this is what we want to do to your runners. espaciovictor photo.

As I made my way back to Vancouver from years living abroad, I spent a week in New York where I noticed a strange new trend. It literally had me laughing out loud in NY, so I was shocked, appalled and pretty disgusted to this trend thriving and seemingly accepted here in Vancouver.

I don’t have a vendetta against running shoes. I jog, and when I do I put on my running shoes for protection, comfort and appropriate arch support. The issue I have with running shoes is that they’re EVERYWHERE! They’re in pubs, shops, restaurants and on people who I can safely bet have no intention of running. They’re being worn with jeans, dress pants and even skirts! They don’t look cool, match what people are wearing or make any sense at all. It drives me crazy, as I really like shoes. Comfortable or not, I like my feet to look good. I’ve spent that last year in London walking 40 minutes to and from work in heels. Why? Because they look great and after a while, you get used to them. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey…and you never know who you might meet on the journey. And I sure as hell wouldn’t want to be caught in running shoes.

Active gear in general has far too large a presence in Vancouver. I recognize that it is a very active city. Everyone seems to be riding bikes, hiking, smoothie drinking and generally keeping in good health. I wonder what came first – Vancouver’s natural orientation towards an energetic and healthy lifestyle, or lululemon?

It appears lululemon is in with the government. A secret underground partnership that ensures the sun rises in the east, perhaps? EVERYONE wears lululemon, and more often than not when they have no intention of exercising! When I exercise I sweat, go red in the face, and I don’t smell good. Why would I want to spend $200 on an outfit to get yucky in? Oh wait, because I’m not actually going to sweat in it? Well that makes even less sense. Maybe I should start wearing a swimsuit to do my grocery shopping. After all, they say it might rain this week.

I’m not saying London and Sydney don’t have their own faux pas’ because they do. Sleeveless t-shirts on would-be hot Aussies….you get what I mean. London suffers from metrosexual overload. I like a guy who gets ready to go out quicker than I do and that’s not easy to find over there.  But the point is, Vancouver needs to smarten up about this athletic wear obsession. Establishments should tighten up their dress codes, and violators should seek help from their quasi-fashionable friends and invest in some decent pairs of footwear.

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