I don’t know who told the people who make running trousers that all runners only want to wear black, like we’re running to a funeral. But it’s a big fat misconception. If the people who made running trousers tried splashing a bit of colour here and there, I’d spend more money. And isn’t that what they want, damn them?

In my mostly futile attempts to find running trousers (running pants to the yanks reading. Pants. Running pants. Ha! Imagine running in pants! Silly yanks.) 

No one is giving me free running trousers to write this blog, this is just one colourful-running fan’s search and share operation. If you like running, you’ll like this post. If you don’t like running, or you do like black, then run along.

I’m only hunting for ankle length runners because it’s winter and my legs are hibernating so colourful capri pants aren’t getting a look in. I’ve got cold ankles. If you want to buy any of the gems below, just click on the picture, I’ve hyper-linked them all to their source because I’m just super-helpful today.

At first I was dismayed. The closest I could find to not-black was these. Which are black with a slash of yellow. For £39.99, I want yellow with a slash of black, thank you Nike.

Same prob with these. They look weird, like they’ve got giant yellow plasters on the knees. But they’re Stella McCartney for Adidas, so I feel like I’m supposed to like them. Which I don’t. Not at £72. Not at any price.

Maybe the best I can hope for is black with a bit of a cheeky go-faster stripe, a la:

They’re only £23 but that is because, like most of the trousers I found and liked, they’re only available in a size 18. Either I’m in the minority wanting a pop of colour, or everyone wants them, in which case, SUPPLY AINT MEETING DEMAND, ADIDAS!

These I bought. They’re great and make me feel like dancing.Still using black as the main ink-gredient, but enough fun to make me want to go to the gym. From Zalando, yours for £42.

Black with a splash.

Everyone’s been raving about LuLuLemon recently. I haven’t seen anything I like on there yet, including this garish pink number. Ok, I said I didn’t want black, but I don’t want to look like an attention starved moron either. These are called ‘under pants’ which makes me think they expect you to pay £82 then cover them up with something else.

JDSports are stocking these crazy things. Only £12 and would certainly draw attention. Made from polyester rather than Lycra though, so despite coming from a sports shop, perhaps not best for a sweaty 10K run.

So there are colourful leggings out there, that much I’ve established. As long as all you want is a tiny pop of colour, a go-faster stripe or a garish under-garment pink that may or may not be best worn in public.

I love these bad boys.

Black Milk – more colourful than the name suggests.

Black Milk is an Australian company with a mahoosive range of spanky pants. Not necessarily intended for exercise, but Lycra-y enough to handle a sweat.  $75 a pop, but free international shipping. I want them all.

These shooting stars from Sukishufu are my absolute faves. But they are sooooo expensive, I can’t justify the expense just to get sweaty. They’re £80. If I could type a whistle, I would, so you would know that I’m whistling right now, in a ‘that’s expensive’ sort of way. And a wolf whistle too, while I’m at it, because these trousers are hot. Sort of a woooooooo… wit-woo! Yeah, you can’t type a whistle.

Dazzling. A bit like my running style.

There are not enough colourful running leggings on the market. Considering how successful the launch of leggings as day-wear has been, when will sportswear manufacturers start providing me with the (affordable) runners I want? Here I am, waving my hard earned dosh in their sporty faces and I’m getting slim pickings in return.

Now I suspect someone sporty is going to explain to me the real reason sportswear is predominantly black. Something to do with sweat, perhaps? Hit me with your explanation, I’d love to know why I can’t run in an amazing technicolour dreampant.