Welcome back to All Things Running with Sonja & Jen. Today Jen is going to talk about the science behind different running clothing.
Why do women wear crop tops and briefs? Why do you wear pants & a hat in the winter?
Did you know that women cool differently than men? That is to say we sweat differently. Men have more sweat glands and are able to produce more sweat cooling men easier & faster. If your core temperature gets too hot your body slows down. Research found that when the mid section was exposed and able to cool faster, that race time improved.
“Interestingly, prepubescent girls and boys sweat about the same volume. But once hormones kick in, sweating starts to vary between the sexes with men tending to begin sweating sooner and in higher volume (with activity or heat) than women. Why? Scientists point to testosterone, which enhances men's sweat response.” - IHS
Why do women wear briefs? Loose fit shorts would be just as nice but did you know that our hips and thighs are shaped differently than men. In many cases these shorts bunch up and cause chafing. Boy shorts became popular for this reason but having a tight band (or even tights) around the thigh is problematic. It does restrict leg movement and loose shorts do not. Give it a try & tell me what you feel. The constant rubbing across the thigh from the shorts could cause damage to the quad muscle, it can limit leg lift and may also increase the amount of hip flexor tension in the process.
Summer running is great. Our legs are vascular which brings more blood flow, energy to muscles & releases heat to the skin. But what happens in the winter? Those same blood vessels retreat from the skin and move deeper into the body to keep our core warm. This brings less blood & energy to our muscles. Shivering also uses glycogen stores. In the summer you see pros wearing warm ups. This is not to hide their race kit but to get very warm & vascular. It shortens the warm up, conserving energy. In the winter time below a certain temperature for training runs or workouts it may make sense to cover your legs. For outside winter workouts, I prefer a looser fitting pants and for easier winter runs I’ll wear leggings.
Obviously personal preference is important but it is always good to understand the science behind the clothing options for running. Choose what will keep you cool or warm but most importantly you need to feel confident & comfortable.
Sonja and Jennifer are sharing their personal experiences. This is being provided for informational purposes only. We are not giving medical advice and you should always consult your own doctor for advice related to your own health.