I’m exhausted as I sit in front of my laptop and peck away at the keyboard. My Recofit Calf Compression Components doing what they do best…compressing my calves and aiding in my speedy recovery*. Drinking a tall non-fat chocolate milk, because that’s all I can stomach after a run, it seems. B.Ri and I just ran 14 miles today. And not an “easy” 14 miles. At least not after an increase of mileage this week.
My legs were tired this morning and my left calf has been tight the past few days. Nothing that any runner wouldn’t just push through. So, I met up with B.Ri in Boulder for what I thought would be a not-as-crazy-or-hard-of-a-run-as-the-four-runners-of-the-apocalypse-have-been-running-each-weekend run. I was wrong. We went directly up the Mesa Trail and ran toward NCAR. Keep in mind that most people hike these trails. It’s the absolute crazy that run the trails. Especially when covered with snow, ice, and mud, as they were today. But, it IS quite liberating when you pass the hikers while running up the trail. 
Through a series of switchbacks and trails, we finally bushwhacked our way to a road, ran through some neighborhoods, found more muddy trails, around one of the Boulder high schools, and eventually ended up on CU’s cross country course, Buffalo Ranch. We ran a loop of this figure-8, 6 mile trail, amid the rolling hills and mud.
By the end, we were cold, tired, and exhausted. Wait, that’s redundant. So be it.
Miles: 14
Time: 2:12:57
Pace: 9:36
But hey, I count myself lucky to have access to so many wonderful running trails. As tough as they may be, I have a lot of variety to choose from.
After the run, I decided to try the newest purchase I had made at REI: Clif Shot Roks. As I’ve previously mentioned, I have a hard time stomaching anything after I run. This has become a “new” problem for me. In the past, it was never a problem to eat a Clif Bar or other protein bar on my way home from a run and then make a fantastic meal (typically an egg dish). Now, though, I can barely get chocolate milk down. So, when I saw the Shot Roks, guaranteeing 20g of protein if I eat all 10 roks, I was anxious to try. I snagged the peanut butter flavor because I’m a sucker for peanut butter.
These little protein bites come in a candy shell that is more appropriately termed on the package as “protective.” What they are protecting you from, I don’t know, perhaps meltage. Or, perhaps they need to be protected from something! Bombs? Uh-oh, I said “bomb” on my blog. The soft and chewy center made it seem more like candy than a piece of protein. They did make me thirsty, though that could be partly the ploy in making sure athletes are hydrated. I ate 5 of them, but they were too sweet for me to eat any more.
Did they work? Hell if I know. I’m still upright and not completely dead to the world, so I guess that says something, right? To be honest, I can’t ever really tell if protein after a run makes a difference. Internally, yes, I’m sure it does. I know it does. Because I believe everything I read.
So, would I continue to buy/eat the Clif Shot Roks? Absolutely. If I can’t eat more food within the two hours of so after running, this is a good, quick way to get some protein into my body. It’s certainly better than not eating anything.
*A review of my calf compression components to come…stay tuned.
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