Do you wear compression shorts when you run?

Question

I noticed that at the professional level, it is much more common for sprinters to wear compression shorts than distance runners. Actually I hardly ever see distance/ xc runners wear compression shorts. I'm a distance/xc runner and I wear them. Even when I was running in high school, I saw at states many sprinters just wore compression shorts and a spandex UA shirt. Do you wear spandex on long runs?

Answer 1

Thats a very good point that ive never though of. Im a middle school distance runner and i see alot of kids that wear underarmor tops, and sometimes shorts. I never wear compression anything at meets, but when its chilly, i wear an underarmor top.

The only logical reason i can think of why this is the form the two different runners run at. Sprinters body's are moving fast, pumpimping there leggs and arms for a short period of time. They also cant have any drag.

Distance runners have to run for a while (a mile isnt that long but u hav to run it with a distance form) and i wouldnt think compression shorts would be comfortable. Short shorts and a sleevless would be the most comfortable, least drag way to run in distance form.

So wat i guess im trying to say is it depends on the style and form of running u are doing.

  Hope this helps!

Answer 2

I am a distant runner and I do wear spandex in training as well as in races.

Answer 3

Yes, I am training for the Philadelphia and Boston marathons and I wear compression shorts whenever I can, especially during sprint workouts where there is a lot of quick/sudden movements and a lot of "bounce."  I've run upwards of 10 miles in UA comp. shorts before and they're comfortable the entire time.

Answer 4

yeah, i wear spandex under regular shorts though.  prevents chafing.  but in races, it's more typical of sprinters