What I Wore (On My Run)
Welcome to my running "style" blog. I love well-matched running apparel but above all I dress for the weather and wear what feels most comfortable.
I am passionate about running and currently serve as a Running Speciality Tech Rep for adidas and as Assistant Cross Country and Track Coach at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Enjoy my blog as I take you on my journey as a runner, one outfit at a time!
Tweets by @tcpenrod
Date: April 23, 2012
Time: 7:30 am
Weather: Sunny/36 degrees F
Location: B-Line Trail
What I Wore:
Top: Saucony Transition Sport Top
Bottom: Saucony Ignite Tight Capri
Why: Graduation is two weeks away and I am delighted to share I have most of my major projects and papers complete. Rather than spending the next two weeks stressing over final exams, I will surprisingly wrap up my Masters degree without too much anxiety.
With this in mind, for the first time this spring, I am actually getting into a great running routine. My mileage is starting to pick up, I have been completing workouts on a regular basis and even ran a 5k race yesterday. Although I am still in the early stages of regaining my fitness, I took on the hilly, local YMCA course to get a gauge of my speed heading into summer. I was quite pleased with the race, although my time of 19:31 was nearly two minutes behind the top female!
To help my sore calves recover from the hills, I took today’s run easy, sticking to the flat B-Line trail. While lately the weather has been gorgeous in the afternoon, the mornings have been a bit chilly, warranting the return of the classic spring running outfit: a thin long sleeve and capris.
Designed to accommodate transitional spring weather, the Saucony Transition Sport Top has a thin, meshy feel to it. Worn over simply a sports bra, it is a great weight for the days when I debate between wearing a short or long sleeve. The only drawback to the top is the sleeves become uncomfortably stretched when I attempt to use the thumb holes, otherwise it has a great fit.
The Saucony Ignite Tight Capri is a very basic, staple capri in my wardrobe; in fact, I like it so much I featured a blue pair this past November! Regardless of the weather, it is hard for me to go wrong with a comfortable, mid-weight capri such as this pair. It is tight fitting, does not ride above my knee and has a soft gusset, a feature I have often found lacking in other Saucony bottoms.
I do not anticipate needing to wear capri tights or a long sleeve much longer, but for now I am enjoying our last bit of cool spring weather. I hope your spring has been just as nice and you have had success with your training and racing!
BONUS FOOTAGE: A couple pictures from the from the start of yesterday’s YMCA race. Since it was a low-key race and it was in the upper 30s at the start, I opted to race in my favorite outfit:
Photos courtesy of Joshua Weavil.
Date: March 24, 2012
Time: 8:45 am
Weather: Sunny/74 degrees F
Location: Spartanburg, SC
What I Wore:
Top: Saucony Axion Printed Short Sleeve
Shorts: Saucony P.E. Printed Short
Why: Where has the time gone? Between school, work, applying for full-time jobs and traveling to Chicago, San Diego, and South Carolina, February and March have quickly disappeared.
Contributing to the quick pace is the abrupt change from winter to summer weather. With temperatures consistently in the seventies and eighties, it appears as though spring was completely missed this year. Not that I am complaining, but it has caused me to quickly transition my wardrobe from winter to summer apparel!
While my spring capris are still hoping to get some use, I am quite excited about the summer apparel already available. For today’s tempo run, through the quiet campus of Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC, I debuted this bright Saucony ensemble. With a circular pattern subtly detailed on the sides of top and throughout the short, it was a cheerful choice for a morning workout.
The top, which also corresponds well with the printed LX Mod Tight Short and the LX Mod Tight Capri, has a comfortable weight that is perfect for the seventy degree days of early summer. It fits well and is a bit longer than previous Saucony tops, which is a welcomed improvement as other tops have been too short for my long torso.
The shorts are incredibly comfortable with a loose fit and light, airy feel. The drawstring and elastic waist band are snug, which is perfect as I often struggle with Saucony shorts being too loose in the waist but too tight around the leg to size-down. As a basic piece, it is comparable to a slightly thiner version of the Nike Fast Pace short, which is a staple short in my summer wardrobe.
While a fairly simple outfit, I love that it is both playful and cute while remaining functional in warm weather. This summer weather may not last, but I am certainly looking forward to sharing more of this season’s spring and summer apparel as we move into April and my graduate studies wrap up. I hope you are enjoying this beautiful spring!
Date: February 7, 2012
Time: 11:30 am
Weather: Sunny/40 degrees F
Location: Bryan Park/Bloomington, IN
What I Wore:
Top: Asics Favorite Long Sleeve (Drake Relays Edition)
Bottom: Asics Myles II Run Pant (circa 2008)
Why: With temperatures lingering in the forties and fifties, it feels as though spring is already here. While winter will surely return, the crisp air and sunshine have been ideal for running.
As a former track athlete, it is impossible to not correlate this “warm weather” with the track season; it is as if my legs are predisposed to desire speed work and competition as soon as the weather turns temperate. Responding appropriately to this oddly timed “spring,” I have naturally begun to increase my workout frequency and intensity.
From tempo runs to track intervals, I approach every workout with the same routine: an easy two mile run, followed by dynamic drills, a few strides, and the removal of my “warm-up” apparel. Although not every locale is conducive to an outfit change, wearing and removing warm-up clothing prior to a hard effort helps me feel more relaxed and mentally prepared.
In most temperatures, I prefer to warm up in the Asics Myles II Run Pant. As a looser-fitting pant with a tapered leg and ankle zipper, they are comfortable without being bulky. They breathe well and keep me warm but not stifled when layered over shorts. While not the most flattering in shape, these pants are one of the most well worn items in my closet year-round.
My warm-up top varies, but my current item of choice is the Asics Favorite Long Sleeve. Sporting the logo for my favorite annual sports event, Drake Relays, I received this top as a gift. Not only is the top comfortable, I love that it provides a reminder of the amazing track and field performances that take place at Drake each April. Worn in a size medium to ensure arm length, the Favorite Long Sleeve is lightweight and breathable yet sufficiently warm. It layers nicely over t-shirts and tanks, which allows it to be a perfect warm-up top.
Much like I spend time warming up my body before competition, I do the same before a workout. Through wearing loose-fitting clothing over my workout clothes, I am able to feel comfortable and relaxed while preparing to work hard. Trivial perhaps, but I thrive on the mental shift from “warm-up” to “workout” simply through removing clothing. How do you approach warming up?
