29 May 2008
Fits to a tee?
Posted by Nick Katsarelas under: Nick Katsarelas .
For a few moments at least, please join me as we forget about training runs and injuries and chip times and GU and Garmins and all things racing in nature. Because I want to talk about something very personal: shrinkage.
Oh, get your mind out of the gutter. It’s not what you think. I’m talking about my 2008 Fifth Third River Bank souvenir T-shirt, the 100% cotton version. I’ve been around the block a couple of times, so I know what cotton does when introduced to hot water and heat. That’s why I like my cotton T’s in the XL variety. All my cotton T’s are XL. They’ll still fit after being washed and dried numerous times.
I wore my new, never-been-worn 2008 River Bank shirt to dinner following the race. I donned it a couple of times after that. And then I threw it in the hamper. And kinda forgot about it. Tuesday night, I was getting ready to run, and I thought, “Hey, where’s that new River Bank T? I look good in it. I’ll wear it tonight.” I found it hanging up in the back of my closet. When I spotted it, I took a second look, then exclaimed: “What the …? Why, I oughta … !” (Later, my children would dispute this, and would claim I used the “S” word. Repeatedly.)
Mr. Shrink had taken residence in my new T shirt! Extra large has become the new medium!
To make sure I wasn’t seeing things, I grabbed my 2007 River Bank souvenir T-shirt (also XL) and spread it on the bed. Then I laid the new shirt over it. Lined up the collar and shoulders. And sure enough, it was an inch-and-a-half shorter. Once again, to make sure I wasn’t seeing things, I tried it on for size. It came up to my belt line. And it was tight. It was so tight, in fact, that it revealed the chill in the room. If you catch my drift.
My daughter, whose mantra is “My dad always embarrasses himself,” said, “Don’t even THINK about wearing that outside!” My son, ever the opportunist, seized on my misfortune and asked, “Can I have it?” Dejected, I nodded, took it off, and handed it to him.
Big sigh. I loved that shirt. It’s second only to my fave, a navy blue T-shirt emblazoned with ”St. George Greek Orthodox Church” on the front, and “We do it on our knees” on the back. And so now I’ll have to wait until the running expo next year, when the Fifth Third booth sells shirts from races yore, to reclaim a 2008 shirt.
Meanwhile, I’ll watch the evolution of the T-shirt on my son. Because after a couple of more washes, he’ll have himself a halter top.
One Comment so far...
Shelly Says:
12 June 2008 at 3:03 pm.
Nick–I miss your wit! I hope you can somehow finagle a new t-shirt to have as a memento for your awesome Road Warriorship! 
Hope to see you w/ RunGazelle sometime–I think at this point I may become the official bike paceperson though…