What running gear would you splurge on if given the chance?

Recently, Runner’s World posted a short and cheeky article with research from The Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. Study subjects got to play dress-up in identical white lab coats. Subjects who thought they were wearing a doctor’s coat had greater attention to detail than subjects wearing what they thought was a painter’s coat. The author goes on to say that the same thinking can be applied to runners: Wear your favourite clothes to run fast, whether it’s neon racing flats or fancy compression socks.

 

As runners, we’re a superstitious bunch. I only ever run in my “lucky” gitch — a pair of overpriced technical underwear. (I made the mistake of leaving them at home last December when I ran the Cayman Islands Half Marathon and it was a disaster). I’m a girly-girl runner so most of my wardrobe is pink, baby blue or purple with varying unidentifiable stains from my kids. I still wear my perfectly suitable pre-baby capris and shorts but, like my non-running clothes, they just don’t fit the way they used to. Sure, my current wardrobe gets the job done, but kind of like wearing sweats and a hoodie to the grocery store, I just don’t feel good in my running gear. Being a stay-at-home mom means one less income and new running clothes never make it to the top of the shopping list.

 

But one of my favourite running clothes companies, Running Skirts, had a Mother’s Day sale and a skirt that I’d been eyeing was on sale. So I decided to splurge on a new running skirt, which means I’m probably going to need a new matching shirt. And arm warmers. And maybe tinted SPF lip gloss. Because even I don’t get across any finish lines first anytime soon, I’m going to look cute trying.

 

What is your favourite item of running clothing? What would you splurge on if given the chance? 

Photo by runningskirts via Flickr.