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"Once every season most runners take a collective sharp inhale when they see the prices of the new season of Satsify Running’s apparel. “£130 for a cotton t-shirt with holes all over it!?” They exasperatedly exclaim “£200 for a pair of shorts!?” They spurt out, almost choking on there a white chocolate and macadamia Clif bar."

I've never heard of Satisfy, and there is zero chance of me ever checking out their product, but White Chocolate Macadamia really is my favorite flavor, so you're batting a strong 50% with me! (Clif Bars are $1 at my grocery store).

There's an old saying in retail: "If something isn't selling, double the price." Consumer perception of value is notoriously subjective. At the same time, many corporate suits have no clue except blunt numbers, so they lower their prices, thus commencing the infamous profit-destroying, "Race to the bottom."

My main observation however, is in the world of MUT running, retro-fashion may be a stronger influence than fast fashion. I'm guessing more people would not be caught dead in a £130 t-shirt than would proudly wear a faded shirt they got for free at a race 10 years ago.

Or maybe that's just me, and that's explains why fast and beautiful runners give me plenty of space at the Start line, and pointedly find someone else to talk to at the post-race celebration. I've been rocking my $13.95 carpenters sunglasses from Home Depot for 2 decades now, thinking I surely would become a tread-setter when people realize their $130 sunglasses that only cost $2 to manufacturer aren't any better, but so far I remain alone with this brilliant insight (even as Goodr glasses, which truly are crummy, somehow exploded in popularity).

I don't know. I do know I've saved at least $1,000 in lost and scratched sunglasses, and that's going to help with what I actually care about, which is 6 weeks of racing in the Alps this summer.

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have been carefully choosing my gear too. Whenever possible, I buy versatile items. Recently, I started using my hiking poles in my runs. They work perfectly fine :)

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Satisfy has that John Varvatos vibe to it. It's fashion for the unfashionable, let's say. CBGB for people who need immaculately clean bathrooms. Sustainability is the necessary footnote for all items of consumption. The rest is up to you, available at a range of prices.

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