Every June, I run a half-marathon in Raleigh. It’s very hilly and hot, but it’s the last race around here until autumn.

Last year’s race was when I totally blew out my hip and groin for what I hope will be the final time. I spent months resting and doing physical therapy, which is a code for eating a lot of carbs and moving like a senior citizen.

Mmmmm. Carbs. 

Now I’m back to rebuilding my running routine.

I signed up for my June half-marathon, which was this past Saturday. My running pace is somewhere around 10:44 when it’s crisp outside and the terrain is flat. If there are hills and it’s over 70 degrees with 95% humidity, I’m rocking the walk-run and a 12-minute mile like it’s nobody’s business.

I looked at the weather and downgraded to a 10K on Friday afternoon before the race. Although we were starting at 7:15 AM, the temps were predicted to be in the low 70s at sunrise. I knew this race might kill me, and I didn’t want to walk-run a 2:30 half-marathon. I’ve got better things to do with my time.

So I ran the 10K, and it was all right. I was super-slow, but I didn’t injure myself.

Then I noticed that people were staring at me after the race. I was starting to get pretty paranoid about it. Why are people looking at me? Am I a paranoid schizophrenic? Am I having an anxiety attack? No, it just seems like I’m red in the face and worn out.

But then I looked down at myself and noticed something else.

wardrobe malfunction 2wardrobe malfunction

It looks like I peed my pants.

During the course, I splashed water all over my head and clothes to stay cool. Unfortunately, I decided to wear these new purple pants from Athleta. They are awesome and mesh, but they don’t absorb water very well. And the results are in: I have a wet crotch.

You guys, it takes a lot for me to feel embarrassed — and this did it. I was momentarily crippled with shame. But other runners have worse stories, and the best way to get over a wardrobe malfunction is to embrace it. So I sent the photos to a few friends who LOLed and then gave me virtual high-fives for running in this heat.

So, yeah, it looks like I peed my pants. But I got up and ran in the most disgusting weather ever. I’m bad-ass, and I learned a valuable lesson: don’t splash your running clothes with water unless you’re wearing all black.

Category: Work6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. You…ran a significant distance. It doesn’t look like you peed yourself, it looks like you sweated like a mofo. I don’t get how anyone in the running community would even bat an eye at that.

    • Nobody looked at me horrified. They just looked. Honestly, it looks awkward — and I would’ve looked at someone like me, too.

      😉

      I wish I sweated like a mofo. That would be a better story.

  2. i can see howe that would be a little embarrassing. On the other hand, if you dump a bunch more water on your overheated self, no one will know. I give you major props for even doing marathons at all. I wish my back and knees would let me.

  3. Even if you had peed yourself, you’d still be a bad-ass for running that race. I was exhausted just reading about the terrain and the weather conditions. Yikes!

  4. I had the same thing happen this weekend! I went running around my neighborhood and people were giving me looks. Then I realized I swear so much it looks like I wet myself. Gotta love the summer in NC.

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