I’ve been really lucky with races. I’ve never forgotten anything super important like my shoes or my Garmin. I’ve never had horrible chafe or fallen at a race (I save that for when I’m running alone). I’ve had a few not so awesome fueling situations and I’ve completely forgotten to eat before a race, but I’ve never not made it to the portapotty (ahem), I’ve never puked at a race (come close a few times), and I’ve only had a few complete meltdowns due to heat/poor hydration/poor fueling choices.
So, since we are discussing Race Mishaps on Tuesdays on the Run, I’ll share my 5K PR story. Before I do that, promise me you’ll share a race mishap or two with me.
This blog was started to chronicle my journey to the Marine Corps Marathon in 2008. At that point, I had no idea that I would develop an addiction to longer distances or that I’d eventually run mostly out of town. Back in those days, I ran a LOT of local races, particularly those that I could get to easily from my house. I was also experimenting with skirts (but had not yet found Skirt Sports.) To add to the fun, I was in the beginnings of my “minimalist” period that came before I found Altras.
Yes, my life was so different then. One day, I decided it was time. I had done a few runs in a running skirt and it went ok and I’d been training to run in the Vibram Five Fingers for a while. I needed to put them both to the test. I signed up for a local race – the Clarendon Day 5k. It starts at a local running store, goes downhill for about a mile and a half and then has slightly rolling hills. I figured it was a great race to experiment with. After all, how wrong could things go in a 5K?
Very Very Wrong.
The race started great. I was feeling good and my legs felt fresh. Then I noticed my skirt was starting to slide down. I’d lost a few pounds and it was a little loose. But I had on a long shirt and I was starting to get sweaty, so I figured things would stay put.
Then we got to the bottom of one of the hills. I’d completely forgotten about the grates. The street wide, sharp spiked, metal grates. And I was wearing Vibrams. I tiptoed my way across as fast as I could. I’m sure I looked like one of those cartoons where the character is prancing across hot coals.
Finally, that was behind me and I was cruising along. It seemed like my skirt had settled into a low ride, plumber’s crack position, but was staying there and my shirt was covering. Then my shorties started riding up. All the way up. Yeah. And my thighs? I could start a fire with the friction, so shorties not doing their job was a very bad thing.
Thankfully, the end was near and I pushed it to the finish. Where the photographer took a picture right up my skirt. Awesome. (No, I’m not sharing that one.)
On the bright side, I finished in 24:58 which is still my PR almost 6 years later and I won 2nd in my age group (because all the fast kids were running Ragnar that weekend.)
And now you know why I’m so very loyal to Skirt Sports: my shorties have never disappointed me.
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I would just say that you ran your pants/skirt off. That will at least impress people?
I had one of those skirts once, but it had the briefs underneath, the first one I got was too big so I sent it back and tried the next size down… as I was running the skirt was riding up and the briefs were too..I was giving a cheeky show!. luckily I only ran a quarter mile to the mailbox before I realized this was not going to work, I ran home holding the skirt down behind me and never wore it again!
I had my first experience running over metal grates at a 5K this summer. Ouch, I can imagine it didn’t feel very good running over them in vibrams. Do you wear them much anymore? My sister had a pair but they quickly ended up in the yard sale pile.
Oh I would have been so mortified if that happened to me! I’ve never run with a skirt but I recently ran with some new shorts that despite using Body Glide ended up causing horrible chafing! But that’s a fantastic PR! Maybe the worries about the skirt made you run faster, lol! 🙂
Oh yes, thankfully my story wasn’t a race, but I had the same experience on a training run with a different brand of skirt after I’d lost a little weight too. I had to literally hold it up for most of the run (and yes, those shorties don’t stay in place, either).
Maybe all the drama made you run faster. 🙂
I wear my own compression shorts under my Running Skirts because I know those stay put. They’re rather old though, but I like the length, and I can’t seem to find that length again. Compression shorts are either too short or too long.
Wardrobe malfunctions are the worst!
Ha ha ha- you ran with plumbers crack! Classic!
I had a skirt fall down too, thanks to a combo of weight loss, too much stuff in the back pocket and not be being absolutely sure it was all the way pulled up before we started! It was a ten mile race, so I spent a lot of time adjusting that thing over and over.
Lol! Well at least it didn’t fall all the way down, right? Nice PR! 🙂
Ugh. I too have fallen victim to the dreaded “full moon rising” when wearing a running skirt. Having to run with car keys in the pocket (no gear check) was what caused my issue. So fun looking back at old running pics!
I love that you managed to get a PR despite the wardrobe malfunctions!
OMGOSH I ADORE YOU.
and yes.
You know Im thinking OK CRAP WHAT WILL HAPPEN HERE TO ME ON OAKLAND MARATHON DAY?!?!
So besides laughing about your skirt falling down, I was thinking about the chafing from your shorties…ouch….
Considering the fact that you probably couldnt stop thinking about what to do if your skirt fell all the way down, you finished remarkably strong 🙂 Kudos!
Well at least you got a PR out of it!! That softens the other details right!?
oh goodness!!!!! while ive never had a wardrobe malfunction during a race, my husband has! we ran a shamrock shuffle and he wore his kilt to run in……lets just say we are both glad he chose to wear shorts underneath!!!! (yes he is Scottish and yes he has worn his kilt the “proper way” ie sans shorts!!)
Hey, I recognize that skirt! Because it’s now mine! P.S. It falls down on me too.
My only race mishap was my second marathon and I had some serious chafing on my lady parts that I didn’t realize until afterward. Ouchie. I was walking all sorts of funny, but it wasn’t due to sore legs.
Love it! I’m gonna have to think about scheduling a ‘lesser’ race when a bigger one is going on nearby…wanna get on that podium! 😉
I am lucky to have had no major mishaps….unless signing up for a 20K when I had never run further than 13K counts. Yeah, and it was in the pouring rain, wind and 50 degree temps. Not a great first 20K experience… I still shudder when I think of that race.