Did runners wear sweatshirts and sweatpants like Rocky did? Just curious as to what runners wore before spandex tights and synthetic fabrics came onto the scene.
Did runners wear sweatshirts and sweatpants like Rocky did? Just curious as to what runners wore before spandex tights and synthetic fabrics came onto the scene.
first there was just gray sweats, then they introduced black sweats, then some navy blue sweats and finally red sweats.
First of all, stuff was a lot cheaper and a lot more "environmentally friendly". Cotton long johns that would last about half a season, due to rubbing. Cotton gloves or mittens and heavy duty reverse stitch Champion hood sweats tops. We all wore wool or cotton hats. Clothes came off as workout went along (long johns stayed on). We also always had a change of clothing as all of our running attire was quite wet from sweat by the end of the workout. Coldest ever for me was minus 12. Hard to breath and nostril hairs froze, but I hardly ever got cold.
We did Badger miles on Rupp cerified courses, so most runs took only a few minutes.
Without synthetics we just went without. Where do you think "streaking" came from? (no not streaks)
Sweat pants, and either a sweatshirt or layered shirts; short sleeve over a long sleeve, or a long sleeve with a light jacket vest.
I wore a baggy sweat suite, a head band over my ears, a towel around my neck, somtimes a second sweat suite top or suite and gloves or better still mittens or socks on my hands. We all looked like Rocky.
I ran the 1967 Boston marathon with a head band, a long sleeve sweat shirt, gloves and a towel around my neck. I left my legs bare but coated them in Analgesic Balm and then cocoa butter and vaseline. Take a look at how Kathrine Switzer looked that year.
Long underwear, sweatshirt, crewcut cotton socks, and white hardware gloves.
Oh, and a red-and-white striped, knitted stocking cap with the little ball on the top.
Just to be clear - we did have nylon and polyester and acrylic in the early seventies.
Of course wool was the standard base layer for cold days.
Cottony layers.
Hooded sweats, Long sleeve T with a short sleeve over the top. Some lucky team members had fleece, but there weren't enough of those to go around. socks or workers gloves on our hands.
Tell you what we never wore.......shorts over the top of our sweats.
The "Rocky" look was pretty common. I liked pants from long underwear underneath my running shorts. Usually a sweatshirt or windbreaker was all I needed on top as well as gloves.
yes, but the vast majority of us looked just like rocky ...gray sweats. if it was warm - gray shorts and a white t-shirt.
Coach Owl Birdo wrote:
Just to be clear - we did have nylon and polyester and acrylic in the early seventies.
Of course wool was the standard base layer for cold days.
HAHAHAHAHA... good one.