Running clothes! (Girls) : So before I started... - Couch to 5K

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Running clothes! (Girls)

Sortyourlife profile image
38 Replies

So before I started doing C25K I’d been doing bits of running in the gym beforehand etc etc and I used to wear just normal leggings (the <£3 ones from primark!). Then I got a pair from the workout range at primark for a fiver which are great.

But with the weather like this atm and me getting more confident with my legs I want to run in shorts. Yesterday I went for a run in my boyfriends shorts which was fine.

Today I went into primark again but couldn’t find any shorts suitable for running/exercising. I then went to sports direct and found literally 2 different pairs of shorts in the womens! I was set on buying a pair and picked up a pair that I thought would be okay. In the end, I ended up looking through the men’s and got a pair from there instead, that also had zipped up pockets, winning.

Just a little bit annoyed that there was literally no choice in the women’s, there were a few pairs of cropped leggings but I didn’t want that. Yet in the men’s there was so much choice.

Atm I don’t wanna pay loads (like the actual sport shop prices, ASICS, new balance, etc) I paid £7 for the ones I got today. Hopefully these will be great for now.

Anyone got any experiences of buying shorts that weren’t expensive, weren’t ridiculously short and were actually made for women? 😂

Meh.

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Sortyourlife
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38 Replies
Helm108 profile image
Helm108Graduate

If there's a Decathlon near you, try there - their stuff is such amazing quality given the prices, I don't think it's any more expensive than Primark. H&M carry some sportswear too, little bit more expensive but lovely if you want something that looks good and will do the job, on a fairly small budget.

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply toHelm108

Great! Next time I pass a decathlon will pop in

Wanna-Be profile image
Wanna-BeGraduate

Replying so I get a notification in case someone out there has found these miracle shorts! Otherwise I've given up on non-lycra shorts.

Ladies ones tend to be too short. Even if they initially cover enough inner thigh to prevent chaffing they bunch up as I run! I have actually done an entire run with a odd leg shake every few steps to try and stop the bunching!

Men's have not enough room in some places and too much in others so they just don't move right!!

At least my Capri leggings mean I don't get distracted by what I'm wearing. I will be trying some lycra shorts tomorrow. I hope they are good as they even have a phone sized pocket on the leg.

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply toWanna-Be

Yeah exactly!! I don’t want the Lycra and I don’t want them riding up. I tried on the men’s ones before but I’ve not tried much movement yet. Like I said my boyfriends were okay yesterday, but rode up a little and had to pull them down a couple of times but nothing too annoying. Idk why but I just don’t want the cropped leggings either ahaha.

Just don’t get why there isn’t shorts available for women! 😂

Ripcurlrana71 profile image
Ripcurlrana71 in reply toWanna-Be

These are good and don’t ride:

sportsdirect.com/karrimor-x...

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply toRipcurlrana71

Great! I didn’t see anything like these today (and they’re probably a little too expensive atm, maybe once I’m definitely sure I’m in running for the long haul!) but nice to know they’re out there :)

Wanna-Be profile image
Wanna-BeGraduate in reply toRipcurlrana71

Well I know where I'm going at the weekend 😂

Nmcdade profile image
Nmcdade

I just done my first run this morning so decided I needed to buy myself some new running gear! Just home from sports direct and really struggled to find much, shorts like you mentioned were very limited and men’s just didn’t sit right. I’m heavier so reluctant to wear leggings yet I felt I had no choice but to buy something, didn’t want that as an excuse to not be able to continue runs because I had nothing to wear! So looks like I will be going early morning or late night so no one can see me in them lol

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply toNmcdade

Yeah I’m also on the heavier side hence not wanting the Lycra shorts 😂😂 so annoying! I do like the leggings I got from primark and honestly more people will just think good on you rather than taking the piss.

Tbf I’m only more comfortable going out in shorts now because I’ve seen a change in my legs from doing this program. Well done on starting, it’s honestly the hardest part! Keep posting 😄

Nmcdade profile image
Nmcdade in reply toSortyourlife

Do you know it’s funny, this morning doing that first run has motivated me and I wanted to do something else so after not being on a bike for years, I’ve just dusted off my bike tonight and done over 2 miles on that too! Not the longest or fastest ride but something else to add to my achievements lol

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply toNmcdade

Yeah deffo! I used to ride my bike loads and loved it ahah, bought myself a road bike not too long ago but haven’t used it much yet ! 😳 trying to fit too much in at the minute I think.

Tbf when I’ve been to the gym on a running rest day I’m never really sure what else to do! Cycling could be a great thing for your rest day, run one day cycle the next! You’ll be fitter than you’ve ever been in no time then :)

Ripcurlrana71 profile image
Ripcurlrana71

I got mine from Sports direct and you’re right not much choice. I’m new to shorts and only just braved them! I bought the 2in1 shorts which are great. Also bought a pair from amazon. I hear decathlon is good but not been yet.

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply toRipcurlrana71

Ah I didn’t see any 2 in 1 ones ! Literally only saw a couple of pairs of LA gear ones and just didn’t like how short they looked and was worried about chafing 😭 will see how these men’s ones go, but looks like I’ll be having a trip to decathlon at some point!

Ripcurlrana71 profile image
Ripcurlrana71 in reply toSortyourlife

I got them on line. Good luck!

BaddieThePirate profile image
BaddieThePirateGraduate

I got some cheap Lycra ones but am still running in cut off jeans (stretchy) as the Lycra ones don't have a pocket for me to put Laura in!

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply toBaddieThePirate

Yeah this is another bug about my leggings! It’s usually holding my phone or just sticking it in my bra. Running in the other half’s shorts the other day was great, pockets and everything! Although this was also the first time I experienced the app pausing on me 😂😂

Nmcdade profile image
Nmcdade in reply toSortyourlife

While I was in sports direct earlier I picked up a wee audio bumbag that clips round your waist, can keep phone in it. Was £5.99 I think

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply toNmcdade

Yeah I saw some, but idk why just don’t particularly fancy one. Tbf I’ve never really had any issues without so far, but it’d definitely be nicer with pockets

Mollymot profile image
MollymotGraduate

I would say decathlon too - not expensive and good quality 👍

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply toMollymot

Yep! Definitely looking at a trip to decathlon!

jeffbird profile image
jeffbirdGraduate

I've been wearing variously

a pair of my husband's old swimming trunks (knee length not speedos!)

£4 shorts from h&m (no pockets but ok to wear over leggings when it's colder with a Dunne's kids sport jacket)

2 pack of teenage boys trunks (again knee length!) from sainsburys.

The women's stuff seems to be overpriced and never has any pockets - what's that about?!

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply tojeffbird

Exactly! I hadn’t experienced running with pockets, just putting my keys and phone in my bra or holding my phone! Running with pockets yesterday was great ahah.

I just hate the fact there isn’t much range for women 😭 looks like a trip to decathlon for me though 😂

Katiepops profile image
KatiepopsGraduate

Decathlonis nice and cheap, usually have a reasonable range. Or Wiggles? Online is good.🏃‍♀️

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply toKatiepops

Yeah definitely gonna have a trip to decathlon if these ones I got today are shite, had a quick look online and they seem great :)

Sofabunny profile image
Sofabunny

No..I haven't looked seriously as wearing shorts in public is just not for me..but thinking about it I don't recall seeing any anywhere..I am a big fan of Sainsbury..they have an

exercise range..you could also look in teens section of school uniforms sports section..sizes go up quite big these days..and no vat !!

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply toSofabunny

Ah never thought of school uniform! Good shout!

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate

Yeah I just got some gorgeous O’Neill ladies board/swim shorts from Sportsdirect for a fiver They’re quick dry so,should be fine for running they have two deep side pockets with Velcro fasteners and a goodly back

pocket, not that I carry much, but every little helps 🙂. They had plenty in my local branch but I bought them online and collected them from the shop. I had a look at the ones in the shop and got fed up as it was a mess. Just a jumble of men’s, women’s and children’s 🙄

If you buy online and collect in store they print you a voucher off in the shop for £5.00 so I got two pairs of run socks 🙂

In my view the two in ones are definitely the best. Lycra with attached shorts over the top but mine weren’t cheap. I saw some in Nike the other day but again same problem; not bargain. So you could buy some cheap black Lycra shorts and some nice coloured shorts to go over the top

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply to

Yeah I’ve never even seen 2 in 1 ones! Why do you think they’re so good?

I was having a quick look online on decathlon and they have some for a tenner which I might try :)

in reply toSortyourlife

Lycra holds everything in place and stops chaffing, overshort gives a girl a bit of modesty 😊

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply to

Ah okay nice one!

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate

I like Nike ones and EBay is great for new second hand stuff cheap. Alternatively if you have great legs just wear knickers as it’s so flipping hot at the moment. Also get some Bodyglide.

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply toju-ju-

😂😂 I wish!

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate

Sweaty Betty sale has just started. I have these shorts and they are fab... and in sale:

sweatybetty.com/all-clothin...

in reply toju-ju-

I have sweaty Betty ones too. Really well designed and flattering

But not cheap!

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply to

Yeah they look really nice but not cheap enough for me atm! I’m still a poor student 😂

in reply toSortyourlife

Understood. However there are birthdays and Christmas isn’t far off....

Sortyourlife profile image
Sortyourlife in reply to

Very true!

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