Here's the 50th post on the blog, and it's all about spreading the shirtless running bug! It's a guest post by Rockbound. Read on...
Inspiring shirtless running
I've been running for many years, always shirtless if the weather permits. Over those years, there have been numerous times when I suspected my shirtlessness inspired others to "convert". I've never suggested to anyone that they run shirtless or commented on it, so I cannot be sure I was their inspiration, but I strongly believe my example was a factor in some of the cases.
A typical scenario is when someone else's running schedule happens to coincide with yours and you meet them by chance on the road. After a few days, or longer, you notice that they have shed the shirt. This happens more frequently if you wave or exchange a brief greeting with them when meeting. I think the greeting helps make you more "real" to them, and makes shirtlessness seem less intimidating. This sort of thing has happened many times over the years. The most recent example was in the past month, when I met a high-school cross-country team starting their preseason training. All these runners wore shirts the first couple of days I saw them. By the third or fourth day, several of the guys on the team were running shirtless.
It's not always runners that are inspired. For several years, I've seen a guy who walks along some of my running trails. After two or three years, I noticed that he'd started taking off his shirt for at least part of his walk.
Sometimes, the inspiration seems to work quickly. A few months ago, I met a young woman running in the opposite direction. She wore shorts and a T-shirt. I waved as we passed, but she did not respond. Toward the end of my run, we met again. By then, she had rolled her T-shirt up over her sports bra, exposing her midriff. Now happily "shirtless", she waved, said hello and even made a remark about the weather. I was amazed at the transformation!
Why does shirtlessness inspire shirtlessness? I think there are two big reasons.
The first is confidence, which can be contagious. Your confident shirtlessness demonstrates to others that it's okay to run shirtless. People often hate to be the only one doing something, so you help their confidence by setting an example.
Next, I think that shirtless runners are happier, enjoying their runs more than many others, and that enjoyment is clearly evident to others. Think about it -- don't you see shirtless runners smiling more, showing more confidence, having more of a spring in their step, than most shirted runners? That positive attitude and enhanced pleasure in the running, I believe, inspires others to do likewise and make their runs more fun.
Let's keep setting an example and inspiring others!
18 comments:
Running shirtless reminds me of my childhood memory..
I love your post. It gives me time to reflect and reminiscence the past.
This will be my first winter running shirtless. I was wondering if anyone changes their warm ups to counter the cold weather in the UK
I ran in a rather large race this past weekend with several thousand other runners. I am a mid pack runner so I lined up as such, shirtless of course. It seems like most mid pack runners feel the need to cover-up or at least until after the race starts. As I was pacing around waiting for the race to start, I noticed a few runners tossed their shirts off shortly after seeing me. I can’t say for sure that me being shirtless helped others to do the same, but was interesting to see. Runners at all levels should experience the freedom and comfort of shirtless running; it’s not just reserved for the faster runners. So unless the race requires shirts to be worn, it is important to go shirtless at all running/race events to help others do the same, just put your race number on your shorts and enjoy your shirt free run no mater where you line up.
Can’t say that I warm up any differently in the cold weather when leaving for a run from my house. I always did my stretching exercises inside so no change there. When traveling to an outside destination I wear shorts and long sleeve shirt and a jacket and do my warm ups with them on before starting out for my run. As a general rule, if I am wearing shorts, then I run shirtless. However, I do often wear gloves when the temps dip below 10c/50f. Might seem odd to run shirtless with gloves on, but keeping my hands warm allows me to withstand the cold weather without the need for a shirt.
I ran shirtless all thru last winter in the UK and I did not change my warm-up routine at all. In fact I generally dont do a warm-up. I go straight from bed to running gear (shorts and trainers) and then out in the cold. I vary my pace as to how i feel but as the cold starts to bite i speed up to keep warmer and generate more heat. I agree with the comment about running shirtless with gloves - have yet to find a really good pair that keep my hands warm enough though so generally run without them and warm them up around a coffee mug slowly when I get home.
I grew up in a warm climate and never got accustomed to cold weather. When I moved to a cooler location, and winter approached, I did my first runs with a shirt on. I didn't like it then and still don't, so I've been trying to build my cold tolerance to extend my "shirtless season."
I'm sure I'll never reach the point of matching Tremendi's cold-weather shirtless runs!
From a starting point of never going shirtless below 70 F, I've worked slowly down to shirtless runs at 50 F. I hope to take that a bit lower, and would even like to at least once have a photo made of me running shirtless in a snowstorm!
I, too, find gloves very good for keeping my hands warm and allowing me to remain shirtless. I've gotten some good gloves, ones that keep you warm but wick away moisture, from running stores. In addition, when I find the temperature particularly challenging, I don a thermal cap, again obtained from a running store. I've read that about half of your heat loss is through your head, and the cap helps greatly.
It probably looks funny to see me in gloves and a cap, but still shirtless, but it works. I'll be trying to push my temperature limits down some more this winter.
I too am going to push my cold weather limits this winter. I gets rather cold here and already had a few early morning temps in the 50s when going out for my run, but I have remained shirtless. Last winter I gave into the cold weather to easily and started putting on a shirt. Needless to say I did not like it and I would tug and pull at my shirt the entire time during my runs. Plus wearing a shirt made it too easy for me to slip out of shape and ended up gaining 20 pounds, than when spring came it took me a couple months to shed the weight and get back in shape. This year I am going to run shirtless at least one or two times per week during the winter, figure that should keep my training in better check. Also going to try wearing gloves and a thermal cap like Rockbound suggested, who knows that might be just enough for me to run shirtless all winter long.
A cold front passed through the other day that pushed early morning temp down to 43f (6c) and was a bit breezy too. Upon see this, I hesitated for a moment thinking I might wear gloves since I was going for a 2 hour run, but decided go without them and headed out just wearing my normal shorts, running shoes and socks. It was a bit chilly at first, but I quickly warmed up and must say the cold air felt rather good. I finished my run feeling great and was glad I ran shirtless. This was a good pre-winter test and figure I should be able to easily keep running shirtless until temps dip below 32f (0c). I would recommend others to give this a try as well.
I broke my 50-degree barrier today! My lower limit for shirtless running has stood at 50F for several years, but I finally got below that.
In this morning's predawn darkness, I did six miles with the temperature at 45F. There was only the slightest of breezes, so I didn't have much wind chill to contend with.
It felt quite good to break that longstanding barrier. Interestingly, the coldest part of me was my face, which of course would have been exposed in any case. I think the chill air did make me pick up my pace a bit, but that's a good thing. The whole experience was rather exhilarating.
Great to see all the messages about running shirtless in the cold. Somehow shirtless running this time of year makes us a lot more aware of our own bodies working - really motivating. How about that amazing feeling when you turn a corner and the air temperature is so different - maybe going from a street to a path by the river. Exhilarating. Can we keep the comments coming in all winter to see how everyone gets on?
Thanks for the encouragement so far I've kept my shirt off and looking forward to the first frosts now.
This fall I have remained shirtless for all of my runs and have found that I rather enjoy running shirtless in colder weather. Last weekend I ran my first race with the starting race temps at 48f (9c). Of the 200 or so runners, I was the only shirtless one at the start. The good thing was that knocked nearly 2 minutes off my 10k time. Looking forward to breaking my 40f (4c) temp barrier in the near future. My next 10k race is in November and the temps by then should be below 40f (4c) and I will race shirtless as always.
I wonder how it feels to run shirtless?.. good luck to all the participants and more power!
I finally broke through my 40 degree barrier. This morning the early morning tempters were at 37f (2.7c) so I wore shorts and a heavy long sleeve shirt to my running destination with gloves. However, once it came time to start running, the long sleeve shirt came off and I ran with just shorts and gloves. It was cold at first but warmed up enough and had a great 90 minute run. Must say that wearing gloves made all of the difference and it felt good to run without a shirt in the cold air.
This blog has been very encouraging and inspiring. For the last two days, which were unseasonably warm for November, I have shed the shirt while running/walking local trails and I have absolutely loved it. Yesterday, I even ditched the safety shirt for a short run. For various reasons (including the most of the usual ones) I have always been self-conscious and had difficulty doing being shirtless in public places. But I definitely love the comfort while running and I feel more confident, now, than ever. Thanks to all who post here and share their thoughts/experiences. You've converted me and I hope to follow suit and help to convert others, as well.
Some great comments here - and some bold 'Cold-barebodies' too!
Welcome to the club, newbie shirtless runner. There are more than a few converts numbered among the readers of this blog (some of whom have contributed a post or three) and I encourage you to share your experiences.
I had a good one today, running at Ashton Court in Bristol. 5.25 miles in -2°C, with sustained 40mph NE gusts. Wearing running shoes and jeans... Nothing else. Walking around in a sleeveless jacket more than half open the rest of the time too, a total of three hours, including some shopping after the run. Total distance including walking was about 14 miles. Got to admit it was tough this time, specially once I had heavy carrier bags biting into cold fingers... I think that was harder than running shirtless on windswept frozen high ground. Was easier carryign stuff yesterday though, between jobs on two houses, I was in the streets a few times with that jacket totally open to the wind, and it felt great. I'm hoping to get used to it enough to work shirtless outside all the time if I want. I get excited by it. Makes me feel hard, and free, so long as I don't overdo it. If the work is hard it ought to be possible to handle freezing weather shirtless for an 8 hour day though.
I used to be one of the mid pack runners that had to have that shirt for safety. But I started running the peachtree in Atlanta on July 4 and it is usually hot as blue blazes and I started taking my shirt off for that race and now I never wear a shirt to run. It is indeed more fun to run shirtless and I keep a good tan all year. No more starting over in April. I run about 7 miles 3 or 4 days a week.
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