Ian in Gore Running Wear's gear
Ian Dempster, Muir of Ord jogscotland
Brrrr...hasn't it just got chilly!
When jogscotland contacted me to ask if I would road test items of clothing for an article for Stride magazine, my first reaction was to wonder, 'Why me?' and my next reaction was to look out a back number of Stride to read a previous Road Test article. Karen McCall's write-up in the Spring edition was the 'beginner's angle', so perhaps jogscotland were looking for an 'oldie's angle' this time!
When Megan phoned from jogscotland she did warn me that there was not a lot of time before the write -up was due. It was fortunate that I was heading into Inverness a couple of days later so I was able to call into the Run 4 It Shop to pick up the items of running gear, and Graham from Run 4 It as always took time and care to make sure that I was kitted out properly.
I must admit that my first reaction on seeing the clothing that jogscotland had selected for me to test out was, 'mmm, short sleeved tops and shorts!’ I have to make a mention at this point about the challenge of Highland weather, and to say that apart from the height of summer, and particularly when running in the Muir of Ord evening sessions, I usually wear long running trousers, cotton t-shirts and a sweat top – it gets cold up here! Anyway I thought it's almost May and the weather is warming up…and then the weather turned chilly!!
Gore Running Wear Air Shirt and Tonic Race Shorts
The first evening I decided to test out the Gore gear mainly because I liked the eye catching colour (yolk yellow! - who thinks up these names?). I got ready in the top and shorts and then stepped outside, and immediately had second thoughts about the shorts, and went back inside and changed into my longer running trousers. There was a chilly wind blowing up the Firth that evening, and when I arrived in Muir of Ord for the start of the run everyone in the group was well wrapped up. My new short sleeved top received quite a few comments mostly positive about the style and colour, but there were also a few comments and raised eyebrows about the wisdom of wearing short sleeves on such a cool evening.
Once I had warmed up and set off on the run, out through Spittal Wood along the route of the old Black Isle railway line, (single track line from Muir of Ord to Fortrose) I did not notice the temperature and the Gore top had a really nice light and comfortable feel. I did not have my normal experience of returning at the end of the run feeling hot and sticky in my heavier cotton top. The top got top marks for look, design and performance...the shorts are going to have to wait for a warmer day!
Products:
Gore Air short sleeved t-shirt (Yolk yellow/black) - made from 100% polyester this garment has mesh vents for ventilation under the arms and is ideal in warm weather. It also has two bands of reflective piping down by the nape of the back.
Price: £28.00
Tonic II race shorts (similar colour) - 100% polyester and nylon inner brief. Back zip pocket and square vented shorts. Very light, breathable mesh at rear of the shorts to wick perspiration.
Price: £28.00
Ronhill Advance Pure T-Shirt and Infinite Race Shorts
Time is getting short so I decide to join the Wednesday afternoon group for the run through the Forestry Commission forest trail at Monadh Mhor just off the Inverness – Dingwall road. A beautiful warm sunny afternoon, so running in short sleeved top and shorts was not a problem temperature-wise. Lots of positive comments about the look of the gear from my running colleagues, and a fair bit of teasing about my previously unseen bare legs. The top and shorts had a very light and comfortable feel, and the Ultra Wick fabric left me feeling cool and fresh after my run with no sign of the usual sweaty patches on clothing.
I washed the Ronhill gear when I got home and it dried quickly in the April sun, and was ready for another test run that evening. By the time I set out for Muir of Ord to meet up with the Wednesday evening group, the North Sea breeze had returned bringing a cool sea mist rolling up the Beauly Firth, and so I looked out a track suit top for the evening run to make sure I was warm enough.
Products:
Ronhill Advance Pure T-Shirt - 100% polyester. Close knit material with reflective trim on the front of t-shirt. There is a small strip of piping at the rear. Close knit material ideal for the cooler days.
Price: £24.00
Infinite Race Shorts - black. More like a racing short with good ventilation panels. 100% polyester and inner brief. Zip pocket at back for holding a key or similar item.
Price: £18.00
I enjoyed running in the Gore and Ronhill gear, both looked good and felt good to wear. Both sets of shorts had really useful pockets at the back of the short that would be useful to keep keys etc.
Another reason for my initial doubt about testing out short-sleeved tops and shorts is the issue of exposure to the sun. I have to take care not to get too exposed to strong sunlight so normally run in long trousers and long sleeved tops. I was very impressed that with the technical information with the Ronhill clothing, there was a tag with full information about the issue and risks of sun exposure and the protection built in to the design of the fabric to give increased UVF protection: the tag also gave information about wearing a hat, sun-glasses and sunscreen and listed the SMART approach to protecting yourself from sun exposure www.sunsmart.org.uk.
So I look forward to continuing to test out the tops and shorts as the weather warms up...but need to look out a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
View Gore Running Wear's products here and View Ronhill's products here