Comments on: Why I’ll never wear a running skirt

By: Women’s workout clothes, serious gear or fashion statement? « Off Her Cork

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:44:49 +0000

[...] I came across an article via Twitter (oh Twitter, I love thee) which was a link to a post on one women’s view on running skirts. The article was very anti-running skirt. She considers them a fashion statement and that one [...]

By: Louise Esola

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:15:12 +0000

Running skirts are awesome! They are comfortable and way better than shorts. Once you go skirt you never go back!

By: suzrunnr

suzrunnr — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:07:16 +0000

I don’t care one bit about how I look when I run and the primary person I run for is me, my daughter is the other person I run for, to show her that women are strong. Running got me through personal heartache and years of infertility and miscarriage. Running gives me contemplative time to myself now that I have a busy toddler. Regardless of what I wear, I know what my body can do, I’ve finished 7 marathons and an Ironman.

And I wear a running skirt! Consider for a moment that most of the running skirts are designed and marketed BY WOMEN. Perhaps their agenda is to oppress women. Or perhaps because there’s some effort of function behind the design. I live in Central Texas and this summer when I was training for a marathon I had to deal with a summer in which we had 60+ days of temperatures over 100 degrees. My running shorts were dripping with sweat and chafed the skin on my legs raw. So I tried a running skirt and it was far more comfortable.

As someone who finished the same Ironman race that Nicole DeBoom won in her running skirt, I find it hard to believe that someone could look at an Ironman winner and think anything other than “that woman kicks ass” regardless of whether she was wearing a skirt. And anyone who has trained for an Ironman knows there’s no way in hell you do that for someone other than yourself.

By: coachphelan

coachphelan — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:52:12 +0000

BAM!
Good hit, Megan.
My guy friends and I have LONG held running skirts as one of the most absurd ideas to be marketed to women. (I use the word “marketed” purposely, as in being told to buy something that you don’t need in the first place.) But, we dared not say anything to a member of the opposite sex for reasons of ignorant ridicule and retaliation.
But to see a WOMAN say this is terrific! Validation!
And your quote, “Encouraging women to wear skirts while running only reinforces the idea that our athletic performance is linked to gender and outward appearance” hits the subject right between the cheeks.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving legitimacy to what we’ve been saying to ourselves since 2004.
c

By: cpbonwrt

cpbonwrt — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:21:23 +0000

Loved your take on the running skirt. I definitely look better way after my run. I sweat heavily, my hair is wild and my face is bright red. But who cares I’m out there running free!

By: Matt Frazier

Matt Frazier — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:08:25 +0000

I love this post! No running skirts for me either.

Seriously, it’s about wearing whatever lets you get the most out of running. A skirt definitely sends the message that you’re doing it for others, not for yourself.

By: Katie Drummond

Katie Drummond — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:36:19 +0000

Yes! I’ve never owned a running skirt, and really never even considered it. I guess if running is just about putting in a gym appearance, they’d make sense. But as far as comfort and running ability go, I don’t think you can beat shorts and tights…of course, with a red headband and knee-high socks, too.

By: MP Nunan

MP Nunan — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:34:25 +0000

Rock on!

I made the decision in college to personally boycott spandex running shorts – because I couldn’t bear being in the gym (in winter) and watching all the other girls – in spandex – walk around the gym pretending to work out in full make-up while actually trying to make eye contact with guys doing weights in the mirror.

I was all about cut-off cotton sweats. Because I’m an athlete, not a preener.

I’ve since moved past my personal spandex boycott (and I doubt the industry noticed.) But our point remains: running for the sheer sensual joy of the workout blows fashion concerns out of the water.