Confession time...despite all silent protests, I have, I’m
afraid to say, succumbed to the panic-inducing wonder that is Lycra.
Striking fear into the hearts of novice exercise enthusiasts
everywhere, it has to be one of the few things on my “never to be worn”
list. Or at least, it had been. Until the prospect of a warm June Bank
Holiday Monday became a reality and I was faced with a tough choice.
Three hours traipsing through the streets of Dublin in my
usual run-of-the-mill track bottoms, only to be carried over the 10km mark to
the nearest physio.
Unless, that is, I could bring myself to feel the Lycra fear
and wear it anyway. And feel it I did. So much so, that my new Lycra sports trousers
lingered in their bag for several days, lest they should feel like making a
sudden sprint back to the shop from whence they came.
Bizarrely, they didn’t, and having tried them on for the
umpteenth time, I plucked up the courage in true brave- little-soldier style,
to face the mirror.
I’m not sure there
are enough words in the English language, or indeed any other, to describe the
horror that stood before me. Back in the
bag they went. No sport is worth that torture.
It’ll probably rain anyway, right?
Wrong.
With the forecast remaining positive, there was only one
thing for it. So, with some reassurance
from Lycra-loving friends and a bit of positive(ish) self talk, off I went with
30-something thousand other women in my breathable, go-faster, Lycra sports
trousers.
And my exxxtra long t-shirt. That oughta hide them.
"Sure who’s gonna
care anyway... its not a fashion show.. comfort before style..all in the name
of charity..."
Three hours later, much to my own relief, over the finish
line I sauntered in the blazing sunshine. Fresh as a daisy. Full of the joys of Spring. Not a bother on me.
Okay okay, I exaggerate... but to my relief (or disgust??) the
discomfort levels were noticeably lowered a few notches thanks to my trusty new
friends.
Actually friendship may be too strong a word, lets not get
too hasty here. But whether I like it or
not, this pre-marathon marathon served to prove me wrong in my long-held
anti-Lycra beliefs.
Sometimes, (in exceptional circumstances such as these) it IS
okay, if not wise, to put comfort first.
Image credit www.dunnestores.com
