Haha, not likely. I wish I was better in that area, but alas…I am not. I rely on Cindy and Angel to make me look acceptable in public 🙂
Anyway, when Cindy and I went to Fitness on the Rocks last weekend, we had a long trek around the outside of the amphitheater, and as per usual, it led to quite a few random conversations. As we slogged through the parking lots, suffering in the 100 degree heat, we both made the observation that 70-80% of the women around us were wearing workout capris… in 100 degree temps.
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| Hiking shorts |
Now, I love capris and have quite a few pairs myself. However, they are usually saved for winter when the temps are well below freezing and my legs can’t handle exposure to the snow. During the summer, I am all about running shorts! In fact, I wear them to work every day! (Landscaping doesn’t really have a dress code, you know?) I literally couldn’t imagine wearing capris to workout outdoors in these brutal temperatures! I mean, I sweat enough as it is; why add more fuel to the fire?
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| Cindy, Lauren, Lynne and Heidi wear shorts too 🙂 |
So, this made me wonder: why do so many women prefer capris over running shorts (especially during hot months)? Is it a body image issue? Are they self-conscious about their legs? Or is it simple logistics; are they trying to prevent chafing?
I really need to know….GO!
41 Comments
Bitches be crazy.
I find that answers many of life’s questions.
Ha, this made me laugh 🙂
“Bitches be crazy” love it!
Very interesting topic.. I am curious how others will answer! I actually feel more confident in how I look when I am in shorts.. but definitely go for capris oftentimes to prevent discomfort while running!
I LOVE capris and hate traditional running shorts – they just never fit right and I don’t like the way they move. I love that capris hold me in and I don’t worry about them. Sometimes if it’s extra hot I’ll wear little spandex shorts instead, but they make me feel kinda skanky..:)
I wear capris because of chafing while running. I end up with huge red marks on my thighs if I don’t (or I have to constantly pull my shorts down).
I think it could partially be to prevent chaffing. I would think that shorts (unless the booty shorts) would be more comfortable if you were uncomfortable with your body b/c they aren’t all-revealing (if that makes sense).
It’s 50/50 for me: the way my legs look & chafing. They just aren’t thin enough to avoid chafing (and I don’t think they ever will be! damn genes) I can do shorter runs in shorts, but I’m constantly pulling them down and readjusting, which is frustrating as hell. If I’m doing speedwork or running long, I’ll choose capris simply because I can’t be bothered with all the fidgeting. AND I only started running in shorts about a month ago. For the past two years = capris only. Even during Texas summers running on the surface of the sun! I is crazy.
I find it easier to run in capris, but wear shorts for all other workouts. Just a personal preference. And I agree with Kara above, as well. 🙂
I just started tried out capris this year and admit I love them….however I only run with them in cooler weather. 60+ and I’m in shorts. My guess would be self consciousness of thighs and/or chafing. But isn’t that what glide is for? Dunno!
I think it depends on the exercise, but most of the time for me it’s either to prevent chafing, because my running shorts are still in the laundry (I hate washing clothes. lol), or because I forgot to shave my legs and it’s now noticeable since I have really dark hair. Haha. Otherwise, bring on the shorts!
I love shorts and running skirts for summer, but in winter I go for capris with a skirt attached for the most part. In races I wear either the shorty shorts or a skirt since I usually get too warm in capris. I would feel like I was melting if I wore capris in anything above 70 degrees!! But I get that everyone is comfortable in different running wear… the only one I don’t get is when I see people racing in long yoga pants?! I’d trip myself for sure 😉
I wear crops year round for longer runs– I think it’s both a comfort (no chafing!) and body image thing. The less I am worrying about how I look, the better I run. On shorter runs, though, skirts and shorts, for sure.
I am a runner but I don’t have a runner’s physique. My thighs are not slim, in fact they touch! Capris offer me some compression and zero chafing. Otherwise I would practically have to bathe my thighs in body glide and frankly, that’s expensive! Maybe one day I’ll be able to run in shorts but until then it’s me & my capris.
I always do capris to the gym, just in case I have a change of mind and want to get on the bike. And it’s always capris or pants for yoga and pilates. But otherwise, I’m almost always wearing shorts when outside running – if I can look down on a run and see my leg muscles, it actually gives me extra motivation!
Yes yes yes! Running shorts all the way – in the summer. Feels so much better.
I personally wear capris, even when it’s hot out usually just because I prefer the fit and there is less chaffing! Like I always wear capris for spinning because I hate how the bike rubs my inner thighs if I’m wearing shorts…and then if I’m doing stuff outside, sometimes I’ll wear shorts, but depending on the pair sometimes I feel like they’re more uncomfortable if they ride up and chaffe. But if I’m hiking and it’s hot, I usually stick to shorts…but then again depending on where we’re hiking if we’re gaining a lot of elevation and it’s going to be cold at the top, I’ll wear capris…personal preferance I guess! 🙂
I have no idea. I even read the responses of people that preferred capris and I don’t get it. Maybe it’s not the same temperature of hell where they live 😉 SHorts all the way!
I posted on this a while back and got huge response to it–women are self-conscious, it seems, and also don’t like chafing. I say lit it rip, it’s too damn hot out to be running in capris. And a little chafing is better than dying of heat!
I tend to wear capris a lot because I don’t own a bunch of running shorts. Capris just have a longer wear season in north Idaho so it makes more sense to buy them. Because I wear them so often, I’ve gotten used to the fit–recently I’ve been shopping for some shorter running shorts to try. Also, on the fashion side, I LIKE how my legs look super long in capris–I find shorts awkward looking most of the time.
I LOVE shorts when working out, I hardly ever wear capris! I wear them about 1x/week to teach some fitness classes, but otherwise, in the Summer, I think it’s WAYYY too hot out there.
Cute blog!
Maybe it is all the junk in my trunk or my thighliciousness but sometimes shorts just keep climbing and there is nothing worse than constantly pulling them out of places they are not supposed to be. Especially after 6 or 7 miles when everything is annoying. Capris just stay put. I wear both depending on how far I am going. I also throw on compression shorts under normal shorts and that seems to keep it all in place:)
Capris in the cold; running skirts in the summer. Turned to skirts last year after spending the better part of five years making fun of them. No more. The ones I have have long enough shorts underneath to prevent chafing, pockets on the outside of both legs to hold all my crap and enough skirt to hide any lumpy areas. Love them now.
I would die in capris in the southern heat. They won’t come out till November at the earliest!
I hardly ever wear capris in the summer… and I’m typically one of the few in body pump class without them! Too hot!!
I prefer my running leggings solely for the chaffing reason. I have large volleyball thighs, not slim running thighs–so the tights do the job that shorts cannot! 🙂
holla fellow volleyballer! i feel your pain 🙂
I definitely wear more running shorts in the summer, but I throw the occasional capri and running crops in there on cooler days to give my thighs a break. I have YET to find running shorts that don’t chaffe.
I definitely prefer shorts/running skirts for anything outdoor. I love capris for yoga because it keeps my legs from being super slippery with sweat (tmi but true). although! like we tweeted, my running wardrobe is mostly Tempo shorts and I’ve been having major chafe issues. So on my last chaffed run, I’d thought about what I can change to see where the problem is: 1 – different shorts (my running skirt doesn’t chafe!) 2 – capris and 3 – vasaline (or BodyGlide , like you and Sarah said!).
But I’m with ya – I would not choose to wear workout capris outside in the summer. It is too dang hot!
I sometimes wear capris or spandex type shorts because I will chafe between my thighs (especially if I had too much salt or carbs the night before!). My thighs seem to be at a good state right now, so I’m sticking to running shorts for the time being (even wore an extra short pair the other day! Woo Hoo!). I do prefer something longer for yoga, and sometimes strength workouts. Since I started making videos of myself working out, I have discovered that short shorts are NOT very flattering from certain perspectives!
I’ve never thought of it as a body image issue. I prefer capris for running since they solve the chafing problem and provide some comfortable compression. I also love them for climbing – no extra material to get in the way. For hiking I prefer shorts or light hiking pants.
I’ve also noticed the number of women I see at summer races in capris. I don’t get it. I absolutely love my capris..when its under 60 degrees outside. I’m not a big running shorts person although I have a pair of 6-inch shorts that I love. Hate how they tend to ride up on my inner thighs when I’m running. Not cute either. But I do love my compression shorts. Have several pair. They don’t ride up and no chafing issues either. I can’t get enough of them.
hmmm…I wear capris because I have spider veins (from pregnancy) that I don’t LOVE. But I also wear shorts too. Just depends on whats at the top of my drawer.
I’m a proud member of the thighs clapping together, cheering me on when I run club. I couldn’t handle capris though. I just slap on some bodyglide and let people enjoy the view. It’s absolutely self consciousness. I refuse to believe anything else.
I hate hate hate! to be hot so I wear shorts until its less than 45 degrees outside. Then its capris until 32. My thighs rub but have never chafed; not sure why that is. And my thighs are not small. Ha!
shorts kinda suck if you are bigger in the thigh area. For me personally I feel like my a$$ is hanging out or that I look like an overstuff sausage. Now if they mad workout shorts with longer inseams…say around 5-7 inches I might actually wear shorts to work out more often.
Shorts. Hands down.
Unless its going to cooler or rainy/wet I stick with shorts. I go for capris in the rain just because of the risk of chafing.
My favorite use for my capris is layers – my butt is always the first thing cold when snowboarding so I just wear a pair of capris under whatever else I’m wearing to add some protection from the cold.
Shorts definitely! I wear capris when it is cool enough, but I did that more when I didn’t have compression shorts because of chafing. I do love my capris, but I wear shorts when it is above 50 degrees!
It’s definitely a chafing issue for me. I can wear longer compression shorts, but loose running shorts migrate up my hoohah and I get horrible chafage. Even when I was thinner, I always had that issue so I think it’s just how my thighs are shaped. I save the shorts for crosstraining.
I’ll wear both in the summer but I don’t wear shorter shorts at all. If the shorts move at all when I run they end up driving me crazy and I can’t handle them for a long run.
Capris/crops. Have super ugly spider veins and I am embarassed!