Should I wear a singlet or no shirt at all in hot weather races?

Go with whatever is comfortable for you, who cares how you look? You are there to run, not be part of a fashion show.

Old Man By The Sea wrote:

"What is the big deal about not wearing a singlet while running..??.I never wear a singlet in the summer..and if you train without a singlet why wear one in a race...??."

From one old man to another:

I'm with you on this one. Have been going shirtless for years and not going to change. Just feel more comfortable without it.

"If your heavy I can understand why but if your in shape I dont get it."

This is where you can get into a grey area. Ok, so I have a little love handle but it can be an advantage. Most young guys probably just look at me and think I'm a jogger... until I pass them.

After careful consideration, and a review of all of the "helpful" replies, I have decided to go without a shirt. I may wear a pair of polyester Bike coaching shorts if I can find some as well---I realize, based on the responses to this post, that numerous wannabes need a lesson in the appearance vs. reality motif.

Three weeks ago (when I ran 30:13 in a 10k road race), I was beaten by a guy wearing long shorts and one of those John Deere farmer hats with the mesh back---seriously. We all need that shit to put our pathetic performances in perspective. I will provide the lesson for some punks this weekend.

No shirt (I have a hairy chest too) and those old school Bike coaching shorts if I can find some. If I can't find those, I have a sweet pair of teal colored Dophin shorts in a nice old skool tricot mesh.

topher the track wrote:

Here in England you'd be disqualified for not wearing a vest, straight off & no messing around.

Fortunately though, we no longer have to wear a tie and a top hat in races.

Great Post!

You got the right idea Patriot. I almost always race bare chested... never had a dumbass race official say anything about it... never even crossed my mind that they would. It's running. Shoes, shorts, and speed is all you need.

most modern singlets are SUPPOSED to evaporate sweat better than your skin without retaining heat so theoretically you'd be better off in a singlet regardless of the temporature. Whether or not you actually believe that is completely up to you...

Because it is disrespectful for those of us who don't want to see a bare chested jack ass running past us.

While we are at it, why should the ladies have to wear shirts and sport bras- I mean for christ sakes, it's hot out. We should all just run naked, right...

I agree about Topher's post. Hilarious.

Why would you wear a shirt? Why to product yourself from skin cancer of course! Fools! Beware the power of the sun!

Lotion baby..!!..get with the times..!!

That's idiotic. I'm disrespecting you because I'm not wearing a shirt? I'm not wearing a shirt because it's 95 degrees out and I don't want a sopping wet singlet sticking to me, and I'm the jackass?Where do you race? Beverly Hills? You've never seen people running shirtless? I don't give a damn if you race in a wool sweater, and frankly, it shouldn't bother you if I don't wear one--personal preference guy.

Ex-Thrower wrote:

Because it is disrespectful for those of us who don't want to see a bare chested jack ass running past us.

While we are at it, why should the ladies have to wear shirts and sport bras- I mean for christ sakes, it's hot out. We should all just run naked, right...

was I disrespectful enough for you, ass sucka?

Since you are in 30:13 shape you wear whatever you want. I used to be shirtless, but now that I have more waistline than when I was in my 20s, 30s or even last year I wear a singlet to hide the fat. All you other fatties, should not run sans shirt.

Hell we run naked. And no shoes. Go Classical style.

Why stop at singlets? Is seeing someone's sweaty arm too much for your latent homosexual urges to handle? How about we require shirts with sleeves to be worn during races, a la the beginning of the 20th century? Or, better yet, require cloth covering from head-to-toe? It would surely increase the number of Amish and Mennonites enrolling in the local Summer Day's 5K. In the mean time, I will be running shirtless on hot days. Try to not pop a hard-on when I run past you; regardless, your 20-inch inseam basketball shorts should conceal your 3 inch dick in the likely incident that you do sprout a stiffy.

Believe me, if and let's make that a big IF- I had ANY homosexual tendancies- I can assure you that I wouldn't be attracted to a 140 lb runner.

Quite frankly if you want to continue to look like a tool and a jackass- keep busting out your 5k's shirtless. You guys are inspirations to us all. Here's an official list of sport tools:

-Shirtless Road Racers

-Tank Top Wearing Golfers

-Wrist Band Wearing Softball Guy

-Replica Jersey Wearing Basketball Guy

-Flag Football Dude with Nueman Receiving Gloves

I still don't understand why not wearing a shirt when racing offends you. It's purely a matter of comfort for me. I don't have a super-lean, great body, but I hate having a shirt stick to me when I'm racing, or even running in the heat for that matter.When I run, I don't dress to look cool.If you fail to provide any logical reason why this is offensive, the only thing I can think is that if you are an ex-thrower, you're probably a big boy, and seeing skinny runners shirtless just makes you feel even fatter. Seriously. Let it go man-not that big a deal.

Ex-Thrower wrote:

Believe me, if and let's make that a big IF- I had ANY homosexual tendancies- I can assure you that I wouldn't be attracted to a 140 lb runner.

Quite frankly if you want to continue to look like a tool and a jackass- keep busting out your 5k's shirtless. You guys are inspirations to us all. Here's an official list of sport tools:

-Shirtless Road Racers

-Tank Top Wearing Golfers

-Wrist Band Wearing Softball Guy

-Replica Jersey Wearing Basketball Guy

-Flag Football Dude with Nueman Receiving Gloves

I can help you, but I need to know if your'e male or female first.

È

Going shirtless in a race is a matter of practicality. Only an idiot would choose avoiding a "sport tools" cliche list over being comfortable.