I run with my shirt off. You’re welcome ladies. I run shirtless any chance I get; 55 degrees is about my threshold. As you can see from this picture though, I’m shirtless and the spectators are in heavy coats and knitted caps. It probably was less than 55 degrees that day. I recently read a blog, Feet Meet Street, about the Shirtless Coalition. Well, I’m not one to join too many Coalitions, unless of course it’s Coalition Forces (or better known as US Forces) and freeing a country is involved, but the shirtless debate struck a chord with me. So I’m here to tell you, if you are male, it’s fine. I do it all the time. Sorry ladies, but it’s just another one of those double standard things. Trust me, I would love for you to be able to run shirtless too, it’s great for your running body; however, it’s just not socially acceptable. Maybe someday we’ll get enough judges in the supreme court to overturn this terrible law, but until then, us men must maximize our right to run shirtless! We will run shirtless at any chance we get. So come on men! Show your body off with pride! You earned it, whether by running 20 miles or drinking 20 beers, it’s your body and be proud of it! Do it for the women! That’s not reason enough? Well then here are some other reasons to run shirtless:
Running Style: I feel so free when I run shirtless. I’m able to run in the most natural form possible; minus the whole shorts and shoes thing. Honestly though, running without a shirt does allow me to concentrate more on the arm pumping portion of my running form. Most runners ignore the importance of pumping your arms. If you have forgotten how to pump your arms then I suggest you run shirtless.
Temperature: It’s obviously much cooler (yeah, there’s a double meaning there) to run with your shirt off. Your body is able to release the heat and cool itself down easier. Running shirtless is also a great way to leverage the breeze. That’s right, I leverage things you can’t even see. Like a boss.
Suntan: You get a great suntan in places you wouldn’t normally tan while out on the golf course or building a house; you know, things men do. Women are able to sit outside by a pool all day and get an even tan but that is not a socially acceptable way for a man to tan his upper body. The only acceptable activities for men are running or boating…or running on a boat, that’s acceptable too. Run that extra mile and get sunburned so you can see what areas of your body you need to work on. The areas that are most burnt are the ones that stick out the most. Try to push those areas back in.
Positive Ego boosting: No matter what you look like, girls are going to look at you. Don’t look at what their reaction is, just know they are looking at you. That’s how you boost an ego. At the beginning of this spring I had a very good looking girl take my picture with her camera phone as I ran by shirtless. However, I later noticed she was standing in front of a High School…with a book bag. Ego boost or awkward? Well, I’ve never had an awkward moment in my life.
Overall Fitness: If you are running with your shirt off you are going to start thinking about what your overall body looks like, not just keeping your weight down with running. Running with your shirt off will make you realize that you need to work on those pecs and maybe do some crunches, leading to an overall fit body. It’s all about symmetry.
Go for a shirtless run men! Show your battle scars and lower back tattoo off with pride!
