For years, I have always been last – the last of my friends to have a boyfriend, the last to get married, the last to have children. This year, I’m last again – last for a big fall race.
But I’m excited about being behind everyone else. It means that I’ve been able to watch many running friends race to new PR’s in Chicago and I can cheer on others tomorrow in Toronto. It also means that I was able to pick up something new to wear at the Scotiabank Expo.
In the same way that I put in time and effort into training for a race, I put a lot of thought into what I’m going to wear. Wearing a Running Skirt is always my first choice. It’s not just the comfort and style that I love; it’s the pockets on the side – the perfect size to carry my puffer for asthma.
Last weekend, when the temperatures suddenly dropped, I pulled out the capris that I have as a back-up for cooler weather. They were great on Sunday night’s cold, wet training run but when I got home, I realized that I couldn’t race in them as they didn’t have a pocket for my puffer. So I went through all of my shirts, hoping that one might have a back pocket. No luck. I felt challenged; I needed to find a long sleeved shirt with a pocket.
The Expo at the Scotiabank Marathon in Toronto seemed like the obvious place to look so, last night, off I went with an empty backpack. Tens of booths later, I had seen many shirts that I liked but, alas, I couldn’t find a pocket in any of them. There was only one solution – to visit the Running Skirts booth.
As soon as I got there, I felt like a kid in a candy store; I wanted one of everything. Would it be Cindy’s PR snow leopard print or Debbie’s PR distance skirt? What about the Red and White for Canada or the mother-tough camo print? Somehow, my mission was side-tracked as I hemmed and hawed over what to take home.
Ironically, though, I did find what I was looking for – a beautiful lagoon-coloured long-sleeve with a back pocket, large enough to hold my puffer – but I didn’t buy it. It was a little out of my price range – especially with the other Running Skirts things that I inadvertently picked up. While this shirt will be great if the weather stays cool, I couldn’t help but think buying it would put Murphy’s Law into effect; I’d be dressed for cool weather and temperatures would suddenly jump. The last thing I want is to do is overheat so I left the lagoon half-zip behind.
Instead, I have two new running skirts to pick from for next week’s race – and both are a perfect match to the half-zip, which is now on my Santa list.
So what am I going to wear in Niagara’s Half-Marathon? A running skirt, of course, but I’m keeping my choice a secret. You’ll just have to come back next week to find out which one.
