NYM - The Search for Gu

Someones ready to race in the morning!!!!!

You know how the airlines have all these rules about the amount of gel and liquid you can take on board with you? We'll, I decided to be a good rule-follower and leave my stockpile of Gu at home. I figure, I'm going to a major race, there'll be the Expo with the typical vendors selling Gu, and Glide, and socks, and sunglasses, and such.

Not at this race...no such luck...Nice expo...but no vendors. And Niketown, which I've now been in three (now count four) times, doesn't carry Gu...

So, most of today centered around the search for Gu.

Morning went something like this - Caught up with my friend Maurice, who I hadn't seen in about a decade. We spent about 45 minutes catching up on each other's lives in front of Niketown...which is when I discovered when EVERYONE WHO IS IN THE RACE HAS THEIR NAME ON THE WALL. I figured it was just the TNT names, but it is everyone.

Here's me (who is me? Do you like the new sunglasses?)

Elsie...had to stretch to get to her name, and thus is quite svelte in this shot

Alberta has braces and refuses to show her teeth for the camera

Edith found her name on the crack...which was somehow appropriate

Once we found our names and felt all special. Then we decided to go to the mecca of shoe shopping - AKA Macy's and look for shoes.

Edith decided this pair would be "fun" to wear.

After shoe browsing (because seriously...those boots cost $1095.00...and no matter how soft the leather was...just can't justify it...), the search for Gu began in earnest. Let me assure you, that if you are ever looking for Gu (or Shot Blocks, or PowerGel--which I HAAAAATE) in the city, it is not to be found at GNC (although to be fair, they had PowerGel), or at Walgreens, or at RiteAid, or at 7/11, or at Champs, or at Lady Foot Locker, or at 24-Hour Fitness... We visited them ALL because I really needed Gu. It's the only energy-substance I can tolerate. I can't stand the texture of ShotBlocks. They make me gag (Edith giggled everytime I said it). Elsie noted that she could never get the Gu out of the pack (I told her all you have to do is suck...yes...the taxi driver was no-doubt impressed with our maturity as we descended into a group giggle fit).

Finally, at 3:00 this afternoon, we found Gu at a New Balance store...and upon enterring the store, I got everyones attention because I shouted out, "GUUUUUUUUUUU" with such glee and enthusiasm that the four people who were in the shop were compelled to turn around and look at me.

Hooray! Gu and Glide...we're set.

So, I have more stories to tell, but it's late and I need to go to bed so that we can be up at 5am to get to the Starbucks across the street for pre-race coffee.

Thanks so much for all your good wishes!

Elise, Edith and Me at the SF Ferry Landing...are we lookin' ready or WHAT?