Catching a glimpse of myself in my new mirror as I headed out for a run Saturday morning, I dared myself to snap a few posts and REALLY become Visible!
While many runners and fitness enthusiasts of the Pilates or Yoga or Treadmill persuasions have vast wardrobes of colourful gear, I plead Lisa’s impunity when it comes to my workouts. At some deeply invested level, I suppose I feel that my pride and satisfaction in getting out there and, you know, Just Do-ing It, trump any social expectation that I be groomed or made-up beyond the technical demands of whatever sport.
And I do NOT wash and style my hair before I run. The bedhead this curly-head awakes with each morning can only be tamed with a healthy application of WET. And while I will damp it down considerably when I’m running in the city, taking a soaked head out into the cold, on my little island, I know my neighbours’ relaxed attitudes well enough that I just clamp my Nike runner’s cap firmly down and head out.
It ain’t pretty! And in case you’re curious, no, there is not a molecule of makeup on the face behind that camera.
But it works! So far this year, DailyMile‘s tracked me at 138 Miles (wish they’d convert all to kilometres, but they seem only able to do that for some elements, not all). So that Impunity seems worth claiming: Running Confers Impunity Against Any Fashion Infractions!
And with that Impunity firmly on my side, I’m willing to be Visible this Monday! See who else is wearing what over atPatti’s Visible Monday.
What about you? Do you enjoy dressing up for your workouts? Or do you save your money for Fluevog shoes or Hermes scarves or M0851bags? (We Wish!)
Ah how wonderful it is to see a fellow curly head with morning hair! And bravo to you for your discipline in running. I too favor practical, ultra-comfortable workout gear, in black, gray and navy. Thanks for being visible over at Visible Monday!
Should have known you'd have respect for the morning hair — we curly-heads have to stick together!
Wow you are set to run that is a real comfy outfit.
Poncho
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Kim
I have to admire your get up and go. I have not had a regular exercise routine in years when I swam on a regular basis. My suit is utilitarian, a racer back one piece. When I'm sweatin', beauty is a long way from my mind. I actually like the wild bedhead!
I suspect I'd be less committed to my exercise routine were I as slim as you. But I've been at the point for years now where I actually enjoy it, most days. . .
I've tried colored and coordinated workout clothes but they end up getting pitched — too much work. I have a few basics in neutral colors, that are my standbys. I like you bedhead hair and agree that just getting out and going is the way to do it.
Exactly — there's just too much thought and maintenance to go with the co-ordination. Thanks for adding another "yay" vote for the bedhead — I usually keep it pretty well hidden;-)
I will always envy your ability to run, I have become increasingly slobbish on the exercise front, better than many but I couldn’t catch your coat tails!
For my occasional sojourn to the gym I have two identical wide legged grey trousers and two lovely men’s Uniqlo t-shits. The more I can blend into the background the happier I am. Plus I have a moral duty to keep the muffin top for home display only!
I know you're talking on another level, but I do think more people could consider it a moral duty to keep their muffin tops behind the closed doors of home!
I take a jazzercise class a couple of times a week and keep my gear in a bag, fresh and ready to go. I'm the plain Jane in a class of flamingos – but I just don't see the point in further complicating my crazy life by worrying about coordinating outfits for the gym. Two sets of nearly-identical black capri-length spandex pants, lots of white socks, two dry-weave shirts. It's not pretty, but it works for me and gets me out on the floor to sweat – with no sweat.
Yep, that sounds like my approach, a no-sweat approach to sweating! I love your depiction — plain Jane in a class of flamingos. . .
I smiled so many times when reading this — I sport a bedhead that is quite similar to yours! And I'm impressed by your running — both your distance and how you brave the elements. I enjoy wearing semi-cute gear for walking, but when I'm going to seriously sweat, for outdoor running or in the gym, just give me big and baggy, in dark colors that don't show sweat (or nipples, for that matter!)
I can see wanting cuter gear for walking, somehow, but the running gives me an ostrich-like impunity. I'm busy running so I can't see people seeing me and what I'm wearing. . .
And while I don't mind sweat showing, I'm with you on the nipple show-through as a fitness fashion infraction. Not cool!
I wear whatever is comfortable to yoga, and don't go in for the "outfits". I did do a lot of that in the 80's when everyone really got stylish in exercise gear.
Wow, you are so athletic! I admire you.
Ah yes, the 80s with our headbands and our legwarmers, the shorts over the tights, all the co-ordinating colours. Those were the days . . .
You look ready to run, and perfectly fine… why any woman would wear makeup to exercise is beyond me. As for clothes, I like functional, neutral performance wear, but not big and baggy, and don't mind seeing sweat, that's just what happens when working out.
I see these made-up women running when I'm in the city and can't help calculating the time involved — all of that work that's going to be showered off and then redone. To say nothing of the skin that never gets a chance to breathe. Sounds as if we have a similar, practical approach.
I think anyone who runs gets, automatically, all liberty to wear whatever they like:). And besides, you look adorable.
Yes . . . I do think I should get that liberty, and I'm calling it impunity, LPC-style. 😉
Hmmm: I've run in the same Nike windbreaker for 21 years. I love to wear a hat b/c I like to be anonymous, but I get too overheated in the spring, so I find a new anonymity in Mr. C's cycling sunglasses. Winter: a pair of red wind pants from my college; spring/summer: blue Umbro shorts.
Before having 3 children, I wore only a jog top (unfortunately renamed as a sports bra and consequently reinvented as lingerie). Feeling like I may return to that look this summer in a rebellious move. Otherwise, fitted t-shirts and a determined look.
I can't stand sunglasses when I'm running, but I can see how they'd give you the anonymity you want. Otherwise, sounds as if we have a similar set of parameters for running gear — just get it done. As for the summer running top, rebellion's always a good way to kick up the pace 😉