Tag Archives: clothing

Shoe Shopping

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I text my husband that I had been shoe shopping.  And he text back that it wasn’t like me, and then I think the realisation hit him that I went shopping for running shoes.  I imagine the panic set in deeply then!

My previous running shoes had all been bought from the same local shop and in fact were all the same brand.  I had been pleased with the shoes and the shop. But this time I headed to sweatshop for two reasons.  One is their support of parkrun, which I really enjoy and so should be supported.  And the second was a £15 voucher that I received when I did my first parkrun.

The whole experience was fabulous.  I was put at ease and given great information by the assistant who obviously was a runner himself. I was measured up for insoles and had to stand on soft blocks and such like.  I knew about these and knew that they cost £45 (and are optional) but I imagine it could be a shock if you didn’t.  I tried three pairs of shoes and eventually plumped for the Brooks Ravenna 4.  Three runs in and they are comfortable and (so far) problem free.

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I was very impressed by the whole experience and would certainly shop at Sweatshop again. If only they did bigger ladies clothing…

All the best,

Woodyrunning spoon

A rant about the lack of plus size clothing

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I warn you, I am going to rant.  So if you are of a nervous disposition, you may want to look away now.

Picture this: we are all being encouraged to eat healthy.  You know that it’s the right thing to do.  You get yourself motivated-it’s a big step.  You’ve decided to eat healthily but when you come to look in the shops there is no healthy food.  At all.  There is a wide selection of food that is not healthy, there is food that will just about do, but it’s not the fresh smelling, fat busting healthy food that you have promised yourself.  Actually you are now a little dejected.  Maybe this healthy eating lark isn’t for you.  It’ll be much easier to stick to the unhealthy stuff.  After all it’s like the manufacturers don’t want you to be healthy.

Crazy, eh?

Shall we substitute in exercise gear for plus-sizes for healthy food, and it now becomes painfully true?  We are being encouraged to exercise and for people carrying a bit of padding it can be quite a scary proposition.  And the fact that there is very little technical clothing that fits plus sizers is so depressing.  We have as much right as slim exercisers to be kitted out in clothing that will be do a specific job.

Please would manufacturers realise that there are some people of ample proportions that like to exercise.  It is soul destroying to see all the wonderful clothes (often discounted) offered in small sizes and nothing in larger sizes. We would like to feel like ‘proper runners and exercisers’ with technical gear rather than finding anything that fits.  Not very encouraging really, and that to me is what hurts the most.  The fact that us plus sizers have put our head above the parapet, are trying our best, but sportswear manufacturers don’t appear to appreciate that. Imagine if one did…think of the custom.

Rant over.  Normal scheduling is now resumed!

All the best,

Woodyrunning spoon