I took to the streets and Lakefront trail to run in my Nike Tempo Track Shorts; which just happen to be for women! The funny thing about these shorts are that they do not have a tag anywhere that says for women only, but they are just formed to fit a woman’s body I guess. To me these shorts feel comfortable and fit me perfect, and when I shop for running shorts I look for comfort and design, and Nike Tempo Track Shorts bring just what I look for in running shorts. However, the thought of them being for women only feels emasculating, plus they bring attention from women that I love, such as the poker face look, and conversations. One time I even got a cat-call and “Hello Sexy” from a woman riding in a car in Honolulu’s Chinatown at night. See now things like that I do not get often so I welcome it along with the heart pumping nervous feeling of wearing these shorts.
Anyway, I hit Chicago’s Lakefront trail after taking two weeks off after running Chicago Marathon. I remind you that my pace was very well off because I took two recovery weeks off and pretty much did not do anything. While running, I came across a woman entering the trail and wearing the same shorts as me which were Nike Tempo Track Shorts. She had a decent pace and I could not help but notice that she was running 25 feet behind me because I could hear her breathing and feet pounding! In my head, I kept thinking that I was about to be “chicked” on the trail at some point, or if I went any further on the trail. For those that are not familiar with what “chicked” is, it is when a girl passes a guy up, or beats him in a competitive race.
The thought of being “chicked” can bring a feeling that you were empowered; which can drive a man crazy depending on the activity because in our society men are portrayed to be stronger. Therefore, if a woman beats a man at anything physical he is looked at as being weak, but I could honestly care less about that stereotype because I ‘am far from being weak. I was not sure if she was trying to out-stride me, but she sure came close! I guess I will never know because by then I hit my turnaround point; which was Foster beach and then headed back down the trail in the opposite direction.
An interesting take on these circumstances. Good for you!
Thanks, Carol. It’s one of my crazy run stories. Plenty more of these to come with pictures
You ar welcome, it was lots of fun to read.