Girlfriend bought me a fuel vest for my birthday - help!!!!

my 2c wrote:

Just be patient. You'll find a use for it. If you ever go for a longish run on a hot day in a new place or while on vacation, it can be surprisingly useful and let you go places you couldn't get to otherwise. Or use it on a hike sometime.

This. At some point if you are dating you will definitely go hiking together. It is inevitable. Then you can use it and fill it with granola bars. Also you never know what you'll be into in 7 years. You may be on a trail.

Those vests get stolen all the time. Better not buy a new one then, it will probably get stolen again.

Your girlFriend doesn’t know you. For whatever reason that is. Either get a new girlfriend or stop making up stories that you have a girlfriend. Case in point: I mentioned I like cats to a new girlfriend. She went and got me a cat for my birthday a month later. The relationship lasted one more week.

iutfycb wrote:

Who cares what you look like? You told us that you live with your girlfriend so we already know you are lame.

Come on man, are you kidding? I know all sports clothing can be a bit questionable but a fuel vest is just fashion suicide and it just looks ridiculous. Plus, like I say, I don’t run long enough to justify it.

I guess in ultras they won’t look so bad as everyone wears them and they’re out in the middle of nowhere.

By the way, my girlfriend is super sweet and this is the reason I don’t want to hurt her feelings.

keeper or not? wrote:

She knows I love running but I’m a track guy who occasionally does some road stuff but nothing even close to needing a fuel vest. It just looks so lame that I wouldn’t be seen dead in it but I don’t want to hurt her feelings.

The problem is we live together so I know she’ll notice if I never use it or just toss it out.

How do I explain to her that I hate it without hurting her feelings?

We’ve been dating for 1.5 years now.

Bro, those things are perfect for carrying jungle juice at parties. That's an amazing gift.

Simple solution: Go on hikes or long bike rides with her and wear the vest.

NotPC wrote:

Be an adult and tell her nicely that you appreciate her sentiment but it's just not something you can use. Most people would rather have their money used on something someone they care about for something they like and want.

if you are an A hole about it, you get what you deserve.

Too late for that now. Woulda worked if he had fessed up as soon as he got it.

OP, just wear it. Just ignore the snickering from the other athletes when you race the 400 with it.

-- fashion suicide --

You couldn't be more lame than that... please pay a therapist and work on your self-esteem

Have her buy you some ointment for your vagina instead.

This thread is useless without pics of your girlfriend

I'm with the group of people that thinks you should consider keeping it. You might end up using it more than you think and you might like having it. My running club has a lot of people that work at the local running store and we've all ended up with vests sort of by accident (either for free or at a big discount) and they end up being pretty useful.

If it is a vest that can fit a pair of flats or spikes, they are perfect if you run from home or have to park far away and jog to your track workout. I hate carrying spikes in my hands while I run.

If your long runs are 15-20+ miles, you really should be drinking water along the way especially on hot days.

I've been seeing running vests grow more and more popular and it's not just with trail runners. A lot of people want to carry stuff on their runs and they're really nice to have for day hikes or trips around town on foot.

Too late. Now you have to go on 3-5 hour walk/hike outings while eating as many gels as possible.

New color wrote:

-- fashion suicide --

You couldn't be more lame than that... please pay a therapist and work on your self-esteem

I won’t apologise for caring about my appearance. I mean no offence to anyone who sports a fuel vest but I think they look ridiculous and will never wear this thing - EVER!

I just don’t get how my girlfriend would think I’d wear it. She’s been great so far at getting me and got me an awesome watch for Christmas. She also knows that I’m particular about what clothes I wear.

I know the ultra community are a bit crazy so maybe it’s cool with them but not for me. Call me vain all you want but you won’t convince me to wear it, even on a hike. I’ll just take a backpack instead.

Maybe it's not for running.

Let me guess - sex lasts about 8 minutes and then you go get a drink of water. Listen to what she is trying to tell you.

They're pretty expensive items. Lie to her and tell her you can wear that stuff because of chaffing, or be honest and tell her how vein you are. Return it for something you will use.

Grenio wrote:

Maybe it's not for running.

Let me guess - sex lasts about 8 minutes and then you go get a drink of water. Listen to what she is trying to tell you.

I don’t think she’d want me to wear it in the bedroom as how could anyone get turned on by someone in a fuel vest. She is a little kinky but not that much.

Just wear the vest when you walk out the door and stash it under a bush or something at the start of your run. Pick it back up and throw it on before you return. Easy solution.

Whatever you do, I'd make sure you continue to hide the truth from her so she's unable to truly know and understand who you really are, thus allowing her to continue buying thoughtful, albeit pointless, gifts for you!

Kruppe wrote:

Simple solution: Go on hikes or long bike rides with her and wear the vest.

Yeah, seriously. If you're actually serious about this post.. just use the vest here and there when you run outside, take it with on some hikes and say thank you. I know a few guys whose wives hate their running hobbies and are not supportive at all. Use it, keep it in an area where she can see it so thinks you like it etc.. then when it gets close to a holiday season, start talking about the things you really want (specific shoes, a shirt, whatever). She's trying. That's good.

You anywhere near legit trails? Just start running some ultra stuff. No big deal.