The skull-and-bones logo taunted us. The event description tantalized.
“You won’t die. You may not even bleed.”
It’s the third annual Tough Mountain Challenge at Sunday River this weekend, a punishing 5K through boggy mud pits, up hills and through pitch-black tunnels.
Oh, we are so there.
You know, in theory.
Two years ago, Bag Lady and Shopping Siren wrote about the first challenge and shopped for material to sew a flame-retardant bikini to hurl through the Ring of Fire and lime-green spandex for the perfect Suicide Sprint outfit. Er. Maybe you had to be there.
The course this Saturday boasts obstacles with names like Hole of Horror, Snow & Steady and Slip Slide & Die, all of which, combined with the above semi-promise — “You may not even bleed” — had us thinking first-aid kit essentials. It also created the perfect excuse for us to check out an interesting phenomenon on Sabattus Street: side-by-side pharmacies, Rite Aid and newcomer CVS, not 100 feet apart. Time to put those store-brand prices to the test.
Because “may not” bleed is no guaranteed “will not,” and being prepared is in our blood.
* First-aid athletic bandage
Rite Aid: $3.99, 70 inches by 1 inch
CVS: $2.99, 79.2 inches by 1 inch
For sprains, strains and support where Tough Mountain athletes need it most — um, everywhere. Although CVS is the clear winner here price-wise, both bandages are similar and self-adhesive, so no clips required for either. Now, if only these bandages could wind themselves correctly around a tweaked ankle while we limp slickly from the Mud Crawl to Mollyockett’s Revenge. Onward!
* Sterile pads, 3 inches by 3 inches
Rite Aid: $5.49, 25-pack
CVS: $6.99, 25-pack
The newly renovated Rite Aid came out ahead here. For those boo-boos that should stay sterile. Like, all of them.
Pair with:
* Adhesive tape
Rite Aid: $2.99, ½-inch by 5 yards
CVS: $2.87, ½-inch by 5 yards
Sticky, which is good in an adhesive tape but not in the Slip Slide & Die. Unless the goal is not to slide. Then, well, stick away.
* Pain relief cold pack, 2-pack
Rite Aid: $3.49
CVS: $3.99
Cradle it where you need it; we won’t judge.
* Epsom salts
Rite Aid: $3.99, 3 pounds
CVS: $5.99, 6 pounds
For soaking after the race. Or pour directly into Barker Pond, where we are certain to fall Saturday while trying to jump frog-like from lily pad to lily pad. You know, if we were so bold.
* Finger splints
Rite Aid: $6.49, 3-pack (one medium, one large, one extra-large)
CVS: $5.99, 2-pack (one medium, one large)
We’re not sure how many finger splints one family needs in a lifetime, but we figure that depends on how many Wooden Wall Rises said family encounters. The ratio is probably roughly equal to one wall:two fingers.
* Advanced waterproof bandages for blisters
Rite Aid: $4.49, 6-pack
CVS: $4.79, 6-pack
Both claim the bandages are waterproof, cushioned and great for healing and preventing blisters. We have our doubts, but we also expect to have blisters. So two packages it is!
* Triple antibiotic ointment with pain relief
Rite Aid: $5.29, 0.5 oz.
CVS: $5.29, 0.5 oz.
If you’re smearing an antibiotic on something — say a knee scraped while trying desperately to climb out of the Trench of Terror — it stands to reason that something hurts. So pain-relief-added ointment makes complete sense to us. Subjecting ourselves to the Trench of Terror, however, doesn’t make much sense at all.
Honorable mentions:
* Bite and Sting Relief, 1.75 oz., Rite Aid, $6.99
‘Cause being stung bites.
* Advanced Blood Stop, five special gauze pads, CVS, $11.49
Remember the bit about blood? Just in case.
And the winner is: You, Tough Man/Woman! We’ll be right over here, cheering you on, in our flame-retardant bikinis.
Between Rite Aid and CVS, surprisingly, it was almost too close to call.
Bag Lady and Shopping Siren’s true identities are protected by a pair of stylish, sweater-wearing Doberman pinschers (who believe in having spare pig ears on hand in case of emergency) and the Customer Service counter at the Sun Journal. You can reach them at baglady@sunjournal.com and shoppingsiren@sunjournal.com.
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- Epsom salt from Rite Aid.
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- Epsom salt from CVS.
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