How do you pick clotches for your races?

You're not serious, are you? How does one "look fast" because of their outfit? This sounds ridiculous. That outfit you describe just sounds like the runner has money.

Wise are the words of CoachCraig, elkid.
True, the people definitely look rich. But they mostly come off as some sad combo of an a$$, dork, wannabee combo. It isn't kind, polite, or fair. But I smell what CoachCraig is cookin'.
The runners that make up the top 5% of a race are only Big Pimpin' if somebody gave them the stuff for free. And they can't help but get amused at the dude in the $500+ ensemble than runs a 26 minute 5k. Extra giggles if they bust out some striders with the big dawgs 2 minutes before the race starts. Damn, I'm LMAO just thinking about it. It happens at EVERY race.
Same goes for basketball. If some guy walks up with a matching tank top / shorts combo from the Lebron "King" James line with a vintage UNC Jordan era warmup top, a pair of $200 shoes, some fly Nike sweatbands, etc.... rich or not, skilled or not, that SOB isn't going to be picked for at least 3 or 4 games.

True, the people definitely look rich. But they mostly come off as some sad combo of an a$$, dork, wannabee combo. It isn't kind, polite, or fair. But I smell what CoachCraig is cookin'. The runners that make up the top 5% of a race are only Big Pimpin' if somebody gave them the stuff for free. And they can't help but get amused at the dude in the $500+ ensemble than runs a 26 minute 5k. Extra giggles if they bust out some striders with the big dawgs 2 minutes before the race starts. Damn, I'm LMAO just thinking about it. It happens at EVERY race.

Looking stupid or rich doesn't make someone look fast. If the top 5% of runners laugh at others because of their clothes, that's pretty pathetic. Though none of the elite runners I've met are that way. 2nd tier, yes. Upper, no. Nor do they care to make fun of someone because they "only" ran a 26min 5K. In my experience, the highest level of athlete is often the more supportive of the slower folk.

I didn't condone it. I was just saying CC made a valid point. People that attempt to look fast by dressing like an ad in Runner's World draw a lot of attention to themselves. And not all of it is positive. The same could be said for people that show up at the race with their numbers pinned on their back. Or runners that wear a belt with 2 water bottles, powerbars, and have Gu packets taped to their arms.... for a 5k. Nothing wrong with dressing like a Mack Daddy, not knowing proper bib procedure, or taking hydration seriously... it could just lead to unwanted attention. And many runners DON'T want any attention. They want to look slow. They don't want their competition to even know they are racing. Some runners like the extra attention or don't care. But others want to blend in and catch some people off guard. It is merely a strategy.

I plan for the race and the weather. I try to pick out the clothes I would be most comfortable in, also that Elkid could find me in.

since I have shorts of type and this type

Shorts and a T shirt - my only preference is "clean"

Interesting exchange between elkid and Runner X :D

Perhaps I should have used the phrase "dressing LIKE they are fast" instead of "looking like they are fast" because of their clothes. However, when dressed in the same clothes you really can't tell the difference between an elite runner and a good runner just by looking at them.

Top runners don't laugh at slower runners, period. I have never seen this beyond the high school level. You can walk a 5K in an hour, and the top runners will be supportive as long as you don't insist on starting in the front row. However, many runners (faster and slower) will find it humorous when a runner tries to act like a hot-shot when he isn't. It isn't an issue that that runner is slow or not - he is just acting arrogant. It is more about attitude than specifically clothes or how fast he runs. He can win the race and still come across that way.

I really got the idea of dressing down in a road race a number of years ago. I young guy in surfer shorts and a non-running shirt shot to the front of this race and took a big lead. No one chased him figuring within a few minutes he would die and fall well back into the pack. Well, he never came back. This sometimes happens with rabbits as well. They aren't considered serious contenders, so sometimes they get away and end up winning.

I have also found that win or lose, people are a lot more likely to talk to you after the race if you look like the normal person you are instead of some pseudo-elite runner.

I agree 100% with what CoachCraig just said.

That was what I was trying to relay, but I didn't choose my words wisely and I got sidetracked trying to be funny.

I've never made fun of another runner's performance or times. Except my own.

But I will laugh at someone trying to act like a hot shot. That includes a slow person that acts like they are a contender for 1st place and a legit contender that acts like our local 5k is the World Championships. One person comes off as a buffoon and the other as an a$$. A $500 race outfit may more easily put you into one of those categories in the eyes of your competitors.

And if I see someone with their number pinned to their back, I'll politely and subtly tell them to move it to the front so the people at the finish line can read it.