It’s no secret, I love marathon training. It’s an exciting journey and one that I’m happy I’m on.
Until recently, I didn’t see myself as an athlete. I never thought I was cut from that cloth. I worked out to lose weight. I worked out to stay healthy…then I found running.
When I run, I challenge myself. I participate in events. I compete. I smile. I am distance runner. I am an athlete.
Training has taught me so many lessons. Yesterday, I learned another one. Marathon training can change your body and your mind. I feel comfortable in my own skin. I usually see myself strong, confident, and secure. Somehow a simple pair of jeans almost brought me down.
It was cool yesterday – a perfect late summer Sunday. After a quick cross training session at the gym, I came home to get ready for the farmer’s market. I was really excited to pull on my favorite pair of jeans. I dug them out of a pile of denim. My first pair of designer jeans! I got them for Christmas and loved them so. I quickly slipped my foot through the leg. Then things came to a screeching halt. My foot was the only thing that slid through. The jeans didn’t fit. My fancy-pants, “skinny jeans” would not wrap around my marathon training calves…or quads. I was crushed. I reached for another pair of “skinnies.” Different jeans, same story. What?! I run a boatload of miles and now my favorite jeans don’t fit! For a second, my eyes welled up. Then, I stopped myself. I grabbed a sweet pair of boot cuts, pulled them on, and went on with my day.
This morning, I ran a glorious, Garmin-free ten miles. It was perfect. I felt amazing – clear-minded and peaceful. I made my choice…
Goodbye, skinny jeans! Hello, 26.2 miles! No pair of jeans is worth my tears. Everyone’s body responds differently to training. Apparently, running has given me some powerful leg muscles. They are preparing for a marathon. They support me every day, working hard to push up tough hills and gain speed. These legs run!
I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Look at them stems!
Strong is the new skinny.
Love this!! Thank you.
So ironic we were just talking about that the other night! Screw those “skinny” jeans. I’ve always been against them! You look great and are strong!!!! Keep on running, it looks like I will be living vicariously through you this marathon:(
I have had this very same problem with almost every pair of skinny jeans on the market. I dont know what yours were like, but I found that straight cuts fit me better. My old pair from the Gap are so tight across my thighs I cant even bend my legs.
The same thing is happening to me. A lot of my clothes are getting small! I think I will just have to buy new clothes
I’ve heard that happens to a lot of people when training. I know from my years of dancing that I would go up and down depending on the competition season. When it was competition season my quads would be huge! No way I could fit into my jeans, but in the off-season I would lose the muscle mass. Don’t worry about it
Plus, why wear skinny jeans when you can run a marathon!?!?
girlfriend, you’ve got some hot legs–why cover them up anyways!
That’s a great attitude to have!
Nice Pic of of the back of your legs…..they are beautiful!!!!!Oh well I guess we have a reason to buy a new pair..:)
Omg Becky, I have the SAME problem. My calves are way too big! I cannot get any skinny jeans on me. I love your attitude. Screw the skinny jeans. Being strong is so much more important.
And you are an athlete- an amazing one! Great job on the 10 miles!
Thanks, Jen! 26.2 miles means so much more than a piece of denim. It seems to be a common problem among us lady athletes
Nice gams
Glad you didn’t let the jeans get you down, girl – I think legs look much better with a little muscle anyway!
Good for you! A pair of jeans should not be able to ruin your day. You are strong and fit!
I adore this post. I had the same friggin issue and bout lost it. You have KILLER legs and I would rather call myself an athlete any day of the week that worry about jeans. With those legs, rock a skirt, ha!
Yes! I am totally stocking up on girly skirts and dresses!
You should be so proud of everything you have accomplished, including your positive attitude. Unfortunately many women might have panicked and freaked out but you didn’t let the fit of a pair of jeans dictate your day and that is just awesome!
I hear ya about the jeans, but your running legs rock!
I am glad you wrote about this! Many of us runner’s have the same issue so it feels good not to be alone in this!
Great job on the 10 miles!
I LOVE this post! Because something very similar happened to me the other day. Evan grabbed my calf and said “oh! your legs are getting bigger” He meant they were becoming more muscular from all my running, but I didn’t exactly take it as a compliment at first. I had to take a step back and remember all the amazing things these strong legs can do. And if they’ve gotta get bigger to power me through 26.2 miles, then so be it.
I love how proud you are of your runner’s legs. It’s inspirational.
I think it can be especially difficult to have this positive attitude as a woman, when the ideal is to have stick thin legs that slide effortlessly into skinny jeans. But I’ll take powerful athletic legs that help me do amazing things over sticks any day 
I agree. At first I thought, “Maybe I can wear these jeans again someday…” but I stopped myself and realized that I’d rather keep the calves than the jeans! I love running way too much
That a girl! Distance Runner over Skinny Jeans is perfection!
This post made me teary-eyed. Such a great message!!
Thanks, Lindsay…I was teary-eyed for a bit, too. it drives me crazy that so many top designers choose skinny over healthy.
I love this post! You’re legs look amazing. Welcome to the club!
Great blog post! We truly have to embrace everything running gives us, even our musclely legs! PS where did you get those plaid shorts?
Thank you!
The shorts of from Lululemon and they are my absolute favorite running shorts!
Lol! I am having the same thing happening with my legs. To be honest, I’ve always had a propensity toward having larger thighs, but this marathon training has made them uber-solid….and rather large, to be honest. But like you said, I’m proud of them. It means I’ve worked hard to build up some solid muscle that will allow me to rely upon them to drag me 26.2 miles! How can you dislike thunder thighs when they let you do stuff like that? Honestly now…
AWESOME POST!! I so needed to read this, because I would have tried jeans on and considered myself a screw-up in some way…..I’m working on having a more positive mindset with myself and this post just DID IT!! Thank you, and keep it UP girl!!
WOOT!
Great post Great point. I trained for a Figure comp and my thighs and butt are even more massive now after adding 5 lbs after the show!!! I have to just get over it, for now!
[...] My Running Legs (a favorite post) [...]
I just found your blog and have enjoyed reading it a lot! This same thing happened to me but with my wedding dress! I went shopping for it 3 weeks after completing a 10-miler. During that 3-weeks I didn’t lift a muscle to exercise and ordered a slimmer cut dress. 6 months later when it came in I had been running all winter and it barely fit my hips/thighs. I had to stop running a month before my wedding to lose some of the muscle and make sure the dress would fit!