Runners should love underpants

The necessity has been debated far and wide in the running world, since woman first put one foot in front of the other - or Nike made Tempo shorts with a liner.

To wear underpants or not wear underpants on a run, that is the question.

Source

While many eschew the necessity of the undergarment on a fartlek or tempo outing, with even the esteemed Dimity and Sarah (aka my running idols) saying "no" - always, I find that wearing a pair of panties is not just a comfort thing. Oh, no. It's a necessity.

1. A cotton pair of underpants absorbs moisture and traps any unpleasant odors. Your shorts will already smell rank from sweat so there's no need to add to it.

2. It's been my experience that a pair of underpants (still cotton) will minimize the sound of butt-cheek clapping, which can be distracting if not disturbing to passers-by.

3. A visible panty line, otherwise known as VPL, offers those who find it cute to hoot and holler a distraction from a bare midriff, which becomes a more likely scenario as the weather warms.

4. If you are running as part of a weight-loss plan, it will become inevitable that your shorts will sag. It's always a nice incentive to buy new workout wear to celebrate but sometimes it doesn't happen ... and you nearly lose your shorts. Without undies, you're taking the risk to go bare-ass on the trail - not a smart idea when this is a bad season for ticks and mosquitoes.

5. Undies, especially an old pair, can be used as a makeshift wiping device should it be necessary to drop trou in the woods. If you went rogue and panty-less, I guess there would be alternatives - going crunchy butt for the remainder of the run or, say, using/ditching a shirt you got on clearance at Marshall's for $3 and sporting that midriff (and thus causing a No. 3 situation). However, outside of remembering TP on every run, I think it's the best option.

And that is all I have to say about that.