Every now and then I’ll get a blast of a
particular strain of menthol and find
myself transported back to Lehigh Uni-
versity’s austere, drably colored indoor
track. I’m lacing up my racing flats,
hearing the thud of stampeding feet and
the whhhisssh, whhhisssh of my high
school’s nylon warmup suits. They’re
calling for my race, the 800 meter, to
collect by the starting line. My heart
is pounding, my stomach tightening.
Nearby—and without fail—someone is
applying IcyHot to his legs. That sharp,
industrial-strength wintergreen scent
will always be synonymous with an entire
era of my running life.
My most evocative scent memories of
running are tied to high school, a time
when, as a member of a close-knit team
deeply invested in winning, the sport
could feel like life or death, every race a
dogfight. The heightened awareness has
vividly preserved my sense impressions
of that age.What Is
the True
Scent of
Running?
BY CHRISTOPHER ROSS- FUNKAWAY
AEROSPRAY
/$8
Kill odors in
your shoes,
gym bag,
and car
seats. - LULULEMON
NO-SHOW DRY
SHAMPOO /
$34
Remove
sweat, oils,
and dirt with-
out a shower. - HEX LAUNDRY
DETERGENT
/$10
Kills the
stench in even
your most
disgusting
clothes. - AIR WICK
AUTOMATIC
SPRAY /$15
Hang over
your dirty
clothes
hamper until
laundry day. - EPIC WIPES XL
/$25 FOR 10
Sixteen times
larger than
your average
wet wipes so
everything
gets clean.
STOP THE
POST-RUN
STINK
32 RUNNERSWORLD.COM PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAKOTA GAMBILL