Play Hard, Look Good

Confession time: One of the things that first attracted me to Roller Derby was the cute outfits. I know I should say it was the athleticism, the opportunity to be part of a team, the chance to recreate a sport for the new millennium. But no, it was the outfits.

Prior to my Derby days, I’d slogged my way through long-distance bike rides and several triathlons, all of which warranted wearing terribly unflattering outfits that could best be described as Lycra sausage skin. There are photos out there somewhere of me, 50 pounds heavier than I am now, in a lime green meshy tshirt and silver irredescent Lycra bike shorts. [shudder]

But Roller Derby gave me the chance to be Hell on wheels in a black dress. When I laced up my skates, I also wore a pushup bra, vinyl studded choker, fishnets, knee socks, and a dangerous amount of eyeliner along with my helmet and pads. I loved dressing like a pinup to get sweaty and dirty and roll around on the floor.

Before CrossFit. Wonder how much damage I could do on the track now!

But what worked on the track would never work in the Box.

I can’t imagine trying to do a WOD with a strip of vinyl and spikes wrapped around my neck – or running sprints in fishnets. Most days, I wear a black Under Armour tank or T with black capris to the gym… but I do love the functional fashion of knee socks – gotta protect those shins from the barbell! – and that my Converse Chuck Taylors are the ideal shoes for my workout.

Should you desire to be a little more fashion-forward for your WODS, check out this new-ish site called The 11th CrossFit Skill. Tagline: “coordinated outfits for time.”

Each day, there’s a new outfit, usually with a theme, along with links so you can buy the workout threads that catch your eye.

I particularly like this unicorn sweatshirt from March 2 (get that badass sweatshirt right here):

And I really need one of these WODKILLA tanks:

And now, for something completely different, look at this photo of the Vassar women’s basketball team from 1896. How’d you like to try to run the ball down the court – or snatch or pullup or wall ball – in that get-up?! (Click to see a big version and really drink it in.)

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