners and gel enthusiasts! Hold onto your sneakers and prepare for a laughter-filled adventure as I take you through my experience of trying the infamous Never Second C30 Energy Gel during one of my runs. Trust me, this is a story you won't want to miss!

I am not sure what I was hoping for when I reached into the box of gels, chews and random bits of sports nutrition but I wasn’t expecting to grab this one. In fact, I didn’t even know that I had it in there. Today’s scheduled workout is a tough one, It’s a 3 set Fartlek session with (5) 6:18 min/mile efforts in each block. I’ve done this workout before and it’s a VO2 Max builder, but I only remember feeling destroyed when I did it last.

For these types of runs I like to reach for a pair of carbon plated race shoes and today I decided to run in the Adidas Prime X 2 Strung- the “Illegal” race shoes because of their heel stack height and 2 carbon plates. If you’re interested in learning more about these shoes check out my 100 mile review video by clicking this link https://youtu.be/CsarhLhhK78?si=msxN3cRqz6HbMKdl

Now, the packaging boasts about the incredible energy boost one can experience, which is precisely what I needed to tackle those pesky speed intervals and pretend I'm Usain Bolt for a day. I finished the first block of intervals and before getting into second decided it was time to take the gel. With high hopes, I tear open the packet, ready to unleash this mythical elixir into my system.

As I take my first uncertain squeeze, the gooey substance oozes out like a blob of jellyfish escaping from my grasp. You know, the kind that gives you flashbacks to that one failed science experiment in high school? Yeah, that exact one.

Brave as I am, I gather my courage and shove the gel in my mouth, admittedly gagging a little at its texture. It's like someone decided to liquefy a gummy bear and bottle it up – a rather peculiar experience, I must say. But hey, I'm committed to this journey, so I soldier on!

The taste was something out of this world. Imagine mixing a spoonful of sugar with a dollop of berry-scented dish soap, sprinkling it with some stale gym socks, and there you have it – the flavor of Never Second C30 Energy Gel. If you can’t imagine that taste think back to a time when you last took cough syrup. I kid you not, I genuinely questioned whether this thing was designed as an energy booster or as a secret weapon for taste bud torture.

But lo and behold, miracle of miracles, within minutes I began to feel the energy surge through my veins! Suddenly, I had the speed of a cheetah, the agility of a gazelle, and the grace of a walrus wearing roller skates.

So there you have it, my brave companions in the world of running and comedic mishaps. The Never Second C30 Energy Gel, though it has the texture of pure calamity and the taste of a science experiment gone wrong, delivered on its promise of an energy boost.

Thinking back on it, I wouldn’t mind EATING this gel again. It gave me what I needed to finish my run and 

the cough syrup taste was enough of a reminder to continue to make wise healthy choices to decrease the chance of getting a virus that would necessitate taking actual cough medicine. 

As always, Keep Showing Up, Stay Zoned In, Always Finish Strong and Recover Well

#TrueZoneCoaching #NeverSecond #RunningCoach #McKinneyTexas