hound

The Gear Hound Grocery Store Gear

BY MICHELLE BOURG

Y eo beot. You've >pent mo>t of the p>t>t three weeks in the car, clutching the steering wheel in one hand and at least two lists-one issued by the school, one Qonger and more detailed) issued, with frequent verbal amendments, by your children-in the other. Band practice and booster club have begun, and it looks like carpool season is upon us . You deserve a little treat, but you refuse to drive out of your way and are a little strapped for cash, thanks to that second list. Fortunately, you need look no further than your neighborhood grocery store or "big box" retailer for a few small items that are useful for your running life: your per­sonal time away from the carpool.

For the first couple of items, you don't even need to veer off the food aisles. The beverage aisle has plenty of different kinds of replacement beverages, in lots of exotic

flavors and colors. Try a new flavor or brand, or go for the powdered mix version if you prefer to regu­late the strength of the final mix

yourself. A few aisles over, you can

stock up on energy bars. These are becoming almost as prevalent

Energy bars are becoming almost as

prevalent as candy bars in most stores. as candy bars in most stores, and if

your store has a "health/natural foods" section, the selection can be vast. Again, try a new flavor or brand, and stash some to tide you over when band or football practice runs long. If you're feeling gener-

32 September 2002 WING FOOT

ous, get some extra for the kids- it's better than candy.

Swinging the cart over towards the "personal care" aisle, you can find several items for a little self-pam­pering. In the foot care section, there are several types of insoles to choose from that can replace those paper-thin factory ones in the practically brand-new shoes you picked up at the Peachtree Expo. Lamisil insoles are virtually identical to the better-known Sorbothane version at less than half

the price ($7.99 versus $24 99). In addition, there are several other models from the vener­

able Dr. Scholl and other companies that could help you run more comfortably.

Before leaving this section, pick up some foot powder ($4-$6), maybe trying

one of the liquid powder varieties, which are excellent for preventing

blisters and keeping feet cool and comfortable. If the family and

the dog always seem to be somewhere else when you return from a run, this might just be a good invest-ment.

From here it's a short stroll to the beauty sec­tion, where you can splurge on some prod­ucts for the bath or shower. Kiss My Face Active Relaxant Bath

($9) is a unisex bath and shower

gel made with arnica, juniper,

and other

Pick up some foot powder ($4-$6), maybe trying one of the liquid powder varieties, which are excellent for preventing blisters and keepingfeet cool and comfortable.

herbal ingredients that promote healing of sore mus­cles without the liniment smell. Even if you're not a believer in herbal therapy or not sore, the scent is rejuvenating and will leave you refreshed after the longest run.

Before checking out, venture down the "house­hold" or "miscellaneous" aisle, where all sorts of fas­cinating things reside that you 'd never guess would be found at a grocery store. Here, amongst the mothballs, videotapes and extension cords, you can usually find a few good things to take care of your shoes. Pick up some shoelaces (99¢-$1.19) to replace the frayed set on your favorite pair. There's also shoe cleaner ($3.99-$5.99) and non­silicone protective spray ($4.99-$6 .99) to get your well-worn shoes looking, if not exactly new, pre­sentable again. Cleaning running shoes may seem like a Felix Unger sort of thing to do, but pollu­tants lurk in the puddles and the grass that can eat at the EVA and fibers of your shoes. Cleaning them protects your investment and stops those dirty looks from the hostess at Big Boy's House of International Waffles when you stop by for that post-run brunch.

If you venture to one of the "superstore" retailers, there's a wider range of items to choose from. If you've been meaning to add weight training to your regimen, these stores usually carry a good selection

of dumbbells, usually the neoprene-coated type. Typically priced at about $1 per pound, they're more expensive than the iron type but have a thick grip that makes them more comfortable to hold. You can also pick up padded ankle and wrist weights in the

sporting goods section, along with accessories like exercise or yoga mats ($13-

~.-;;;iiii::.:=:::::=:::::::::::::::::::~;;;:,., $24) and stretching r straps ($6-$7). For more ideas on

things to incorporate into your training regi­men, stop by the video section and check out the exercise titles. Most run­ners need to stretch more and to strengthen their core muscles . If going to a gym isn't practical, these tapes can be a good way to try out a new technique such as yoga or Pilates on your budget and sched­ule while still taking

advantage of expert instruc­tion. Look for Moira Stott's Essential Matwork ($10) for

an introduction to Pilates, and Yoga journal's "Yoga Practice for Beginners"

($12) or "Yoga for Athletes" ($14) to get into yoga. Hey, you 're suddenly trendy!

Yes, you 'd rather be getting new shoes or a time and distance monitor, but you can't get the big-tick­et toys every time. After all, you scored big at the Peachtree Expo, right? Sometimes all you need is a little something to boost your spirits-while you 're saving up for the Marathon Expo. e

WING FOOT September 2002 33