This post comes from my lovely wife Ellie, enjoy!
You know that saying, "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have"? Well, I think we can apply that to running, too. Over my years of running on and off, I've collected a nice sample size of running outfits off of which I can base my "research." (Mind you, when I say "outfits," I do not mean actual running outfits. It's just what I happen to throw on before I head out the door.)
When I started running, it was for soccer practice and I wore shorts, a T-shirt, cleats, shin guards, all of it. I loved the feeling of running in those clothes because I felt like I was moving—and moving fast. When the soccer season was over, I wanted to keep running on my own in order to stay in shape. But instead of wearing my soccer gear, I wore pajama pants, clunky sneakers, a shirt, quite possibly a hoodie, you know where this is going. While I was running, I would get so frustrated! I felt like I was barely moving my feet and making no forward progress. Basically, I felt like a parachute catching all this air.
Running in these puppies = NO FUN!
At the time, I hadn't thought to change my clothes. I just thought I was out of shape and couldn't push myself through the "wind." Mind you, I didn't know much about running, as I wasn't running as a sport, I was running in order to shape up for other sports. (I still love the cross-country team's mantra of "Our sport is your sport's punishment." So true.)
Fast forward a half dozen years and I'm in college. By now I was starting to realize that my apparel was messing me up, adding what felt like an extra ten pounds. I've gone running with five-pound ankle weights, and I'd say they are about even with the billowy pants. I made a few changes, like no more hoodies, but continued to feel like a parachute with the weight of my shoes and pants. I should also note that I am far too cheap to buy actual running clothes. My running wardrobe was the same as my pajamas and my work outfits for my shifts in dietary at a nursing home. Very versatile! Just not very functional.
Fast forward again and we're at last Thursday. It was chilly, so I was preparing for a breezy run at about 10:30 p.m. I grabbed my new knee-length leggings (A rare running-related purchase! Eight bucks!), strapped on my VFFS (So light! So not clunky!), put on my B.A.A. shirt (Courtesy of Mama and Papa Bard!) . . . and then threw on a velour zip-up along with my reflective jacket. Dumb. Jon and I weren't even three blocks away from the apartment before I started freaking out that everything was too heavy, my earphones were getting caught on things, and the keys on a lanyard around my neck were trying to strangle me. After a couple blocks of fighting with my clothes, I stripped off the jacket and zip-up and tossed the keys to Jono. He was very kind and took the velour top from me as well and tied it around his waist. I did the same with the reflective jacket and managed to get my earphones behind my head so my hands wouldn't get caught anymore. With everything finally in place, the rest of our run was awesome!
So I learned that I need to dress like this from the start. Even if it's cold out, I am not going to stay cold because of all that running; I just need to put up with a chilly couple of blocks and then I'm golden. I learned that my headphones are really annoying unless they are out of my way (and trying to untangle them and get them situated behind my head while running is no fun either—sorry, Elmwood Village, for all the loud swearwords so late at night). And I learned that the less billowy, heavy stuff you wear, the faster, more streamline you feel. I know all this makes sense to most, but it just took me a while to get every aspect of my running gear into place. I am happy to report that our Thursday run last night was AMAZING! Earphones were set; leggings, shirt, and jacket were lightweight and comfy; and Jono was in control of those murderous keys. Now if I could only get Pandora to stop playing ballads when I'm in the last 10 percent of my run . . .
It’s true, the first bit in the cold is the worst part, but I’d rather be a little cold to start then be super warm the rest of the run.
Maybe Mark’s short shorts are the way to go! I think also, getting into running gear makes you get a little bit more psyched up. It is like putting on a uniform, you feel the part.
And yeah, we seriously need to get you a playlist of only good songs.
Ke$ha never ever lets me down. I need to write that girl a thank-you card.
I’ve read that you should dress for 15 degrees above the actual temperature. Sounds like a good rule of thumb to me, anything above 50 or so I’m usually ok in just shorts and a t shirt. The first few blocks are a little chilly but after that I’m good to go.
Suz and I got our first taste of humid summer running last night, I would much prefer freezing my butt off.
I did not know that 15-degree rule! That’s a really good point. I am so used to being cold all the time that I just instinctively pile on the layers. But you’re right: I think I’d rather be chilly than be boiling wearing a ton of layers.
Thanks for the tip!
I always used to run in wife beaters that I bought in the little boys section until my husband told me I had to stop. Dark days in my running history.
And I am always so baffled when I see people show up to races in the middle of summer wearing full winter gear. I’d be so miserably hot after about 5 minutes.
Everyone on my soccer team wore beaters during practice! I’ve only got one left from those days, but I still love it, ha ha. I wear it as a pajama top now, but it was great during my soccer days!
And I think I’m just so used to wearing pants/winter-weather clothes as workout clothes, it’s hard to break the cycle. My reflective jacket’s got long sleeves but I wear it all the time. It’s finally starting to make me uncomfortable enough that I’m tempted to actually invest some money in another type of reflect-y jacket with short sleeves.
Mike’s right about the 15 degree thing, being a little chilly in the early going usually pays off in spades later. My basic rule of thumb has been over 50 degrees= short sleeves and shorts, 40-50 long sleeves (still light), shorts, under that I throw on the tights and colder weather gear (depending on how I feel). And being a super-cheap runner myself, I completely understand not wanting to spend a ton on running gear. When I first started, I pretty much just bought Target’s running gear (believe it’s Champion brand), and honestly that stuff is really great for the price point. I still have a long sleeve top that I use pretty regularly that I picked up for less than 20 bucks. Just something to think about!
You’ll be happy to hear I think I figured out the chafed thigh issue – thanks to under armour compression shorts. Highly recommended for anyone with thighs. I just wear them under whatever I am running in. I always heard ten degrees, but I agree with Mike – fifteen is better. I HATE being hot when running. Maybe cause I started running in the winter. Pray for a cool day for the Freihofer’s…
Glad to hear the under armor worked for ya… I expect that to cut your 5k time in half!