I wore my running tights this morning.
It was about 30 degrees and windy, with a light, misting rain, and I finally broke out my favorite pair of Underarmour running tights. I love how I feel when I put on a pair of running tights – everyone owns a pair of shorts they can throw on to jog around the block, but to own a pair of running tights puts you in a completely different league. (Or it just means you live in California/New Mexico/Arizona/the South.) Owning a pair of running tights means you shun the treadmill and indoor tracks, and voluntarily run in temperatures that would have most people whimpering for their heated blankets and chicken noodle soup. It means you are willing to put on a pair of pants so tight that it would will squeeze the excess flab out of Michael Phelps and make Nicole Richie’s butt look big, and then go out in public. Running tights are not for the shy and subtle – they boldly declare “I AM A RUNNER,” even if you don’t look like one, even if you’re only doing one mile today, even if that old man with the walker is outpacing you.
To wear running tights, you better damn well believe you’re a runner.
Which leads to my update – I’m happy to report that I’m finally back on the roads! I did 10 miles this morning, and while my feet are a bit achy, my legs are ready to spring off the asphalt. I kept reminding myself to keep it slow, to run easy, and my Garmin would beep very low 9′s at me. I could’ve gone further, but I hadn’t planned on running that far and had no water and no gels on me. I’m also happy to report that despite my skepticism, Brian’s suggestion on duct tape for blisters is actually the best solution I’ve come across. Wrap it around your arch once and you’re good to go; that baby does not go ANYWHERE once you slap it down on your foot.
Hoping to do 18 next Saturday. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
* * *
The Parental Units have come to town, and you know what that means – EAT FEST 2008!
Happy Hour Surf and Turf
Skirt Steak With Pomme Frites
Yogenfruz is Healthy - It Has Fruit
This morning after my run, the Parental Units, Fiance and I piled into a car and drove to Chinatown despite the terrible weather. We went to Lao Szechuan, and had an insanely cheap and good meal for $60 – including an entire lobster.
Lobster With Ginger & Scallions
Braised Eggplant
Afterwards, the waiter asked if we wanted to wrap anything up. Um…does it look like there’s anything to wrap????
Carnage!
And then we got our pick of dessert afterwards in a pastry shop:
Cake Heaven
If gluttony is a deadly sin…well…then sign me up, I guess.
Congratulations on a good run, Kai!! No tights here, as you can imagine by your post
And, excellent food porn as always. I’m about to go eat at a Brazilian buffet myself, where they bring you meat non-stop until you flip this cork thing upside down. This has only made me determined to not flip it a little longer 
Very disappointing to not have a tights photo to go with the story. You tease! I guess the lobster photo makes up for it
Hey great to hear you’re back at it. I think after your post about not running Philly you were in a lot of our thoughts so, great to have you back!
Hey, Lynsey and I are talking San Diego marathon in May. You and fiance should make a road trip and FE!!!
Glad to hear you’re back on the roads. You are so right about tights. Sometimes I see people– usually teenagers, or men– who are wearing shorts over their tights, and I want to shake them. We’re runners! No shame! (I’m sure they want to shake me, too: cover up, woman! Well, tough.)
Now I have to gaze lustily at that lobster some more…
yay…you’re running again, and strong from the sounds of it!
I love your reasoning behind tights (and I love my UA’s too!)
let’s go get lobster!
Congrats! So happy you’re back on your running feet. LOL about the tights. I ran in running pants last year. I just bought my first pair of tights, but haven’t gone out in public in them yet!
[...]
) I tried my brand new Nike Pro Thermal Tights and was proud to be running in tights, just as Kai said in her recent entry. It was the first time I ran in tights but most def not the last [...]
I need to buy tights so bad. One… I’m always cold! It takes me like 10 miles to get warmed up. two… Here in northern California it actually gets cold. None of that 90 degree weather SoCal is getting right now. Of course they have fires now too.
Do you really love your UA tights? I keep thinking I might find a pair to try on but there aren’t any suppliers near me. I think I’d have to go search out Sacramento to find them and I’m just not a shopper you know. Hmm….Of course those Minzuno’s at Fleet feet… sorry I was day dreaming.
Food looks great! jealous as usual especially over the eggplant and the lobster dishes. my faves.