Running women, here’s a question for you. Running skirts: are you for them or against them? Me, I’m ambivalent.
On one hand, they hark back to the days when ladies wore bathing suits that covered them from neck to ankle, rode horses side-saddle, and didn’t run marathons because it was considered unsafe for women. There’s just something about a running skirt that might, just might, say: “I’m more interested in looking good than performing well”.
On the other hand, running skirts could be considered a natural progression for a sport that is increasingly appealing to women. Wearing a running skirt might also say, “I’m a runner and also a woman. I don’t need to dress like a man to run like the wind.” Also, the women I’ve seen wearing running skirts always look incredibly hip.
The tipping point for me came when blogger Donna purchased a running skirt for her first marathon. Not only does she look great in her race photos, but she also commented that the skirt featured a handy pocket big enough to carry a peanut butter sandwich. Room for snacks: now that’s a selling feature.
With those thoughts in mind, when my husband asked what I wanted for Mother’s Day this year, I told him I wanted a running skirt. So last Sunday, we headed to one of our favourite sports stores and I hit the change room with my arms full of running skirts. I also spied a very cool red sleeveless running shirt on the sale rack and snapped it up, because it’s hard to find women’s running gear that’s not in pastels.
I put the skirt on and looked at it from every angle. Huh. I called my husband and asked him what he thought. He hesitated, and said, uncomfortably, “It looks ...” He paused. For a really long time.
“Stupid?” I said, finishing what was plainly his thought – and mine.
“No, no, no, not stupid,” he replied (we’ve been married for 17 years and he’s not an idiot), “Just not, ummm, not …” He couldn’t finish.
I was afraid he might be thinking, “Not appropriate for someone your age.” But hey, I’ve been married for 17 years, too, and I know where that kind of paranoia can lead, so I didn’t probe the thought.
Anyways, I didn’t end up buying the skirt. Which doesn’t mean I don’t think they look great on women runners. Just not on this woman runner. I did buy the red shirt, though.
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