Today I completed a ten mile run and it was fuelled by two things: 1) an approaching thunder storm that caught up with me eventually and 2) the cup of coffee waiting for me back home.
Halfway through the run, I reached into the back pocket of my shorts and pulled out a Gu Energy Gel called "Espresso Love". Excellent, a coffee treat before I get home. Three seconds into my initial mouthful, I could not stop gagging, the taste and smell made me feel nauseous.
About two weeks ago, I was with a few friends at elBulli in Spain. In the middle of our 38 course meal, we were presented with a dish consisting of four islands of foam, they had the pungent smell of sweet and milky cappuccinos. Hiding beneath these frothy concoctions were pieces of barely poached eel. Needless to say, it was an acquired taste - all but one of us pushed it away after placing a small morsel on our tongues. The energy gel swirling in my mouth, absorbing precious moisture, reminded me this very experience earlier in the month.
Food, just like sports, is a game of association. A photograph, a memory, an experience. It is essential that you find what works for you and stick with it. From now on, it's "Chocolate Outrage" and no funny cocoa desserts for me.
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