Why is shirtless running ok only if you "have the right body type"?
CreativeGuy504
Posts: 16 Member
As an avid runner for many years, I've come across this debate countless numbers of times. It seems that many people have an issue with shirtless runners of a certain type. You either have to "have the right body type", or you need to be "under 35", etc. If you don't, then you "need to cover up". I understand the argument about covering up inside at a gym where your sweat could get on the equipment other people need to use, but outside should be fair game.
There's a gentleman who runs shirtless three mornings a week in my neighborhood. Even at seven am, it's hot and humid out, and he runs shirtless. He may not have a beautiful body to stare at (he looks to be in his seventies), but so what? In this day and age of rampant obesity, I admire someone who's getting out there and trying to improve his health.
Instead of knocking someone down simply because they don't look the part (which truthfully, isn't anyone else's business in the first place), shouldn't we be supporting someone who's out there trying to improve their health? If you're sixty years old and take your shirt off for comfort while running, or if you're thirty pounds overweight and do the same...I don't see what the issue is. Why should someone have to alter their exercise routine simply because someone else doesn't like it?
Just my .02
There's a gentleman who runs shirtless three mornings a week in my neighborhood. Even at seven am, it's hot and humid out, and he runs shirtless. He may not have a beautiful body to stare at (he looks to be in his seventies), but so what? In this day and age of rampant obesity, I admire someone who's getting out there and trying to improve his health.
Instead of knocking someone down simply because they don't look the part (which truthfully, isn't anyone else's business in the first place), shouldn't we be supporting someone who's out there trying to improve their health? If you're sixty years old and take your shirt off for comfort while running, or if you're thirty pounds overweight and do the same...I don't see what the issue is. Why should someone have to alter their exercise routine simply because someone else doesn't like it?
Just my .02
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I only wear clothes to prevent others from vomiting. I could care less how anyone else chooses to (or to not) attire themselves.35
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Who hurt you, OP. Tell me.34
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I don't care what other people choose to wear, although I think it's always more dignified for a man to wear a shirt in public, unless you're at the pool or the beach, no matter how good you look. Little boys can go shirtless. I started keeping my shirt on when I was about 7. I'd give boys at least until age 10.8
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I don't care if people run shirtless, though it is very unusual to see an adult do it around here. There's one guy I've seen a couple of times and then the boys track team (obviously not adults.) I do see a lot of men of various sizes/shapes out on their riding lawnmowers.2
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@CreativeGuy504 Devil's advocate here... Women who run in sports bras, no shirt: what are your feelings regarding a "fit" looking 25 year old woman versus a 60 year old, 300 pound woman running in public without covering herself?
(Please, please, PLEASE keep in mind, I'm just adding perspective. I am not judging anyone for age or size. Personally, I think a sports bra is a bra, which is an undergarment, which stays under my garments, not flaunted for the public to see.)13 -
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I'd prefer almost nobody run shirtless in all honesty, but I wouldn't find it an offensive sight, and I accept I don't get to make the rules. Mind you it's not often hot enough where I live for it to be necessary to run shirtless, but I've done a few races where I was sweltering and seriously considered pulling off my vest to see if that helped. I think wetting the top you're going to run in in cold water before you head out is actually more cooling than exposing more skin to the hot sun though IME.
Other people probably don't want to see my pasty legs in running shorts either, but that's their cross to bear. If we all started worrying unduly about other people's aesthetic preferences and allowing that to affect our behaviour we'd never leave the house. As you as you're not committing indecent exposure or chancing hypothermia, run in what you like.5 -
Cutaway_Collar wrote: »It's part of emotional maturity. When you are over 35, you are pretty much in fatherhood territory and you need to set an example and not come across as the show off to passers by especially when there are children, teens and very young women around... Like in their late teens and early 20s.
Because you no longer fit the bill for young and dashing and society looks up to you to set an example. If I were 45 and I had a daughter... I'd never create a chance for her or her peers look at my shirtless body in my effing neighbourhood, and provide room for discussion. It's wrong on so many levels. Yet many dudes do this because they just seek the attention, because age is just a number and emotional maturity is often not proportional to age.
Should men be wearing shirts at a public pool or beach, because of "the children"?23 -
Cutaway_Collar wrote: »It's part of emotional maturity. When you are over 35, you are pretty much in fatherhood territory and you need to set an example and not come across as the show off to passers by especially when there are children, teens and very young women around... Like in their late teens and early 20s.
Because you no longer fit the bill for young and dashing and society looks up to you to set an example. If I were 45 and I had a daughter... I'd never create a chance for her or her peers look at my shirtless body in my effing neighbourhood, and provide room for discussion. It's wrong on so many levels. Yet many dudes do this because they just seek the attention, because age is just a number and emotional maturity is often not proportional to age.
When I was a teenager and woman in her early 20s, I do not recall being emotionally scarred by the sight of an exposed chest or back belonging to a man over 35. I'm really not sure why this is something you find so inappropriate. Maybe men just get hot, and it's not necessarily a form of peacocking?29 -
Cutaway_Collar wrote: »It's part of emotional maturity. When you are over 35, you are pretty much in fatherhood territory and you need to set an example and not come across as the show off to passers by especially when there are children, teens and very young women around... Like in their late teens and early 20s.
Because you no longer fit the bill for young and dashing and society looks up to you to set an example. If I were 45 and I had a daughter... I'd never create a chance for her or her peers look at my shirtless body in my effing neighbourhood, and provide room for discussion. It's wrong on so many levels. Yet many dudes do this because they just seek the attention, because age is just a number and emotional maturity is often not proportional to age.
When I was a teenager and woman in her early 20s, I do not recall being emotionally scarred by the sight of an exposed chest or back belonging to a man over 35. I'm really not sure why this is something you find so inappropriate. Maybe men just get hot, and it's not necessarily a form of peacocking?
I don't think that poster was implying that the young ladies would be emotionally scarred. He was implying that the 20 yr old girls (his daughters friends, presumably) would be ogling his hot dad body and talking amongst their friends in the neighborhood.
Roflmao.16 -
You know... I noticed a few years back that one of my overweight, past middle age neighbors did all his yardwork shirtless. At first it grossed me out until I noticed how gawd awful my husband's farmers tan looked. Now I beg my husband to go shirtless while mowing the lawn, back hair, and beer belly be damned. No, sometimes it's not the prettiest when a man goes topless, but seriously...tan lines.11
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Alluminati wrote: »Cutaway_Collar wrote: »It's part of emotional maturity. When you are over 35, you are pretty much in fatherhood territory and you need to set an example and not come across as the show off to passers by especially when there are children, teens and very young women around... Like in their late teens and early 20s.
Because you no longer fit the bill for young and dashing and society looks up to you to set an example. If I were 45 and I had a daughter... I'd never create a chance for her or her peers look at my shirtless body in my effing neighbourhood, and provide room for discussion. It's wrong on so many levels. Yet many dudes do this because they just seek the attention, because age is just a number and emotional maturity is often not proportional to age.
When I was a teenager and woman in her early 20s, I do not recall being emotionally scarred by the sight of an exposed chest or back belonging to a man over 35. I'm really not sure why this is something you find so inappropriate. Maybe men just get hot, and it's not necessarily a form of peacocking?
I don't think that poster was implying that the young ladies would be emotionally scarred. He was implying that the 20 yr old girls (his daughters friends, presumably) would be ogling his hot dad body and talking amongst their friends in the neighborhood.
Roflmao.
Oh, inevitably.
How terrible. The fabric of society would crumble.3 -
After running this weekend in 90+% humidity and a soaking wet shirt, I support anyone running shirtless who wants to. I personally wasn't able to pull the trigger and just run in my sports bra after lifting my shirt and looking at my belly, but I saw plenty of people of all builds who did. More power to them.20
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Cutaway_Collar wrote: »It's part of emotional maturity. When you are over 35, you are pretty much in fatherhood territory and you need to set an example and not come across as the show off to passers by especially when there are children, teens and very young women around... Like in their late teens and early 20s.
Because you no longer fit the bill for young and dashing and society looks up to you to set an example. If I were 45 and I had a daughter... I'd never create a chance for her or her peers look at my shirtless body in my effing neighbourhood, and provide room for discussion. It's wrong on so many levels. Yet many dudes do this because they just seek the attention, because age is just a number and emotional maturity is often not proportional to age.
Good job proving your own point.
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I don't run outdoors, but I see women run in just a sports bra, and guys shirtless. I don't care what they look like, if they want to do it then why not? And if women or men have bellies, so what? It's not offensive.10
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My husband does yard work without a shirt on. I wish I could. lol
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Who cares.
Get it off and get out there.10 -
I personally couldn't care less. I have seen my fair share of shirtless men when I was a child and a teen, young and old, fit and obese, and I don't recall myself or any of my friends having conversations about them. Heck, the guy who took care of the local children's park I used to go to in the summer as a child was always shirtless. Neither kids nor parents looked twice or thought anything of it.7
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Cutaway_Collar wrote: »
Precisely the point. There is no debate about it. They sell all kinds of cotton shirts to combat hot weather.lithezebra wrote: »I don't care what other people choose to wear, although I think it's always more dignified for a man to wear a shirt in public, unless you're at the pool or the beach, no matter how good you look. Little boys can go shirtless. I started keeping my shirt on when I was about 7. I'd give boys at least until age 10.
There is debate about it, though. I don't feel the same as you. Someone asked up thread, would it be undignified for men to be shirtless on a beach or swimming?4 -
I really don't care if someone runs with a shirt or not. However, it is safer for you to run in shirt as your sweat acts as a cooling system when it's hot out. My husband has always had a nice physique and NEVER does anything shirtless except at the beach. My 18 year old son is very much in shape and he too wears a shirt. If one is comfortable running without a shirt or in a sports bra, more power to them.4
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A neighbour of mine was walking home from work one hot day and took his shirt off to cool down. Shirtless with dress pants and a belt looked very odd to me. Otherwise I don't really notice.
ETA: generally, outside of the beach, the more attractive someone's body is, the more acceptable it is for them to show skin. Sad for overweight people and older people both, but I don't see that changing.0 -
If someone is confident enough to get out in public, exercise and go shirtless more power to them. I am trying to raise my children to love their bodies without developing self hate. Nothing gross or sexual about a man without a shirt or a woman in a sports bra. Wish I had the confidence in my own body to go without a shirt as it sure would be cooler some of these 90+ temperature days.12
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Lol, you guys need to come to SF and watch some people here run in swim suits or ride a bike nekkid on a DAILY basis.
People will either stare in shock or laugh. But in the end, how much did it really affect someone's life? It doesn't affect anyone's relationship, job, money, etc. so why even bother to worry or care about it?
It's not a place of business, it's someone running outside to keep physically fit. No laws are being broken, and if it's makes you uncomfortable, then isn't it more your problem then?
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Cutaway_Collar wrote: »It's part of emotional maturity. When you are over 35, you are pretty much in fatherhood territory and you need to set an example and not come across as the show off to passers by especially when there are children, teens and very young women around... Like in their late teens and early 20s.
Because you no longer fit the bill for young and dashing and society looks up to you to set an example. If I were 45 and I had a daughter... I'd never create a chance for her or her peers look at my shirtless body in my effing neighbourhood, and provide room for discussion. It's wrong on so many levels. Yet many dudes do this because they just seek the attention, because age is just a number and emotional maturity is often not proportional to age.
To each their own, but I don't think emotional maturity has anything to do with it. You've said that you would not want your daughter's friends to see your shirtless body, and then provide room for discussion. How do you feel about going to the water park or beach? Every time I'm at the beach, I see multiple families out enjoying the water. Men wear no shirts, and women wear bathing suits...all of this done in the presence of their children and other children. Should a man have to wear a shirt or a woman wear a shirt over their bathing suit at the beach? Does that somehow harm the children?
With all due respect, I think it's silly to say someone lacks emotional maturity simply because they run in the heat without a shirt on.
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Alluminati wrote: »Cutaway_Collar wrote: »It's part of emotional maturity. When you are over 35, you are pretty much in fatherhood territory and you need to set an example and not come across as the show off to passers by especially when there are children, teens and very young women around... Like in their late teens and early 20s.
Because you no longer fit the bill for young and dashing and society looks up to you to set an example. If I were 45 and I had a daughter... I'd never create a chance for her or her peers look at my shirtless body in my effing neighbourhood, and provide room for discussion. It's wrong on so many levels. Yet many dudes do this because they just seek the attention, because age is just a number and emotional maturity is often not proportional to age.
When I was a teenager and woman in her early 20s, I do not recall being emotionally scarred by the sight of an exposed chest or back belonging to a man over 35. I'm really not sure why this is something you find so inappropriate. Maybe men just get hot, and it's not necessarily a form of peacocking?
I don't think that poster was implying that the young ladies would be emotionally scarred. He was implying that the 20 yr old girls (his daughters friends, presumably) would be ogling his hot dad body and talking amongst their friends in the neighborhood.
Roflmao.
Not ogling. Admiring. The human body can be an art form, in whatever shape or form.
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@CreativeGuy504 Devil's advocate here... Women who run in sports bras, no shirt: what are your feelings regarding a "fit" looking 25 year old woman versus a 60 year old, 300 pound woman running in public without covering herself?
(Please, please, PLEASE keep in mind, I'm just adding perspective. I am not judging anyone for age or size. Personally, I think a sports bra is a bra, which is an undergarment, which stays under my garments, not flaunted for the public to see.)
Wouldn't bother me.
Sure it may not be the most pleasant thing to look at (just like my seventy year old neighbor), but I would support her 100%. I love to people watch, and that comes with seeing people who are really well dressed, and people who aren't. To me, telling a shirtless jogger to cover up (unless in a place of business, etc) is akin to telling a random stranger "I don't like that outfit on you. You need to change into something else."
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Absolutely agree. I was commenting on the PP's PPTriathlete1502 wrote: »Alluminati wrote: »Cutaway_Collar wrote: »It's part of emotional maturity. When you are over 35, you are pretty much in fatherhood territory and you need to set an example and not come across as the show off to passers by especially when there are children, teens and very young women around... Like in their late teens and early 20s.
Because you no longer fit the bill for young and dashing and society looks up to you to set an example. If I were 45 and I had a daughter... I'd never create a chance for her or her peers look at my shirtless body in my effing neighbourhood, and provide room for discussion. It's wrong on so many levels. Yet many dudes do this because they just seek the attention, because age is just a number and emotional maturity is often not proportional to age.
When I was a teenager and woman in her early 20s, I do not recall being emotionally scarred by the sight of an exposed chest or back belonging to a man over 35. I'm really not sure why this is something you find so inappropriate. Maybe men just get hot, and it's not necessarily a form of peacocking?
I don't think that poster was implying that the young ladies would be emotionally scarred. He was implying that the 20 yr old girls (his daughters friends, presumably) would be ogling his hot dad body and talking amongst their friends in the neighborhood.
Roflmao.
Not ogling. Admiring. The human body can be an art form, in whatever shape or form. 1 -
It isn't really a common sight where I live regardless of age or condition of the guy. I don't see guys hanging out shirtless outside, exercing shirtless outside or doing yard work shirtless much here. I never really thought about it.
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