Sorting My Feelings About the Running Skort
In my last post, I was riding the runner’s high after finishing the Cascade Lakes Relay. One of the great joys of running events is the people watching. I can’t help but check out other runners’ clothes and gear.
Runners, as a group, are not always known for their style. That’s part of their adorkable charm. That’s one of the reasons I like runners so much.
Here in Spokane, the Flying Irish Running Club celebrates several costume runs every year. Right after I moved to Spokane two years ago, I showed up for the club’s Rock ‘n Roll costume night. There were plenty of punk wigs, pleather pants, inflatable guitars among the hundreds of runners. I took it as a sign that I was going to like Spokane.
As a runner, you can wear whatever you like. Just keep moving. (In the case of the Bare Buns Run, a western adventure upon which I have not yet embarked, a runner need not bother with clothing at all).
At the Cascades Lake Relay, two of my teammates favored running skorts for part of the event. I’ve been a convert to running capris, but I have yet to cross over into skort territory.
I think in part it’s a name thing. “Skort” sounds like “spork,” another useful but strange hybrid. While “spork” I associate with 7-11 and Taco Bell, the skort brings back memories of high school and church camp (doesn’t it all come back to church camp?).
Don’t get me wrong: I wasn’t forced to wear skirts all the time. My childhood wasn’t like that. But modesty was emphasized, even while one was playing (or in my case, trying to avoid) kickball. It was the 90s. We were past the age of culottes. But some girls liked skorts. Skorts just seemed fussy at best. Why not just admit you were wearing shorts? Does that extra front panel reduce temptation? Does the shorts-hidden-in-a-weird-skirt trick make you feel like you’re getting away with something?
Anyway, clearly the skort has come a long way. The photo above shows the Printed Swift Zip Skort from athleta.com. I’d try that skort for the print alone. The flirty model below is from Jen’s inspiring running blog.
I’m assuming that my teammates wear a skort because it’s not just another pair of shorts. Details like prints and ruffles set these garments apart. But my research is only preliminary. How does it feel to run in a skort? Is your movement limited? Or do you feel more free? Help me out here.
So I finally gave in and bought my first skort for roller derby. I was skeptical, but I have noticed that I pull it out of the drawer way more often than shorts now. The increased mobility is awesome. You should give it a whirl.
Also, I always associate sporks with Taco Bell.
I put Gwen in skorts quite a bit. One reason is that because she’s, y’know, a preschooler, modesty isn’t high on her agenda. Underwear are not hidden.
Clothing is often optional. The other thing is that the shorts help prevent crumbs from getting into her crotch when she’s eating in her carseat. Since you asked. 
I wear skorts as a mom because it’s easy for me to get down on the floor with her without being immodest, or worry that I’m showing off my granny panties—-and yet they’re cool enough that I don’t roast all day. And they’re just a little dressier than sweatshorts. It’s nice not to look like a slob, if I can get away with it.
As a runner, I don’t think I’d want that extra layer of sweaty fabric to cart around, IMHO. However, that said, I can see the modesty appealing, because by the time you’ve got the shorts snug enough to avoid inner-thigh chafing, they’re pretty darn tight, and not everyone wants to see your camel-toe.
@Molly: Yeah, I didn’t think running capris were for me, either, but I love them now. Perhaps I could be a skort convert.
@Courtney: Ah, I hadn’t thought about the toddler applications for skorts. Makes sense.
And yes, I don’t usually wear shorts except for exercise or around the house (it helps that I live in a place that’s not too hot). I feel really slouchy if wear shorts instead of a skirt or pants. Again, the chasing-a-toddler feature is a point in skort’s favor that I hadn’t considered.
I’ll just have to try out a running skort and see. I’m assuming the fabric is light and wicks away sweat. Maybe I won’t even notice it. The fitting room (and a test run) will tell all, I guess.
I love running, hiking, biking, walking, (well, really any sort of outdoor sport) in a skort. I think they are making a big comeback, but I’m not sure on the pleats that Lulu Lemon has going on in that photo of yours!
Skort: no problem. Try playing sports in culottes! Brings back childhood nightmares of private school uniforms!
@Joslin: Yeah, I’ll have to investigate my skort options. I have to admit that I like the spirit of the Lulu Lemon pleats—sassy and hyperfeminine. I’d have to try them on to see if they’d bug me.
(Or we can swap posts, if you like. I’ve been doing this kind of MacGuyver approach to mixing drinks this summer, trying to use up odds & ends before I leave town for the semester). Oh, and I had to include a couple of photos of culottes in a powerpoint for students last year. We read Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, and there’s a reference to culottes in one of the stories, and nobody knew what they were.
@Lanee: Funny! If you ever want to do a guest post about the horrors of culottes, let me know.