Spandex Virgin Smuggling Plums

If you're squeamish, look away - I'm just trying to make a point.

This is way too much information

I could never fathom what would possess anyone to share this intimate arrangement of their assorted wobbly bits unless they're closet exhibitionists. And so it is with much surprise and  consternation I am forced to confess ... I am now a card carrying member of the spandex shorts brigade, and I'm proud of it.

In my many travels on the internet - I cover more ground on running, than I run on the ground - I read somewhere about the benefits of spandex shorts. Another chafing story, which seems to be a firm favorite with these runner types.

I've never been a fan of the get up, since the material appears to get much too close and personal without even the suggestion of a first date. Never having experienced the need for such specific cupping, I must confess I am a spandex virgin.

However I've conquered so many past stereotypes, i figure it it's time to give the spandex a go as well. To my surprise, I don't have a single bad thing to say. The combination of stability, warmth and compactness provided by the shorts is so great I will likely cross them over into my regular sporting life.


I am still not at the place where I can wear them commando, like the lads above ... and I hope I never will be!!

My Feet are a Science Experiment - Running Shoes

Once you know what you want, the internet helps you find it. But before that it makes you question if what you want is really what you want. I wanted a reasonable pair of running shoes, which would last 24 months. Instead, I discovered that what I really want is a extra cushioned, non-motion controlling, light durable running shoe for the underpronater / supinater with a normal arch.

I first had to take the wet test, to establish what kind of feet I have. It's a little intimidating self administering a test, with water leaking all over the place, while you stoop and try to figure out what pattern the impressions are throwing up.


The other test was the undersole study of my old shoes to show whether the instep or the outstep (??) was more worn out. When you're moderately fit & certainly overweight, all sides look pretty worn. Anyway I did manage to figure out that I am an underpronator with normal to high arch (apparently less than 10% of the popn has this affliction), and even better news that there are shoes for my kind as well. I settled on the Adidas Supernova Glide II, which is certainly an impressive name for a shoe, and bought them at a nice discount from Selection Sports (Mumbai). 

The good news is that my discovery and subsequent purchase solved a bevy of problems all at one go. The bad news is I'm out 6 grand for a running shoe, which is twice what I had planned to pay.

My Date with the Planter

Early in my running career I developed all kinds of injuries, but not being the regular running sort, I never gave them an opportunity to bloom. Ever since I've been running regularly (2-3 times / week) I've started deveoping a searing pain in the sole of my foot.

My reading had prepared me for this scenario, but nothing prepared me for the pain. Plantar fascitis, is apparently a common running injury, manifesting itself more often in how shall I put it ... the more corpulent runners. It has something to do with some muscle in the sole being inappropriately stretched. For me the simpler explanation is 'the heavier you are, the more you stretch the muscle in your sole, which connects the ball of the foot to the heel'. Makes a lot of sense ... does not necessarily make me feel too much better.

For the past few days i've been struggling with taking even a few steps without wincing in pain. My evolution as a runner is manifest in that instead of putting off running for a fortnight, I immediately start looking around for answers. On the internet the truth is out there ... unf this truth sits alongside some cockamie theories, whcih makes it hard to tell which is which. So I went through plantar stretches, tippy toe routines, toe towel pulls, self massage (unf I don't live in bangkok) and finally came upon something that made sense - I needed to invest in running shoes before all else, since mah boots were made for walkin' - running wasn't part of the program.

Guarding my Chafing Nips

Ouchiee!!

I thought i was breaking ground with my oatmeal experiment, but the true runner's arsenal was yet to show itself. While browsing for tips on good running form, I casually browsed through running injuries .... and there it was in plain view - NIPPLE CHAFING. Apparently the friction with the running shirt sandpapers your nips to become hard enough to cut glass ... and draw blood!!

I stared at the screen in shock - these runner's were not going to let a thing by. Sure I felt a little sore at times, but it's supposed to be a sport for God's sake!! I searched some more to see if this was an isolated mention, and found a bevy of articles dedicated to the fine art of protecting ones nips. I rolled my eyes in disbelief and then came upon this one image which made me a believer.

I'm now a nip-guarder. I've tried multiple options (I won't be letting on the list to prevent myself further embarrassment), and what i find works best is some vaseline a well placed band-aid to seal up the area. Getting it off is blue murder, and I'm glad not to be a regular runner, else I'd have to shave my chest!!

Still, I must confess I have much more mental peace now, even if i feel a little foolish. The bloody image haunts me, and I'd rather no be in that position. Hope I r'ber to keep my shirt on after the race, though.

Taking stock - just 3 months to go

Not enough ticks

My progress thus far has been minimal, but it's just enough to allow me to see daylight on the race to come. At this point I've run 11K once, I've lost a few kegs and I'm able to sort of keep my mind from drifting back to the sorry state of my calves every 5 mins.

On the flip side, my legs are going to need to rebuild some resilience in moving my girth along, I'm going to have to start running outdoors (since the treadmill is rumored to be less tiring), and I've gotta get some running strength back. I will also need to break out the ice packs, which served me well through my pre-reg training days.

3 months doesn't seem enough to turn the corner on completing 21k, but I can either mull over it or get off my keister and start hauling ...