When I first came back to the pavement post-hysterectomy, I went on a quest for compression tights which would hold my weak stomach muscles and swelly belly together while I ran. I even wrote about my quest and several of the styles I tried. As the weather began getting warm, I panicked. There was no way I could afford to buy as many pairs of compression shorts as I would need to get through summer running. Plus, I have so many pairs of running shorts and skirts that I would hate to have them sit around collecting dust. So I did what any good frugal fastinista would do, I found a way to wear them. My secret was to wear a panty girdle. I had a few which I had purchased in the Fall so that I could wear real clothes again after the surgery. I hadn’t worn them since. So I started wearing them under my shorts and skirts to run. I tested them out on my shorter weekly runs and then an 8 mile long run. They worked perfectly! They held me in without discomfort as I was still rebuilding my core. I wore one under my skirt at the Baltimore Ten Miler and even though it wasn’t my best race I couldn’t blame my belly. For the Dreaded Druid Hills 10K, I wore the one pair of compression shorts which I did purchase. I would have worn compression shorts regardless of being a hysterrunner because…well it’s the DREADED Druid HILLS! But then the inevitable happened, I needed to do laundry and didn’t have a clean panty girdle to wear.
So for the BWC, I wore my skirt and regular undergarments & I was fine. I think between my core work over the past few months and recovery in general I can safely say I don’t need the extra support in my midsection when I run. However, I do like compression garments for support and recovery of muscles during and after intense workouts. So I will probably continue wearing compression tights or shorts on long runs.
Do you wear compression gear? What is your go to gear for intense workouts?