Neon Makes You Faster

Although I don't have the "science" to back this up, I'd like to present some pretty convincing evidence:

1. The lighter-weight the shoe, the brighter it is.... spikes / racing flats always incorporate at least one shade of neon, and often go for the "clashing" look.
2. Team RRO / FASTcoaching wears neon orange singlets (or bright green/yellow)... and we are fast.

Personally speaking, I have run some of my better races in multiple shades of neon (because if you're not going to match, you might as well not match all the way). I remember when Brooks came out with the neon yellow Launches, I felt like every female who finished in the top 10 was wearing a pair (the Carolina blue color just wasn't as "fast", and everyone switched to different sneakers... y'all know I'm only half joking). This is my theory on the neon = speed theory... you're motivated to run fast when you're wearing neon because you don't want to stick out even more. You can blend into the crowd in a nice, tranquil shade of blue or black... but try that in bright orange and yellow and you're out of luck.  I did decide to look up the psychology of colors to see if this could shade any light on my theory.

We'll start with orange... "there is nothing even remotely calm associated with this color". HA! No wonder why I love our uniforms! It's also the color associated with fun times, happy/energetic days, warmth, and ambition. Green is more calming, a better-paced energy color. It's also associated with good luck, peace, and harmony. Yellow is cheerful and optimistic, speeding up metabolism and stimulating the thought process. But, it can also be over-powering, making babies cry and tempers flare. Red is where the eye looks first and is energetic and exciting. It makes the heart beat faster and people feel out of breath... better not wear that one!

Now on to the more "tranquil" colors. Blue is most people's "favorite" color, perhaps because most of the world is blue. This color can cause a calming sensation, but too much can seem cold. However, most people associate blue with dependability and wisdom, and nearly all sports are enhanced in blue surroundings. Purple is also tied to wisdom, as well as royalty, sophistication, and respect. As for the "neutral" colors, black is associated with power, stability, and strength, while white can indicate purity, cleanliness, and safety.

So, in conclusion, bright colors are energetic and catch people's eye (didn't need to read a whole article to figure that one out). Although this does not further the claims of my neon = fast theory, at least y'all will be well prepared for your next "English literature symbolism quiz" (I never understood symbolism... always had to memorize what stuff meant... the Masque of the Red Death was fun as indicated by the fact that I still remember studying for the test ~13.5 years later).