The Search for the Perfect, Full-Figured Running Outfit

When I first started running, I didn't realize I needed special clothes.  I understand they are not a necessity but they are supposed to wick the moisture away from a person's body and make a run less miserable.  Since I sweat like a sinner in church, I suppose every little bit of advantage helps.  My more experienced runner friends urged me to give "real" running clothes a try.

I am a cotton girl.  I love the feel of cotton.  This goes for my daily wardrobe as well as the clothes I wear to work out.  I want something soft on my skin, a material that caresses my skin, not makes me feel like recoiling from it.  That is problem number one for me with running clothes.  Most of them have that polyester feeling material and I don't care for it. I have begrudgingly managed to wear some workout gear, but can't stand the way most of it feels.

Another issue for me is price.  Let's face it.  Running clothes are not cheap.  Forty dollars seems to be the average starting point for some decent capris.  Shirts aren't much better, and that is on the low end of the pricing spectrum.

And now we come to problem number three - fit!  I don't want a cling to my every bulge workout shirt.  I don't want it huge and shapeless either.  I want that happy medium where it is somewhat fitted but skims the parts I don't want to display to the world.  Running bottoms are also problematic for me as far as finding the right fit.  My legs are in pretty good shape, but I have always been really large in the waist.  It is the way I am built, the classic apple shape.  So even though I can wear XL bottoms: in most clothes, I can't wear an XL in workout clothes.  The waist runs smaller than typical clothing sizes.

Race t-shirts are all over the size spectrum also.  I might order an XXL in one race and have it fit perfectly and then it is too small or too huge in the next race.  The last half-marathon I ran in had a too small shirt, but it looked great on a friend of mine, so I was happy to hand it over.

I love the look of the running capris with a skirt attached.  I really want a pair.  I might as well wear something cute while I'm sweating, right?   Lucy had some online clearance right after Christmas and there were some bottoms with black capris and a turquoise skirt.  I put an XL in my cart with my fingers crossed.  Unfortunately, their inventory system sucks and I was later told it was unavailable.  That was my first and last order with Lucy.  The customer service lady was very nice, but I felt misled.

I heard Tasc workout gear is great and feels like cotton, but when I went on their website, a large was the biggest I could find.  There were also no skort/capri combos and they were prohibitively expensive.

When my birthday came, my Mom gave me an Amazon gift certificate for 75.00.  I had been eyeballing something called the Lotta Breeze.  I eagerly ordered an XXL in a cute print.  When it came, it actually fit, but the skirt was kind of poofy and the seams on the inner thighs were excruciating.  So back it went.  Other reviews of it were glowing so maybe it was just me.  Anyway,  I ordered a new coffee pot with my refund.  A coffee pot is something that always fits.

I have also eyeballed a Fila skirt combo on Amazon, but I'm not sure it will fit my waist.  I also hate paying for return shipping.  Shopping online for clothes is such a crapshoot.

Recently I found a Tek Gear skirt/capri online at Kohl's.  It was only 22.80 so I decided to gamble one last time.  If it is too big or too scratchy, I will just give up with online ordering. I may even say, "To heck with it," and go back to cotton.

To anybody who is reading, have you had any issues with workout gear?  What is your solution?  Do you pay more?  Do you wear cotton?  Are you just happy to be out and about and think I am being ridiculous about the whole thing?  Any recommendations for a frustrated fat chick?

I really hope those new running capris fit.  If they do, then it will be time to find the perfect shirt.  After that, on to sports bras!