December 2007 Archives

“Pick it up, Anne. You run like you’re wearing a skirt!” Such words, shouted to me as I neared the finish of my most recent marathon, could be considered an insult...if, in fact, I had not been wearing a skirt. The truth be told, however, I was running in a skirt. Does this represent a step forward in women’s rights—the right to be feminine and flirty, even while kicking butt? Or is it a throwback to the day when women were supposed to glow rather than sweat, when a woman would rather be caught dead than without perfectly applied lipstick?&#8233; I first heard about running skirts a couple of years ago, but at that point, they seemed to be a left coast fad, not the sort of thing that sensible women of the Southeast would wear. Or maybe they were acceptable if you were a mom, half jogging behind a baby stroller. But for a serious competitor? How would it feel to run a grueling interval workout in a skirt? Would it be possible to be taken seriously at the start line of a race in a skirt? I decided to try it out.&#8233; My first venture into the world of running skirts was tentative and covert. I chose a skirt in a subdued shade of lavender and ran deep in the woods, where I was unlikely to be spotted. As awkward and foolish as I felt, none of the squirrels I encountered gave me a second glance. My self-consciousness disappeared and I began to enjoy myself. I felt free and unencumbered by extra fabric between my legs. The built-in brief provided plenty of coverage. And pit stops became that much easier. &#8233; “Run Like a Girl,” Montrail advised us in an advertising campaign a few years ago. Many of us remember this as a cruel taunt back in elementary school (like when my daughter tells me that I “throw like a girl” in our cutthroat backyard wiffle ball games). The advertising geniuses at Montrail, however, might be on to something. Maybe it’s possible to be tough and feminine at the same time. After several more backwoods runs in my quickly-becoming-beloved skirt, I decided it was time to go public. I chose one of the most grueling 10Ks around, the Springmaid Splash, where I would have to cross a river multiple times, climb punishing hills, and descend gnarly singletrack in a skirt. Would I feel tough enough? Would my competitors take me seriously? Would my day-glo skirt get dirty? Yes, yes, a resounding YES! &#8233; So there you have it. I’m now a running skirt convert. I guess deep down inside, I’m a girly-girl hiding in an ultrarunner’s body. But what about others? Is the running skirt fad about to sweep the Southeast? I polled some of the region’s top female runners to get their opinions. Looks like the verdict is still out:&#8233; &#8233; “I've always preferred skirts. My heroes growing up were Laura Ingalls and Princess Leah...they both ran in skirts. I find running skirts very comfortable and flattering. It is fun to still feel “girly” when I am all grimy and sweaty!” &#8233; —Annette Bednosky, former Western States Endurance Run champion&#8233; &#8233; “I haven’t seen a running skirt, but if there was one that was practical, and of course the right color, I would wear it.” &#8233; —Meadow Tarves, 2006 Shut In Ridge Trail Run champion&#8233; &#8233; “I train and race in a black skirt. I love it...it has bike shorts underneath that are really comfortable. The shorts are a great anti-chafing liner for long runs as well. &#8233; —Sophie Speidel, 2006 Hellgate 100K Masters Champion&#8233; &#8233; “As a still relatively young competitive runner, I would not run in a running skirt. For some reason I feel like the skirts are more ‘recreational’ or something. I also think they are a little silly.” —Zika Rea, Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier and founder of Zap Fitness &#8233; &#8233; “I would definitely not wear a skirt running. Skirts are not conducive to tripping up, legs flying in different directions, landing in odd positions.”&#8233; —Allison Hardy, professional triathlete

December 2007

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