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I picked up an issue of Runner's World yesterday. On the front was a photograph of a female triathlete wearing a pink and white patterned skirt (running skirt for those who don't know) with a matching spaghetti strapped sports bra, patterned arm warmers, and pink Nike flats. My first thought was "What in the world?", "Have I missed something?" Eventually I flipped open the magazine to see what all this ridiculousness was about.

They call the Fastinistas. It's like a Fashionista, only that you are "Fast" and "Fashionable". These are the new females of the running community. Putting in the miles and setting PRs wearing running skirts, bright/colorful racing flats with matching hats, running tops, arm warmers and knee socks. It seems that women want to look good, get noticed, and running companies are up to the challenge- making everything and anything to get these women looking sharp- even running dresses! Oh My!

I have trouble with this. I feel like my sport is being taken-over by those "type" people that care more about the way their makeup looks then how fast they run their mile repeats. I feel like this sort of attitude is one of the reasons why female distance running is not always taken seriously. Am I wrong? The article also includes a picture of Kara Goucher wearing black arm warmers in her 2008 marathon debut, and Shalane Flanagan wearing bright white knee socks at NYC 2010. I'm obviously not the expert, but I don't think arm warmers or knee socks make you a Fastinista, if I'm not mistaken Deena Kastor has been wearing arm warmers for years...I think I remember a double at X-Country nationals from way back where she was wearing them. And with knee socks, I don't think Flanagan was wearing them to be fashionable.
Deena Kastor at Chicago in 09. Photo courtesy of runwashington.comPaula Radcliffe wearing knee socks almost 10 years ago. I think it would be safe to assume she was not trying to make a fashion statement.

Don't get me wrong, there are days where I go out for a run and I do like to match, and I am lucky that most of my running clothes do look good. And fashion will (and should) belong in women's sports because society really cares how we look, and we care because it is something (I believe) that is ingrained in us just because we are female....But a sports bra and shorts is about as far as I go. In the end, the only thing that really matters is how far and how fast I train or race. I have never wore a running skirt. My brooks shorts have pockets that allow me to carry my gels, my sports bras are comfortable and do the job they were designed to.
I will also say, I have seen a lightning fast half-marathon won by a women that was wearing a running skirt and matching sports bra. If I was in that race, I would have got my butt handed to me. Maybe she was a "Fastinista?"A true "Fastinista" Sally Meyerhoff is pictured here winning More Magazine's Women's Half-Marathon (in a running skirt). Sally died in a cycling accident early in 2011. Sally was a two-time Olympic Trials qualifier and two-time All-American at Duke.


Last but not least, I must admit that the rise in women's running skirts has left me wanted to try one and see what the craze is all about. Good thing is that I run at 4:30 in the morning, so no one will see me!! Maybe, just maybe, there is something to all this "Fastinista" talk after all.


Training week in Review:

I still don't know what I am racing yet.
Monday: 9-10 miles (w/ David early)Tuesday: 9 milesWednesday:8-9 miles w/ 8x800m at 2:39-2:43 w/ 2 restThursday: 45 minutes recoveryFriday: 8-9 milesSaturday: 16 miles in 1:51 w/ some good miles thrown in thereSunday: 55 minutes super easy

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View Original Post at mfranks.blogspot.com

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There are 2 comments on this post. Join the discussion!

LSMuppet1 says:

I was very interested in your blog, because I had the opposite view of the same issue. I loved the funky colors and immediately ordered a skirt from Runningskirts.com and like it already. I am not a runner of your caliber, but I love running, and when my knee allows, I try to run fast (for me). I think the clothes are fun and crazy and make me feel even more excited to run.

I am sure your concerns are valid, but runners come in all shapes and abilities and tastes. Just because some of us are not running 5 min miles, we still love running and are serious about whatever running goals we set for ourselves.

Friday, July 22, 2011 at 10:50am EDT

MegganFranks says:

LSMuppet1, Thanks for the comment. Some of my readers from my personal blog convinced me to purchase a running skirt, and am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my first one to give it a try.

I to agree runners come in all shapes an sizes. It is important to note that I never mentioned anything about fast runners versus slower runners, or big runners versus smaller runners. Actually, most of the runners I referred to are true elites.

You do bring up an even greater point though. Women's running clothing is seriously lagging (in my opinion) in that most of the shorts that we run in now a days are just not designed for a women's figure. One of my readers told me she switched to running skirts because the were the only gear she could find that fit her correctly. Therefore, I am going to try one for myself.
Happy running!

Sunday, July 24, 2011 at 5:17pm EDT

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