Sunday, November 19, 2017

Running Shorts and Tights

A year ago I spent the winter training for my first 70.3 triathlon.  An important step in that training was to run my first half-marathon.  Training for that race meant more running in cooler weather, for which I purchased my first-ever pair of running tights.

The tights were the 2016 Nike PRO Hyperwarm model, and after getting over being self-conscious wearing them (and shaving my legs to keep gray hairs from poking through), they immediately proved their worth.  They kept me warm without overheating by using a fabric that was both insulating and wicking.

They were also my first tights providing full-leg compression.  I've long enjoyed my De Soto Forza trisuits with their compression fabric over the hips and thighs, but the Nike tights added calf compression, which was new for me.

Best of all, these Nike thermal compression tights were significantly less expensive than the other major brands.  They provided top quality at an affordable price.  They also let me run in cooler weather with fewer upper layers.  My only remaining cool-weather obstacle was the cool dry air triggering my asthma, which was resolved by adding a walk-jog warm-up.

I highly recommend these tights!  I don't know why I didn't review them earlier, but the recent cooler weather reminded me.

These tights made me want to also get compression in my running shorts.

For well over 30 years, my running shorts have been fairly minimalist, a liner with some sort of outer fabric.  For nearly all of that time my favorite shorts were by Scott Tinley, and featured a liner with little more than a breechclout, a flap of brightly colored and patterned fabric at the front and rear, with the outside of the legs exposed up to the waistband.

I've missed the compression from my De Soto trisuit, and started to run in regular a pair of trishorts. But the trishorts lacked the small key pocket generally present in running shorts, adding a frustrating complication in addition to not providing much compression.  I did look at compression shorts by De Soto and all the other major brands, and was discouraged by the prices.

A brief note about my use of compression garments:  The research clearly shows the main physiological benefits of compression garments come as part of recovery, with little or no physiological benefit measured during activity.  However, I am both bow-legged and flat-footed, and my running gait places a fair amount of torque on my hips, in particular placing extra load on the piriformis.  Given my history with severe sciatica, piriformis issues can quickly lead to both hip and sciatic pain.

Most often, if I'm paying strict attention to my form and am doing my foam rolling, I don't consciously feel any hip or sciatic pain during the run itself.  But it is there at a sub-conscious level, and it adds to my fatigue. The pain always shows up the moment I finish a long or hard run, and during the first day or so of my recovery.

For me, piriformis compression markedly improves my ability to run both farther and faster with greater comfort and quicker recovery.  My performance gains over weeks and months are both more consistent and more rapid.

For years I went to TCSD meetings hoping to win a pair of compression shorts in the raffle of products from club sponsors.  While I managed to win almost every other piece of gear I desired, I never did win any compression garments.

For my birthday my nephew gave me a gift card to RoadRunner Sports.  My initial intention was to get more of the low-crew WrightSocks I love so much, only to find that they were no longer carried!  I wandered through the store when I came across the compression running shorts.  The Big Name Brands were all $80 to $140, which I thought was a bit much. Fortunately, the RoadRunner house brand was under $40.

I've owned other RoadRunner branded products, and my general impression has generally been "good enough".  Not super high-end in design or materials, but always with solid workmanship, a very fair price, and a great warranty.

However, compression garments are a very different from T-shirts, hats and jackets.  Comfort is everything, and function is critical.  How would the house brand compare to the big brands?

I won't mention the name brands I tried, only to say they all were great. Solid compression around the hips and thighs without crushing the crotch.  The RoadRunner shorts were different, with comparatively less hip compression for the same leg compression.  This wasn't due so much to the different fabric being used, but more to the number and shape of panels used and how they were sewn.  The RoadRunner shorts had simpler construction.

This simplicity also extends to not having a liner over the crotch, which I hope won't cause any issues.

A very positive design feature of the RoadRunner compression shorts is the presence of two large side pockets just behind each hip, next to the glute. One of the pockets has a zipper!  These pockets are easily big enough for a phone or a flat water bottle, reducing the need for a FuelBelt or arm band.

My De Soto trisuits also have generous pockets, but they are on the outside of the leg: When stuffed with gels or a flat water bottle, my arm swing can hit them. I do not expect to have this problem with the pockets on the RoadRunner shorts.

For 1/2 to 1/3 the price, I expect the RoadRunner shorts will certainly meet my needs.  We'll see how they survive in use, but I see no reason to worry.

You may have noticed I haven't mentioned what it's like to run in these shorts!  I have an annoying lung infection at the moment that has zeroed my endurance cardio workouts, but I'll update this review soon after it clears up.