In defense of the running skirt: it's not about looking good

I'm about to use some bold in a post, so you know I'm serious.

As you know if you've ever seen a picture of me running, I wear running skirts when it's warm out.  Exclusively.  For colder weather I wear tights, but for in-between weather I have a skapri (skirt + capri combo).

It seems to me that quite often I come across the following frequently made argument about the running skirt: "Running is not about looking cute.  Serious runners don't wear running skirts. Running shouldn't be about how you look at all." (For instance, please read this diatribe written by my imaginary internet friend the Angry Runner. Or this piece by Megan from Runner's Kitchen.)

Respectfully, I think this argument is offensive and misses the point.

I don't wear running skirts to look cute.  I wear running skirts because, after years of trying, they are the only thing I can wear in which I will be comfortable. And, as you can read on ESPNW, runners perform better when comfortable. (I do have some problems with that article, beginning with the fact that it's on "ESPNW.")

Running is not about looking cute. Not even maybe. But it has to be about being comfortable.

Let me tell you something: anyone who has made the argument that wearing a running skirt is for the "cuteness factor" is super skinny. Anyone who thinks that running skirts are about vanity hasn't had the experience of buying several pairs of shorts (and, as we know, running shorts can get expensive) only to find that they ride up the minute you start running - and that minute that you start running is also known as "the minute you can't return the shorts anymore." Anyone who has made this argument has never gone on a 5 mile run, only to spend 45 minutes with their hand up their crotch trying to pull down their running shorts as they consistently ride up.

And seriously?  I'm not even that heavy.  I'm just not super skinny.

Yes - a running skirt is ultimately compression shorts with extra fabric on top. Yes, the extra fabric is redundant. But you know what? I like it. I like the way it goes swish swish swish as I run and makes me aware of my speed. I like the fact that I'm not spending a single second thinking about my shorts creeping up or about jackass kids calling me fat, like I fear they would if I wore just compression shorts. My skirts make me feel comfortable. And when I'm comfortable, when I'm not thinking about my clothing, and I can think about things like, you know, running. Tempo runs and strides and long runs and lactate thresholds and other things that are not chafing or "chubrub" or Body Glide.*

Short skirts on construction sites

Maybe, like my blog friend M has argued, this comes down to whether or not you associate skirts with cuteness. I don't. I wear skirts about 95% of the time in my daily life - it's not a Thing, I just prefer them. Wearing a skirt feels comfortable and natural to me. Pants and jeans and shorts feel weird and awkward. Having running shorts bunched up between my legs? Also awkward.

long skirts in Cairo

I may bitch and moan about other runners. I may complain about resolutionists at the gym or about people using my treadmills and hogging my running path or using my pace to time their run/walks during a race, but anyone who chooses to snark out skirt-wearers rather than to encourage people to get out there and run makes me sad. Don't be that guy.**

I don't need to look good when I run.  I run to feel good about myself.  It doesn't make me feel good about myself to judge others for their running attire.

*I've always wondered how many people have accidentally bought Body Glide expecting a personal lubricant.
**But if you run in pants with a zipper or inappropriate shoes or sometimes even yoga pants and if I'm in a bad mood, I will probably snark.

Follow up posts: August 2011 Runner's World, and I (begrudgingly) reconsider even makeup