Running Fashion

Distance

Run: 75 minutes of easy distance, hilly.

Distance: 8.6 miles

Time: 75:01

Performance Stats (out of 5 )

Legs:     .5

Gut:   ★ ★ .5

Energy:    ★  

Mind:    ★ ★ .5

Overall:      .5

Soundtrack: Linkin Park, Minutes to Midnight and Meteora 

The taper continues. It was another beautiful fall morning, and a very nice easy run. This was my last distance run before the marathon next weekend. This early morning run was very popular, and I saw many of my contemporaries getting in their final distance run while I was out and about. I noticed again this morning several of last year's marathon long sleeve shirts, which lead me to do a little reflecting on my own running fashion.

First and foremost, I am mostly about function over fashion. I like to be cool when its hot, and warm when it's cold. I do like the wicking type of shirts, because more than 5 or 6 miles in a cotton t-shirt does eventually make you feel like you are running in a wet towel. Hats and gloves become required gear once it starts getting below 50 degrees, and certainly below 40 degrees for even the "toughest" runners out there. My partner also bought me some leg warmer / compression stockings, for lack of a better word. These are quite functional (perhaps, or so says the box they came in), and they do add a little flare.

So I guess my running fashion is similar to my regular fashion. For the most part I like to match. I see some folks who put on really the first thing that jumps into their hands, and well, I guess I do put about 15 seconds of thought into making sure that at least my shorts and shirt are matching. I actually did a very nice job today with my NY Giants blue hat, KC Royals shorts and last year's light blue New Haven road race shirt. I also have a little light blue and a similar neon yellow in my shoes to pull it all together.

The other option is going a little over board. For example, I bought some knee high neon pink socks for a movie I was filming a few years ago, and these socks always turn heads. They do well in October, as they are pretty much the same pink you see everywhere for breast cancer awareness. Bright colors are always good because they can be a little over the top, and also they alert cars that you are running on the side of the road!

I've given some thought to picking up a new running outfit for the half marathon this weekend. Really, this is not my style to be so into style. But, I am pretty excited for this thing, and I think that unlike last year, I am not going to be able to get away with the shorts and t-shirt, as it was unseasonably warm then, and it has been seasonable cool recently. I'll let you know what I pick out, or you can just look at the photos when I get the page up under Races next weekend.

So anyway you do it, strut your stuff. Think practical and stay safe, but outside of that, anything goes!