HEALTH & FITNESS: When cotton is rotten
Working up a sweat during a St. Louis summer doesn't take much. There are days when merely sitting in a lawn chair at a barbecue will suffice.
Cotton clothing and a glass of lemonade are fine for moments like those. The same goes for a short jog, leisurely walk or bike ride in the park.
But avid outdoor athletes will tell you when it comes to exercising on a hot sticky day, cotton is rotten and replenishing electrolytes is crucial. They can describe in sweat-sopping detail the liters of water that pour from their pores and how it saturates their clothes, making them look like they crawled from a swimming pool.
Stephen Warner, 29, of St. Louis, has completed two Ironman triathlons and run five marathons. Two weeks ago, he finished the Boston Marathon in 2 hours 43 minutes, nearly seven minutes ahead of Lance Armstrong.
Warner has worn wicking fabrics for years and, coincidentally or not, has never had a problem with chafing. To him, it's worth the splurge.
"Just the comfort factor goes a long way toward making you perform better. It takes the moisture off the skin," he says.
This hasn't been lost on sporting goods manufacturers, who annually launch lines of high-tech clothing, footwear,
gadgets and nutrition to keep athletes cool and comfy, replenished and energized.
That's why this month the Healthy & Fit section will feature some of the latest designs in summer clothing, footwear, gadgets and nutrition for just about every athletic endeavor. Some products are designed specifically for one sport, while others can be used for multiple ones.
The New Balance running skirt at right, for instance, has also been tailored for tennis players. The Sugoi triathlon shorts have just enough padding for cycling, but not so much that they'll chafe in the running segment. And everything, it seems, is built to move moisture away from the skin and keep air circulating.
Matt Helbig, co-owner of Big River Running stores, walked around his south city shop recently pointing to venting sewn into shorts and singlets and noting the silky softness of the fabrics.
"Clothing has become a lot more form-fitting in the past three or four years, which is OK because the fabrics are tissue thin and wick away sweat," he said.
At REI in Brentwood, assistant manager Dan O'Neil echoed that thought. O'Neil also explained how Columbia Sportswear, The North Face, REI and several other sporting goods manufacturers produce shirts and cargo shorts that keep you cool and protect against ultraviolet sun rays. Their casual styling and high performance can go from the hiking trail to a company picnic.
Those who are serious about their sport and train in the heat several times a week will need lots of this vented, wicking stuff. Athletes on a budget should check out Target, which carries C9 by Champion, a line of athletic wear for men, women and children made of Duo Dry fabric to speed evaporation of sweat. The C9 line is considerably less expensive, with prices for women's running shorts ranging from $9.99 to $19.99.
By Cynthia Billhartz Gregorian
cbillhartz@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8114
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