Is That a Flourscent Yellow Running Sausage?

So now that I'd decided to be a runner, I wanted to look like one.  Not sporting Just My Size baggie shorts and t-shirts, but those bright colored awesomely skin tight exercise clothes.   However, it was February in Vermont, which meant snow and ice.  So into the depths of my exercise clothes cache I went. Kept in a biggo Tupperware at the bottom of my closet, I have about 10 pairs of differing black legging thingies - shorts, capris, baggie capris, actual fitted long leggings. You know, because this new pair is going to fit better than the last black stretchy thing I bought.  The fitted leggings (that actually are Just My Size!) became my new best friend.  These beauties could be pulled up over my stomach rolls for support!  They just about touched my sports bra.  This is impetrative, so that you can focus on running and not the giggle of your belly. Sexy? Not so much.  But I wasn't going for sexy, I meant business with this new running gig.  For my first run, I layered these leggings with a long sleeve t-shirt, a fleece jacket, and top layer of my 3-layer coat.  It was probably 25-30 degrees.  But out into the night I went and I ran.  I ran in cold rain, I ran in slush and freezing puddles with wet cold feet, I ran in snow and 15 degree wind.  I ran in reflective vest.  Did I tell you I meant business? 

But as the weather warmed, I realized that the skin tight leggings and shirt could no longer hide behind a coat.  So real quick, I had to find the courage to put on clothes that made me look like a fluorescent sausage and run around town in them.  The thing is, when I put them on, I felt like a runner.  I didn't want to wear baggy workout clothes.  These running clothes were the most comfortable, esteem boosting things I had ever placed on my body.   I did, however, have one moment of seeing myself reflected in the glass of a shop window while running downtown.  I had an "OMG, you can totally see every single detail of my rolls" freak out.  But I was about to complete my first 3 mile run.  All the sudden I didn't give a shit anymore. What I was doing in those clothes was more important to me than what I looked like in those clothes.

My fluorescent yellow shirt and BFF leggings. 
I had just finished my first 5K!

My running clothes advice:

1. Get running socks!  They make a huge, huge difference! I buy mine at Walmart in the men's sock section (couldn't find any in the women's socks section).  They are moisture wicking.  I have run miles with wet feet and haven't had a blister yet!

2. Make sure you have a good supportive sports bra.  My girls aren't so big, so I don't have to worry too much about this, but as I've lost some weight, I know when it's time to get a smaller bra.  Ouch.

3. The form fitting clothes have saved me from chaffing. I haven't had to resort to Body Glide quite yet. (See the links below for more info on this).

4. There are a handful of name brand places that sell plus size workout clothes.  Most are pretty pricey.  I did get a pair of XL women's Under Armor running capris.  I like them a lot, but they don't quite pull up far enough over my tummy (this is an ongoing issue with most "plus size" clothes made by say Nike, still cut the same as smaller women clothes without room big bellies).  They will soon, but the evening I ran in them, my stomach fat actually hurt from not enough support while running.   So I would advise trying either men's sizes or look for larger sizes at Walmart or Target.  They do a pretty good job of having leggings that fit larger women.  They may not be as wonderfully cute as those Athleta outfits, but they will do the job.   I also saw reasonably priced workout clothes at JCPenny, Lane Bryant, and Columbia.

5. Wear the bright neon colors while running the roads.  People drive crazy these days, what with the texting and cell phones.   The more you can be seen, the better.

6. Be proud of embracing your body as it is, even in these more reveling clothes.  You are literally working your ass off and deserve to be proud of yourself.   You are an athlete now.


I came across these fellow heavy runners blogs and they have some great advice: 

http://arlington-va.patch.com/articles/a-fat-runners-guide-to-being-a-fat-runner

http://www.saltyrunning.com/2012/08/30/plus-size-running-guide/