Trail running fans know Courtney Dauwalter for her signature look—long, loose-fitting shorts and oversized T-shirts. One of the world’s top ultrarunners, she’s won just about every major ultra-trail race out there, and set course records in that stalwart comfy uniform, a prototype created for her by her sponsor, Salomon. Previously, Dauwalter had to shop in the men’s section to find running gear that she found comfortable. Now, everyday runners can shop her look.
Dauwalter and Salomon are launching a “Shortney” capsule collection—oversized technical trail shorts and a T-shirt inspired by the trail running champion. The term itself is believed to have been coined by a fan on Twitter, after Dauwalter won the 2019 Madeira Island Ultra-Trail. Long inseams are Dauwalter’s thing, and her shorts offer a generous 10.23 inches. Both items feature a Dauwalter quote: “No one else can run those miles for you.”
In an interview with iRunFar, Dauwalter said, “Growing up I’ve always preferred longer shorts, they’re more comfortable to me. So then when I started running these ultramarathons, I stayed in the longer shorts but there was never a women’s short that was long enough, so I was usually shopping in the men’s section and buying whatever shorts were available there, and then the men’s fit T-shirt because I preferred the cut and the length of the sleeves, and just the looser fit of the men’s clothing.”
Uniform norms are changing amongst pro runners, and as Nell Gallogly recently wrote for the New York Times, “athletes are beginning to adopt uniforms oriented around comfort instead of expectations.”
Nikki Hiltz won the 2023 USATF indoor 1,500 meter title in split shorts and a loose jersey, and on the race course, some female athletes are pushing back on expectations that they race in “bun huggers” and cropped singlets, opting for longer and looser styles. Considering that many women’s stores only offer shorts with inseams up to five inches, the Shortney offers an option for trail runners looking for a little bit more fabric.
Abby Carney is a writer and journalist in New York. A former D1 college runner and current amateur track athlete, she's written about culture and characters in running and outdoor sports for Runner's World, Like the Wind Magazine, The New York Times, and other outlets. She also writes about things that have nothing to do with running, and was previously the editor of a food magazine.
