Go ahead and embarrass yourself!
When I got back into triathlons about 10 years ago, I met a guy that recruited me to go on a run around the “Orting Death Loop”. After I had committed, he informed me to arrive at his house at 3:15 AM. Not only was I nervous about a run and time like that, but when I got there there were about 10 very happy fit looking people warming up and chatting. They were bent on to go to the Ironman in Canada and qualify for Kona. I was outclassed and intimidated. In the meantime, I bought a new high efficiency washing machine. I did not know to use special soap and much less of it. As a result of too much soap my shorts began to foam starting at the crotch. At about mile 15 the soap foam was undeniable as it got larger and seemed like it encompassed most of my lower body. Further down the road the chaffing combined with grinding soap into the wounds altered my gait provoking comments like “Where did you get this guy?” If embarrassment killed, I would have certainly died that day. I did f...