A few weeks back, I set out on a rainy Saturday morning for my long run with friends. We were a couple miles in when someone pointed out that my capris were, um, foaming. As in full-fledged, scrubbing bubbles kind of foaming, especially around my knees.
The foaming continued throughout the run (as did the rain) and we all had a good laugh over it. Later, at home after my shower, I reached for the new bottle of lotion I had purchased a couple days earlier, and what do you know? Turns out that bottle of lotion was shower gel, which I had rubbed all over my body the night before my run. Foaming capris explained.
Over the years, I’ve had my share of foaming capris incidents—those funny, quirky moments that sometimes come along with running. Some are downright embarrassing; like that time my elderly neighbors caught me squatting to pee just off the bike path near our home. Yes, I did pretend I didn’t see them and to this day none of us has ever mentioned that little moment.
Then there’s the time in a race I grabbed for a cup of water to throw over my head, only to discover it was Gatorade. You try running another seven miles on a hot day coated in sticky, sugary fluid replacement.
Another experience that stands out for me was the year I ran the Richmond Marathon with lace locks on my shoes. Those laces were particularly long and even though secured with the locks and with the ends tucked in, they somehow worked themselves free.
Not wanting to stop for even a moment because I was going for a PR, I put up with probably hundreds of “ma’am, your shoe is untied,” comments over the course of 26 miles. It was fun, just ask my friend Becky, who was running alongside me.
I have also put my spectacular coordination on display while running. It was a particularly hot afternoon run one summer when I spied a sprinkler up ahead on someone’s lawn—it was like a mirage and I was going to gleefully run through it. I picked up the pace and crossed the street to reach it, only to trip on the curb and land splayed out on the sidewalk. So close and yet so far.
Running provides us with so much, not the least of which are laughable moments. These are but a few that I carry with me and since I intend to run until I no longer can, I’m sure I have many ahead of me.
CA Notice at Collection?
