You would not do well around here. Men & women like that are commonplace. And yes, they hook up. The fact they’re scandalizing the college kids and the 30-somethings is just a bonus.
Now I just gotta get to work on my own gut, then order some appropriate shorts. 
If I was young and single I’d dress nicer but I’m old, fat and married so gym wear is pretty substandard.
I’ve done a number of half marathons - stumble of of bed in the dark, fumble into suitable clothing… try to get to the start on time.
What somewhat suprises me is the number of women who are fully made-up, lipstick, eyes, cheeks… to run a race.
I mean, it is totally up to them, and they made the choice to wake up far earlier than I do. But this is a long distance race! No one, regardless of ability (and I am very much in the low tiers) looks good at the end of a run. It is exhausting. Sweat is going to ruin that perfect face.
So why look good in the dark at the start of the race, only to look haggard, sweaty and tired at the end, just like everyone else?
There are certain secrets I will never learn, and cannot really ask without offending.
(That said, I did once win my body weight in wine in a half-marathon because I was dressed as a bee… the “Wacky Wine Festival” here in southern South Africa. Complete with stripy socks, a bicycle helmet with antennae, and a harness to support wire/plastic wrap wings. So perhaps I am being a little overcritical. OTOH, that was my best time ever, 2hr 01m)
Just the other day, my wife asked me to change from the wicking Under Armor tees she had bought me, as they really stank after workouts. As an experiment she asked me to wear one of my old white 100% cotton v-neck tees which I wear under work shirts. So I tried it and - success! No stank.
She offered to go on line and buy me some colored tees from Lands End or somewhere. I said, since the old white tees could be replaced, why don’t we just buy some new white tees and rotate the old ones to workout status. We’ll see what appears in my desser! But I may be getting even sloppier in my workout gear! Hadn’t really thought that possible. 
So you were buzzed during and after the event? 
@Dinsdale I am surprised that your cotton tees don’t stink more than the wicking ones. I usually exercise in old event tees. Some have holes in the pits by now, which I consider ventilation! The most recent two are wicking material. My experience is that not only am I not soggy wearing them but that they stink less. Mind you either way it is shower before spending time socializing! But (gross I know) the wicking ones get hung up on a hook in the basement bathroom that I use to shower in after exercise and reworn without washing each time; I don’t do that with a sopping cotton tee.
I don’t own high tech wicking fabrics. But it’s a common complaint that they tend to stink, and it’s hard to get the smell out.
I was actually quite hungover, but the fairly flat course got me a personal best.
Marathons in Cape Town mean a shit-load of hills. My best in the biggest half-marathon in CT is 02:26, and I was wearing sensible clothing
Yeah - if you google it, it’s a thing. Several years ago I tried a couple of them for golf, but they developed and held a stink. My wife recently bought me a few for exercise, thinking it didn’t mater as much, they’d be easy to launder, etc. But she’s apparently decided they smell too bad. (I acknowledge, she seems to have a very sensitive sense of smell in all things. And I imagine it may be different for different people depending on their body chemistry.)
But as a general rule, we tend to go 100% cotton for shirts.
Wool has a reputation for not stinking or at least stinking less. There are some light weight wool clothes that are suitable for warmer weather.
Brian
Polyester loves to hold onto sweat funk. Always has.
Any idea why?
(From how stuff works .com):
When it comes to making body odor worse, synthetic fabrics tend to trap odors at a greater rate than natural fabrics. Although many of these man-made fabrics, like polyester, are quick to wick moisture away from the skin and equally quick to dry, their construction can up the “stink” quotient.
Within the weave of synthetic, moisture-wicking fabrics are notches designed to pool minute amounts of sweat as it transfers from the inner layer to the outer layer of the fabric. The concept is a good one, as the moisture will generally evaporate once it reaches the fabric’s outer layer. The problem is that as sweat collects in the nooks and crannies of the fabric on its way to freedom, it is devoured by bacteria that have made themselves at home in the same recesses. This traps body odor within the fabric.
Huh. Thanks.
My wicking ones don’t smell to me so I wonder if they have the silver or ash stuff. They were both event shirts though, so springing for that would surprise me. I may just not notice funk much …
“… don’t forget the antiperspirant.” ? Sorry. There will be sweat. The cotton one sopping or the wicking one stinky is the choice I guess?
Again usually alone during exercise. If stinky I don’t care. I’ll shower before spending time with other people.
I wear whatever I had put on that day, though I will changed into sneakers if I’m not already wearing them. But if I’m wearing a button shirt, I’ll work out in that.
I do enjoy looking around to see if anyone is not wearing black. Very hard to find them.
I don’t care for black clothes.
I excercise to improve my health and body, not put on a show for anyone else. I think the amount of attention given towards outfite choice/coordination is an indicator of whether someone is in the gym to get a workout in or at the gym to ego lift.
I really do enjoy fun cycling jerseys though!
I have Bert and Ernie, two Chicago themed ones, a souvenir from a trip, the Michelin Man, and of course the fluorescent green safety one …
I must care a little in public I guess?
I’ve certainly noticed this. (I thought it was just me)
My solution is to put the clothes directly into the washer at the end of my workout and use the “sanitize” setting. Seems to work.
You’re like me. Proper bra and shoes are preeminent. I see a lot of my neighbors on my route, so I don’t want to look like an old-timey hobo. I wear a loose t-shirt and loose cotton pants with an elastic waistband. I get hot, so I don’t want to wear anything clingy. This is part of a new exercise regime prescribed by my cardiologist.
I probably wouldn’t have needed a cardiologist if I’d kept up with the exercise routine of my youth. The last five or so years of work with an extra long commute, then retirement, then covid, then stress over the political situation, and I hadn’t consistently exercised in about ten years. I’ve just started this program, and already I feel so much better (also, I’ve lost 60 lbs over the last year or so).
For me, wearing cute/funny/pretty t-shirts is for my own enjoyment. I have a big collection of dachshund-themed t-shirts that get thumbs up from people, but they’re really for me. I used to wear event t-shirts from my 5-10K running days, but they’re all long gone. I miss the JACL ones.
I wear sweat pants, cross trainers and Carhartt tee shirts to the gym
I wear jeans, boots and Carhartt tee shirts everywhere else.