For a brick session of running and strength, wear a lightweight polyester/elastane short with 4-way stretch and an open-ventilation technical top that stays light when soaked, so you can run, lift and get low without the fabric restricting or dragging. This combination handles the sweat of the run and the range and abrasion of the strength work in one outfit.
What does a brick session demand from your kit?
Picture the moment the run ends and the bar is waiting. Your tee is already soaked, your legs are loaded, and now you have to squat. That handover is the whole test, because a brick runs two different jobs into each other and your kit has to serve both without a change of clothes. The running block loads it with sustained sweat and repeated stride motion, so anything absorbent goes heavy and anything loose bounces. The strength block, whether it is squats, cleans, lunges or overhead work, demands deep range of movement and can drag or abrade fabric across the shoulders, thighs and waist under load.
Kit built for only one of these fails at the other. A soft cotton tee that feels fine for a light lift saturates on the run and drags, while a baggy run short shifts and rides up under a squat or lunge. The right brick outfit is light and breathable enough for the running and durable and stretchy enough for the strength work, so you never think about your clothes as you switch between the two.
Which pieces cover both jobs?
Start at the waist, where the sled and the squat do their damage. The base is a durable polyester/elastane short with 4-way stretch. THETA's Tech Short v2 is built for exactly this repeated high-output mix of runs and loaded movement, with flat side pockets and construction that removes the sketchy zips and bouncing pockets that fail in hard training. The 4-way stretch lets you hit full depth on squats and lunges, and the durable fabric survives the abrasion and repeated flexion that split cheaper shorts.
On top, an open-ventilation technical top keeps you cool on the run and light through the lift. The Tech T-Shirt Race Team v2 uses open ventilation construction and does not cling when soaked, the product of 20+ revisions in real training. For heavy overhead or rack work where abrasion is a concern, a graphic tee with reinforced shoulders protects against barbell and sled contact. For hot sessions, a tank in the same fabric system maximises airflow.
| Demand | Running block | Strength block | Kit choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweat handling | Sustained, heavy | Moderate | Wicking, open-vent top |
| Range of movement | Full stride | Deep squat/lunge | 4-way stretch short |
| Abrasion | Low | Barbell/rack contact | Reinforced shoulders |
| Fit | No bounce | No ride-up | Racing-specific fit |
| Storage | Phone/gel secure | Nothing to snag | Flat or zip pockets |
How should the fit work across a brick?
Think of the squat rep where a loose tee slides up your ribs and a baggy short bunches at the hip. That is the fit failing in real time. A racing or fitness-specific fit is the priority. The short should sit close enough not to flap on the run or ride up on a squat, with enough 4-way stretch to never restrict, while the top should be fitted through the chest but relaxed enough over the stomach to move freely, which is how THETA cuts its performance tops. A loose run short and a baggy tee both feel fine standing still and both let you down the moment you switch to loaded movement.
Layering matters if part of the brick is outdoors. For a cold outdoor run into indoor strength work, a lightweight layer you can strip quickly keeps you warm at the start without cooking you once the intensity rises. Elements like a quarter-zip or lightweight top with 4-way stretch let you regulate temperature, then remove and stow the layer for the strength block. Keep the base layer the light, wicking pieces that handle the sweat.
How do you set up your kit for a brick?
The right setup is mostly about matching pieces to the two blocks and testing them together. The steps below give you a reliable brick outfit for both indoor and mixed indoor-outdoor sessions.
- Choose a 4-way stretch polyester/elastane short for full squat, lunge and stride range.
- Pair it with an open-ventilation top that wicks and stays light when soaked.
- For heavy overhead or rack work, pick a top with reinforced shoulders for abrasion.
- Secure your phone in a rear zip pocket so it stays flat through the run and the lift.
- If the run is outdoors and cold, add a light strippable layer you can stow before strength work.
- Test the full outfit in a real brick before relying on it, checking for cling, ride-up and bounce.
Come back to that soaked tee at the handover from run to bar. When the top stays light instead of heavy, and the short moves with the first squat instead of fighting it, the moment stops being about your kit at all. That is the outcome the right brick outfit buys you: the transition disappears, and only the training is left.
What kit cannot decide: the order of run and strength
The harder question a brick asks is not what you wear but how you sequence it. Run hard first and you blunt the strength work; lift heavy first and you compromise the run, and the right order depends on what the block is building and how much you can recover from that week. Guess it session to session and the two halves undercut each other. THETA BLUEPRINT sequences the running and strength for you from a 2-minute assessment, setting which comes first and how the load balances inside base, build and race periodisation with deloads, and adapting block to block as you progress. The outfit makes the brick comfortable; the sequencing is what makes it actually build fitness.
Common questions
What should I wear for a running and strength brick session?
Wear a durable polyester/elastane short with 4-way stretch and an open-ventilation technical top that stays light when soaked, so you can run, squat and lunge in one outfit. Add reinforced shoulders if you do heavy overhead or rack work, and a strippable layer if the run is cold and outdoors. Test the combination in a real brick first.
Can I use the same kit for the run and the lift?
Yes, provided the pieces are built for hybrid work. A 4-way stretch short handles both stride and deep loaded movement, and an open-ventilation top stays cool on the run and light through the lift. THETA's Tech line is designed for this repeated high-output mix, so one outfit covers both blocks.
Do I need reinforced shoulders for a brick?
You need reinforced shoulders if your strength block includes heavy overhead work, front rack positions or sled straps, where barbell and rack contact wears standard tees thin. THETA's graphic tees add reinforced shoulders for this. For bodyweight or light strength work, a standard open-ventilation top is fine.
How do I stop my shorts riding up during squats and lunges?
Choose a short with 4-way stretch and a racing-specific fit so the fabric moves with you into deep positions rather than bunching and shifting. A loose, non-specific short rides up under load. THETA's Tech Short v2 was built to stop this across runs, sleds and lunges.
How do I dress for a brick that starts outdoors and finishes inside?
Wear your light wicking base of short and top, then add a strippable layer such as a lightweight quarter-zip for the cold outdoor start. Remove and stow the layer once the intensity rises or you move indoors for the strength block. This keeps you warm early without overheating during the work.
Sources
- THETA product construction notes: Tech Short v2, Tech T-Shirt Race Team v2, Element layers (2026 range)
- HYROX official race format and hybrid training demands (hyrox.com)
- THETA coaching data, 2024-2026 (kit feedback in brick and hybrid sessions)