The first time I saw a running skirt, my husband and I were driving around town while running errands on a hot Saturday afternoon.
“Wow, look at her go!” my husband exclaimed, pointing at a gazelle on the sidewalk.
I turned to get a better look.
Posture – excellent.
Relaxed upper body – check.
Speed – at least Gazelle Mach 1.
I was about to (jealously) give her a two thumbs up when I noticed something strange about her shorts.
They were a skirt.
My husband, bewildered by my silence, turned to me expectantly.
“So?” he asked.
I slowly pivoted my head toward him and snapped the waistband on my judgey tights.
“Not a runner.”
“Wait. What? She’s running!”
“Runners don’t wear skirts. WE don’t wear skirts.” I replied.
After that, my husband did what a husband should never do. He pointed out every person he saw working out in a skirt.
“Tennis players wear them.”
“Not runners.”
“Golfers wear them.”
“Not runners.”
“Field hockey players wear them.”
“NOT RUNNERS!”
Eventually, he gave up on his game, and assumed my hatred of running skirts was just another quirk he’d have to live with.
Over time, my distances grew longer and I got pickier about what I wore while running. I got too hot in tights, but I hated the lack of coverage running shorts provided.
I just couldn’t find the ideal thing to cover my lower half.
One day, my friend and I went shopping on our lunch break.
“Oh, wow! Look at this!” she exclaimed, holding up what looked to me like a mini-skirt.
“Aren’t we a little old for mini-skirts?” I joked.
“No, silly, it’s a workout skirt. I wore one when I taught spin classes. They keep you cool, and they’re really modest. See?” She lifted up the front to reveal a set of shorts tucked underneath.
I blinked, flabbergasted.
“Know how annoying it is when you have to adjust your shorts mid-spin class?”
I nodded.
“Well, the skirt keeps you covered if they bunch up. I’m surprised you’ve never tried one!”
So I bought one.
A hot pink one.
“What’d you buy at the store?” my husband asked when I got home that night, hot pink running skort hidden deep in my purse.
“NOTHING!” I barked, and scooted upstairs to hide the skort.
The next morning at runrise, I snuck out while my husband was still sleeping.
It wasn’t long before I felt “slide-age”. Still skeptical of the skort’s magical coverage powers, I pirouetted a few times to see if I was still covered up.
To my surprise, I was.
I went on to have a great and, most importantly, comfortable run.
When I got home, my husband was awake. He met me at the door with a smirk.
“Is that what I think it is?”
“Nope.”
The smirk became a smile. “Did you run… in a SKIRT?”
“Nope.”
“That’s a SKIRT! Did you lose a bet or something?” The smirk was now a toothy grin.
I sighed and whispered, “I was wrong.”
“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
He leaned in a little closer.
This time, I replied a little louder.
“I like running in a skirt.”
“I still can’t hear you… you’ll have to raise your voice,” he said grinning ear to ear.
“IT’S A SKORT AND I LOVE IT!” I exclaimed.
I pulled up my humble skort and ran inside, my figurative tail between my legs.
Sometimes, we need to try new things.
Sometimes, we need to look beyond the surface before making assumptions.
Sometimes, we just need to lose the judgey tights and put on our humble skorts.
So judge me all you want, runiverse. You don’t know what you’re missing.
Psst! You can receive automatic updates whenever there’s a new post on See Fleck Run! To follow me, in the bottom right corner of my page, click Follow.
LOL, I’ve worn a skirt for all 3 of my full marathons.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think I could go back to tights… except for the winter! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I switch between shorts/skirts in the summer. Tights for sure in the winter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Trying new things ain’t always bad! I don’t run but I’m thinking of walking in a skort!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’re life-changing. Especially on hot days. I highly recommend them! 🙂
LikeLike
Funny with a great message. Best post I’ve read in a while.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much, Josh! Your comment made my day. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice!
LikeLike
I love running skirts. I even have a running dress or two.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A running dress! That’s gotta be my next purchase! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think I could pull it off…sounds comfortable though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! Well played, well played. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is my most favorite post of yours ever…EVER!! That’s hard to say, too, because I love all of your posts. Scroll of Quirks…Flecksplosion…Judgey Tights…just so brilliantly hilarious! I am still laughing, so thanks for that! I hope you are fully healed from the foot injury and back on track. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww, thank you so much, Karen! That means a lot! I’m glad it made you laugh. The foot is about 90% there, and I’m back in training for the late summer/fall season!
LikeLike
I might have to checkout a skort! I have one pair of running shorts that fit and cover. The rest I have to alter when running as I think I’m exposing (but does a skort allow ventilation like loose running shorts?). Do you think someone could make skort or running kilt for guys? Sometimes when the Lycra’s old, it doesn’t hold up so well and if you run looking just head a few steps it must hurt like large chested girls running in bikinis or ill fitting sports bras!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! Running kilts! That’s a genius idea! The skort provides lots of ventilation, and it’s honestly the most comfortable thing I’ve ever worn when running. I highly recommend that you try one!
LikeLike
YES. Welcome to the skirt side! And thank you for the laughs with your excellent post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Inspired by you, missy! 🙂
LikeLike
Oh! I saw three moms wearing running skirts during day care drop-off this morning. Truly, the skirts are the new yoga pants.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love skorts. Your post was hilarious! I need longer shorts not always available in a skort. When thighs get middle aged, we like to hide them but not at the risk of dying from overheating. Skirts with compression shorts seem to be popular.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww, thank you, Terri! I’ve got a pair of knee-length shorts that are now my “backup” during the hot summer months. They’re a close 2nd to my skort. It’s hard to find that balance between comfort and coverage!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this post and glad you posted to #TheLeisureLink!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that was a POST! I myself do not own a running skirt. Although after laughing my way through your piece, I might just. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! They are life changing! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha..ha.. Now this is what I call “A tight’s getting loose”..
I didn’t know being modest can be this hot. 😀
LikeLike
I train a bit with my niece Fleck, and she is totally sold on the Skorts. This was the 1st time I ever noticed a running skirt myself.
A great post, as always! 🙂
~Carl~
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, You might be outside of the typical target demographic for the skirts, so that’s totally forgivable. 😉 It’s nice to hear that you get to train with your niece, what a great way to do some family bonding! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This post made me smile for a host of reasons!! The cartoons…precious, the discourse with your husband…familiar and the thought of you catching the breeze in your new skort…priceless!
Shellie
http://www.thefabjourney.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much! And thanks for stopping by for a read! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, judgey tights! The whole thing was hilarious! Thanks for the laughs! I’m following you fer sure.
Here from Leisure Link, btw.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much! I’m glad it provided a few laughs for you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love laughing, so I’ll be back to read some more!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved this- I always wear a skirt , but had no idea other people did too!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I now have two! I don’t think I can go back to tights!
LikeLiked by 1 person
love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you can wear a little skirt, I say go for it! I now wear a skirt ed suit to swim laps, I feel more comfortable and it covers things I would rather hide!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s SO true! Anything for comfort and practicality is great in my books! 🙂
LikeLike
I cannot even describe how much I ❤ you and your blog.
(I have yet to get on the running shirt bandwagon, so this was especially funny to me!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
That means SO much! Thank you for your kind words, Jill! And get on that wagon!!! Join us in our love of the skirt!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Summer Fun at The Leisure Link #6 | Perspectives On....
I love my running skirts! I wear Skirt Sports Gym Girls because they have awesome pockets on the legs that don’t look all bulked up because they’re covered by the skirt. I’m glad you are a concert. But what’s wrong with looking like a ballerina while running? You could do some pirouettes for giggles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never heard of that line! I’ll have to check them out! The unfortunate thing about ballerina-running is, I’m the farthest thing from graceful. My pirouettes just look like falling down. LOL! Thanks for the read ! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post! I also love running skirts! The first one I bought was floral and ruffled. 🙂 It’s not something I’d wear in a million years in my day to day life, but it makes me feel awesome while running.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I recently wore mine to a BBQ… LOL. My friends made fun of me for it but, hey, I was comfy! It’s not ruffled, though. I rarely run in anything other than my skirts these days! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Dream Big, Dream Often and commented:
You wouldn’t think a post about a running skirt/skort would or could be funny. And if you thought so, you would be wrong!! lol
LikeLike
Never too late to learn a lesson 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nope! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved how you wrote the whole post. You passed on some great pointers, all in a good humor.
Just yesterday, I have been in some great trouble on my swimsuit. And skorts were to rescue. Sometimes you don’t realize but there is a lot more in market offering to all types of people, which we may overlook
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It’s true. There are always options. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good for you! This world would be a much better place if more people took off their judgey tights! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
hahaha it’s so true! Thank you for stopping by for a read! 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: My Picks Of The Week #33 | A Momma's View
I hate it when I have to eat my words. No wonder Momma’s view picked you this week.
LikeLike