Whilst training for last year’s London marathon, I found myself out training in some pretty adverse weather conditions and was quite literally freezing my nuts off! So, in order to combat the cold, I decided to face my fears and purchase my first pair of running tights.
Having previously only ever ran in shorts, I found the transition slightly daunting but when they arrived in the post (I hadn’t embraced the concept enough to brave a real shop) – I thought what the hell let’s give them ago. So off I went one dark morning run wearing my new running tights and, to be honest, I found them of great benefit; my legs were no longer chilly and they were strangely comfortable.
Now, solo runs in tights under the cover of darkness is one thing but a group training run with some old university friends is another matter altogether. However, I was now accustomed to the tights and convinced myself that their benefits outweighed the verbal onslaught that I knew was to come. I pulled on my tights and off I went…Well what can I say except that my friends didn’t disappoint me in their reaction. In fact thanks to the wonders of camera phones, even my non-running friends now had pictures of me and the jokes were flying thick and fast. But undeterred I carried on wearing my tights. I was committed to the cause and haven’t ever really been one to let other people opinions affect me. Despite providing fodder for many jokes, the tights remained and the returns were great; not only were my legs warm, my muscles were benefiting too as I was picking up fewer injuries. This only heightened my determination to carry on using my new found kit, and the jokes? – Well as my race times improved, the laughter was becoming quieter!
A year on and I wouldn’t be without my running tights. In fact they’re one of my most used bits of running kit (other than trainers). Ok I still get laughed at by friends, and yes people do shout abusive comments to me when running in the street – all usually very original such as ‘tights boy’ and ‘where can I get a pair’. But the long and short of it is that I’ve made up my mind about the benefits of these apparently silly looking tights and have to say that they are here to stay!
For me this draws comparison to other elements of life; do I make remarks about the pink shirted guy in the office? No, I leave him alone with no comment. Each to their own, that’s what I say. He has the courage of his convictions and quite clearly has not succumbed to peer group pressure – even if he has dodgy gear! And that’s how I like to think about me and my tights.
Should men wear tights? Even in this politically correct climate the answer is only if they have the ability to laugh at themselves – because most likely everyone else will be!
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About the author
Name: Kirk Dodds
Age: 27
Lives: Norwich
Occupation: Marketing
Years running: 7 years
Favourite running shoes: Mizuno Wave Creation 8, they are the daddy.
Pet hate: Bananas before a race - they make me feel sick when running!
Greatest achievement: Great North Run 2008 in 1 hour and 30 mins, knocking 13 ½ minutes off my previous pb and last year’s time.
My running career started slowly, about 7 years ago, when I realised my general fitness was poor plus, if I’m honest, I was carrying more than a few extra pounds. My weight suffered from fluctuations - mostly related to the football season.
So I did the usual thing; off to the gym where I realised I wasn’t too bad on the old treadmill. But I also realised running on a treadmill is no fun, and in my book, it’s cheating, so I opted for the great outdoors. I started off with small, slow runs and gradually built them up. I was enjoying running and my secret was out. It was time for a challenge – and my first half marathon. I entered the Great North Run and some family rivalry surfaced as my old man regaled me with stories from his good old running days and the pb time he set in the Great North Run of 1hour 58 mins - when Hi-Tec Silver Shadow were top of the range running shoes! My training increased, and for the first time became more structured, and come race day I am pleased to say I managed a time of 1 hour 56 mins. Two minutes makes a world of difference when it comes to family rivalry.
I liked the first challenge and wanted more, and so my passion (some say obsession) for running was born. I’ve now taken part in numerous races ranging from 10ks to full marathons. The challenges still exist, the times maybe a little quicker, but the family rivalry continues, only now it’s my brother that I step up to the start line with.
This season has been successful with my first marathon; the act of finishing was an achievement in itself (4 hours 4 minutes), as well as a much improved 10k time of 41 mins and 11 secs ( 4mins off last season) and finally a half marathon time of 1 hour 30mins and 56 secs (13 ½ mins off last season).
I look forward to next season in which I will set myself new challenges; dipping under the 40 minutes mark for the 10k and 1 ½ hour mark for the half will be the biggest.
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Tags: laughing at runners, man wearing tights, own mind, running clothing, Running tights
