When is it socially acceptable for shirtless running?

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Replies

  • Rai007
    Rai007 Posts: 387 Member
    a lot of guys will be jealous. :(
  • harlanJEN
    harlanJEN Posts: 1,089 Member
    If you are a man and you don't need a sports bra ......

    Then it's ok to run shirtless

    : )
  • FlaxMilk
    FlaxMilk Posts: 3,452 Member
    Shirtless running IMO should just about always be socially acceptable. I think shirtless is the most comfortable way to workout. This thread has pretty much proven that you can't control how people will react to what you do (some will avert their eyes to avoid having lustful thoughts, some like me will avert their eyes to avoid feeling like a creeper, some will cheer you on, some will check you out, some will judge you for the wobbly bits, some will think you are a douche, some will think it's hot outside), and there's nothing offensive about the human body, so ... go for it. When you feel ready. I'd say a bit before then. Do it now and realize how much it really doesn't matter.
  • VoicelessRide
    VoicelessRide Posts: 395 Member
    I have run shirtless it is fun and motivating but for me it is a mood thing. i usually have something on
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    I have the same problem. I have a little pooch down at the bottom because I had a foot long incision from surgery that opened my guts up. At my age, not sure if it will ever tighten up.

    I do run shirtless about half the year. The major problem I have are people staring or trying to take pictures with their phone while driving and almost running me over when I'm kicking pavement. So be save :) and pay attention.

    That being said, I've also live in a town that has a large cancer treatment hospital. I usually end up running by the hospital 3-4 of my runs during the week. Some patients or family members notice my chemo port on my chest when I run by and I'm sure it gives them or their family hope that they can too beat cancer.
  • SheilaG1963
    SheilaG1963 Posts: 298 Member
    I was going to ask this in the fitness message board but I thought I would get some more honest (and entertaining) answers from the regulars on here.

    So when is it acceptable for a guy to run shirtless? I know you should be able to whenever bc screw everyone else but honestly I do care what people think and would rather not gross them out.

    So what is the criteria besides the weather? Is a full 6 pack required? Is it possible to not look like a douche shirtless running? Thoughts on when it is socially acceptable? Guidelines to follow?

    I don't really care what you choose to do. IMO, it always looks "douchey." Is there a reason guys NEED to run shirtless?

    I live in the Saint Louis area. In the summer it's well over 100 degrees, with 95+% humidity. I have to say that there have been days that I wanted to run shirtless. Days when even the light weight, space age material sleeveless running shirt felt like running with an insulated jacket on.

    It feels that way for women too, yet it's still illegal, even in St. Louis when it's hot and humid, for them to strip half naked.

    Actually, it's not illegal for women to be seen topless. The only thing illegal is for women to show their front lower half. Same goes for men. I live in SE Missouri and there was a guy who would moon cars going by his house. When we complained, that's what the cops told us. Dude, if you want to run shirtless, go ahead. I have never seen a "no shoes, no shirt, no running" sign in nature!
  • diodelcibo
    diodelcibo Posts: 2,564 Member
    All day everyday.
  • TheFatFox
    TheFatFox Posts: 126
    Pah - Leese! Was this posted to fish for compliments? Common, you're in great shape. Let us fat and hairy guys worry about keeping our shirt on and worry about how we wish that we had just a little pouch of fat and no hair on our bodies. Go flippin' run without your shirt. SMH.
  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
    Read no other responses, it is acceptable if you are comfortable doing it. I have seen many tasty morsels running sans shirt, some have a full 6 pack, others are just lean, others have some belly flab. IT DOESN'T MATTER. Confidence is where it's at.
  • Missjulesdid
    Missjulesdid Posts: 1,444 Member
    On the beach or if your house is on fire = socially acceptable all the time.

    On a country road, perhaps.

    Through the city, not so much.

    Same rules apply to well oiled tan muscles or ghostly white hairy keg.
  • stumblinthrulife
    stumblinthrulife Posts: 2,558 Member
    I was going to ask this in the fitness message board but I thought I would get some more honest (and entertaining) answers from the regulars on here.

    So when is it acceptable for a guy to run shirtless? I know you should be able to whenever bc screw everyone else but honestly I do care what people think and would rather not gross them out.

    So what is the criteria besides the weather? Is a full 6 pack required? Is it possible to not look like a douche shirtless running? Thoughts on when it is socially acceptable? Guidelines to follow?

    I don't really care what you choose to do. IMO, it always looks "douchey." Is there a reason guys NEED to run shirtless?

    I live in the Saint Louis area. In the summer it's well over 100 degrees, with 95+% humidity. I have to say that there have been days that I wanted to run shirtless. Days when even the light weight, space age material sleeveless running shirt felt like running with an insulated jacket on.

    It feels that way for women too, yet it's still illegal, even in St. Louis when it's hot and humid, for them to strip half naked.

    Actually, it's not illegal for women to be seen topless. The only thing illegal is for women to show their front lower half. Same goes for men. I live in SE Missouri and there was a guy who would moon cars going by his house. When we complained, that's what the cops told us. Dude, if you want to run shirtless, go ahead. I have never seen a "no shoes, no shirt, no running" sign in nature!

    Depends on the state. And even if there aren't laws explicitly forbidding it, some states will get you with things like public nuisance laws.
  • Wicibeth
    Wicibeth Posts: 27 Member
    Never. It's awkward. :/ Run shirtless on the treadmill in your room! :P
  • leebesstoad
    leebesstoad Posts: 1,186 Member
    Never. It's awkward. :/ Run shirtless on the treadmill in your room! :P

    Oh please. Let's not be such uptight prudes about the human body. Especially if it looks as good as the OP's body does (and as a gay man, I am somewhat of a connoisseur of the male body). Americans are such prudes about the human body it's positively 19th century Victorian. Completely ridiculous. From people freaking out over Janet Jackson flashing 2 nanoseconds of boobage to fear of seeing guys running shirtless, when you see the same thing at EVERY beach in America. Grow up people. It's the human body. We all have one. No reason to be ashamed of it or hide it. A shirtless male isn't sexual in the least bit. Neither is a topless female (hence the brouhaha over breastfeeding which is another reversion to Victorian morality). Of course women need a bra for support. Then again, quite a few men should too, but that is a different subject.

    So run shirtless all you want. Mow your yard shirtless. There is no problem whatsoever.
  • ElliottTN
    ElliottTN Posts: 1,614 Member
    Never. It's awkward. :/ Run shirtless on the treadmill in your room! :P

    What is this "treadmill" you speak of?
  • leebesstoad
    leebesstoad Posts: 1,186 Member
    Never. It's awkward. :/ Run shirtless on the treadmill in your room! :P

    What is this "treadmill" you speak of?

    It's what a lot of us are stuck on at our jobs. It's where the rat race is run.
  • ElliottTN
    ElliottTN Posts: 1,614 Member
    Never. It's awkward. :/ Run shirtless on the treadmill in your room! :P

    What is this "treadmill" you speak of?

    It's what a lot of us are stuck on at our jobs. It's where the rat race is run.

    Sounds terribly boring and non-stimulating.
  • Kate814
    Kate814 Posts: 145
    Where I'm from plenty of people run shirtless- fit or not. I'd say do what your comfortable with, doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.
  • Joreanasaurous
    Joreanasaurous Posts: 1,384 Member
    Never. It's awkward. :/ Run shirtless on the treadmill in your room! :P

    Oh please. Let's not be such uptight prudes about the human body. Especially if it looks as good as the OP's body does (and as a gay man, I am somewhat of a connoisseur of the male body). Americans are such prudes about the human body it's positively 19th century Victorian. Completely ridiculous. From people freaking out over Janet Jackson flashing 2 nanoseconds of boobage to fear of seeing guys running shirtless, when you see the same thing at EVERY beach in America. Grow up people. It's the human body. We all have one. No reason to be ashamed of it or hide it. A shirtless male isn't sexual in the least bit. Neither is a topless female (hence the brouhaha over breastfeeding which is another reversion to Victorian morality). Of course women need a bra for support. Then again, quite a few men should too, but that is a different subject.

    So run shirtless all you want. Mow your yard shirtless. There is no problem whatsoever.

    This. This. And then this some more.
  • mag131
    mag131 Posts: 542 Member
    Never. It's awkward. :/ Run shirtless on the treadmill in your room! :P

    Oh please. Let's not be such uptight prudes about the human body. Especially if it looks as good as the OP's body does (and as a gay man, I am somewhat of a connoisseur of the male body). Americans are such prudes about the human body it's positively 19th century Victorian. Completely ridiculous. From people freaking out over Janet Jackson flashing 2 nanoseconds of boobage to fear of seeing guys running shirtless, when you see the same thing at EVERY beach in America. Grow up people. It's the human body. We all have one. No reason to be ashamed of it or hide it. A shirtless male isn't sexual in the least bit. Neither is a topless female (hence the brouhaha over breastfeeding which is another reversion to Victorian morality). Of course women need a bra for support. Then again, quite a few men should too, but that is a different subject.

    So run shirtless all you want. Mow your yard shirtless. There is no problem whatsoever.

    Three cheers for you, sir! Well said.
  • 4homer
    4homer Posts: 457 Member
    If it super hot out then yeah I think it acceptable, now if it like 60 out and your just doing a light jog down the road and back...yeah that may be douchy. Btw i dont care what body type is running, this applies to all weight and sizes. Just my two cents
  • 4homer
    4homer Posts: 457 Member
    double post
  • strongnotskinny121
    strongnotskinny121 Posts: 329 Member
    I don't have a six pack and I go running shirtless. It's whatever you are comfortable in. Honestly, however, if you had a gut hanging over your shorts, the thought " put your shirt back on" would cross my mind.
  • bigred503
    bigred503 Posts: 98
    whenever feels comfortable. unless your child making/feeding body parts are hanging out, people should be less concerned with what your wearing and be happy that someone is taking steps toward a more healthy lifestyle imho...
  • RllyGudTweetr
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
    Intramural mixed gender shirtless running for everyone, says I.
  • vanillacoffee
    vanillacoffee Posts: 1,024 Member
    When you feel good enough to :)
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    Never. It's awkward. :/ Run shirtless on the treadmill in your room! :P

    Oh please. Let's not be such uptight prudes about the human body. Especially if it looks as good as the OP's body does (and as a gay man, I am somewhat of a connoisseur of the male body). Americans are such prudes about the human body it's positively 19th century Victorian. Completely ridiculous. From people freaking out over Janet Jackson flashing 2 nanoseconds of boobage to fear of seeing guys running shirtless, when you see the same thing at EVERY beach in America. Grow up people. It's the human body. We all have one. No reason to be ashamed of it or hide it. A shirtless male isn't sexual in the least bit. Neither is a topless female (hence the brouhaha over breastfeeding which is another reversion to Victorian morality). Of course women need a bra for support. Then again, quite a few men should too, but that is a different subject.

    So run shirtless all you want. Mow your yard shirtless. There is no problem whatsoever.

    I agree with you except the "Americans" part. Not every American is prudish, and there are some countries in which the people are generally far more prudish about things like this. I regularly run shirtless, and interestingly enough, I was chatting with a couple of guys about their running routines the other day, and one of them mentioned that he runs shirtless during his lunch break. Even at his buttoned up office, everyone knows that dudes run shirtless in hot weather, and he is certainly not the six pack abs kind of guy. It's just not a big deal. Honestly, the only place I've seen people get worked up about this "in the U.S." is on MFP.
  • Kr1ptonite
    Kr1ptonite Posts: 789 Member
    For me i wouldn't do it as it just wouldn't feel right. But hey if you feel comfortable then go ahead and do it.
  • MinimalistShoeAddict
    MinimalistShoeAddict Posts: 1,946 Member
    Where I'm from plenty of people run shirtless- fit or not. I'd say do what your comfortable with, doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

    It is the exact same where I live as well. I see runners of all ages run shirtless (or with just sports bras etc) on a daily basis. It is not a big deal.

    If you are cold, wear multiple layers, if you are hot, take it off
  • Mobilemuscle
    Mobilemuscle Posts: 945 Member
    Good answers

    When i go out and jog on the beach i wear a shirt 99% of the time...unless it is blazing hot...just feels better..*shrug*
  • hOw2lozeAgiN10dAze
    hOw2lozeAgiN10dAze Posts: 1,841 Member
    YOU are always allowed to run shirtless. :love:

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