The Stench of a Runner’s World

I love sport. I love to sweat. I am addicted to endorphins. And the easiest way to get my fix is to run. I heard once that it takes 30 days to form a habit. So finally after all of my bemoaning I have got myself a running habit. It works out well, all you need is your running shoes, some clothes and the world is your route. It is the easiest sport to do when you are in a pinch for some calorie burning fun. Here at Patagonia HQ there are a lot of runners. At lunchtime it looks like a bunch of beetles scattering as so many people take off for their habitual run. 

When I travel I find it such a great way to explore a new city. Up in Portland last week I asked around where I should run, got a list of great places and took off exploring the trails that wind themselves throughout the city. So beautiful. Check them out next time you find yourself in Portland. And check out the Patagonia store in Portland too, wow what a beautiful space!

There is one draw back to running though … and that is the incredible amount of laundry that I personally produce every day. Sure I’ll wear some of my clothes again, but the way I sweat, snot, and spit … yuck! So every day the pile of clothes grows and grows, as does the smell. And I begin my weekly ritual of heading to the washing machine, with a pang of guilt. I finally have found a peace with my environmental dilemma of doing so much laundry every week. I use eco-detergent and I don’t use the dryer for my running gear. My dining room becomes a drying rack for my sport. It reminds me how much running is a part of me and a better laundering quest is a part of my life.

[Hanging out. Photo: Snow]