women's lib....from a skirt?

When running skirts first came on the scene, I resisted them. I couldn't decide whether I liked them or hated them, and I've come to read on various message boards that that's a common sentiment among women - they love them or hate them. Yes, I love the color pink and make sure I match when I go to the gym, but I also want to be taken seriously and respected. And for some reason, I didn't see that happening with a running skirt. I (obviously) wore a skirt playing tennis throughout high school, but I didn't think it transferred over to running.

But for some reason, it just wouldn't let go. I looked at the SkirtSports website a while ago, and absolutely LOVED the Kendall Collection, since the proceeds helped a cancer charity, but honestly, the stuff is a little pricey and I couldn't see myself buying anything. But then I got a gift certificate to Fleet Feet and NC tax-free weekend is here. So not only was the skirt significantly discounted, but no tax! I settled on a black GymGirl Ultra skirt, their basic, popular model. I tried on other brands - Nike, Brooks - but they were a little short and I wanted something a little longer.

So last night I went to the gym wearing the skirt and a sleeveless Under Armor teal v-neck. Yes, part of me hoped the cute boy at the gym was working, but part of me liked how sporty but girly I looked in the skirt. I decided to try running and see how my foot felt, and let me tell you....running in a running skirt.....as cheesy as this may sound, there's something to it. The skirt swirls around your legs, you can feel it flying behind you, and you kinda feel like a little girl again, running in your dresses. But there's also something that feels slightly....empowering about it. Who says we have to deny any of our femininity in order to be taken seriously? I know, it's ONLY running. But it kind of felt like, okay, yeah, I'm wearing a skirt, but I can still kick your ass. Although, I couldn't really, being that I could only run a half mile before my foot started hurting. (and it's only 2 months and 2 days until the triathlon...). But when I was lifting weights, I found the juxtaposition amusing - me, the only girl in the weight area, wearing a skirt, doing deltoid lat raises, among these meatheads. (although, at my gym, the only meatheads are the college guys, and there aren't that many). But it gave exercise a little bit more fun, and who doesn't want that?

I think I'm a convert to the running skirt.