Why are running clothes so impractical?

I dunno where you are but where I am lots of men wear running leggings for running.

most put shorts over for modesty as if you think running leggings on women expose every bump you ain’t seen a man in them!

I use a running belt as although leggings with side pockets are everywhere I don't like the feeling of my phone against my leg. But for tops, I like bum covering ones and buy tops sold as modest active wear. Size down so they are less baggy, and you have lovely mid thigh tops

i often buy men's t-shirts because they tend to be longer and wear a lot from races which are usually mens/"unisex". I find a lot of women's tops, running kit or otherwise, are so short these days. It's like everyone is under 5ft 3 or wants their middle showing!
Look at Flanci skorts - very flattering compared to shorts, 2 thigh pockets and a zipped pocket in the back for your key. All my leggings have pockets though, you're buying the wrong brands!

NorthFace is a walking / hiking brand not a running brand.

Look at Sweaty Betty, LuluLemon, Acis, and other such sports brands that make for running. You don't need to buy full price, places like brand alley and so on always have such products on sale.

I like Lidl running gear when they have it. Lasts for years! Otherwise, if men’s shorts and tops fit they are less revealing and the material often seems to be better quality.

My DD has running leggings with a phone pocket. Sorry no idea of brand but they are out there. As are more opaque ones and long ts - you need to shop around.

Part of the problem is you don't really want excess fabric flapping around which is why so much running kit is skintight. You can get leggings with an integrated skirt or shorts bit at the top which might work - they match perfectly so look more intentional than wearing leggings over shorts. Pockets is a matter of shopping round but they definitely can be found, or a flip belt is a good alternative.

Tesco have gym leggings. With pockets for phone, wee zip pocket in back for key. Thick material which I find more flattering. Think they were about £20. They had cheaper ones without pockets.

I have just bought a Decathlon running belt for about £15. It is big enough to sit over my hips (a size 5) and has a rubbery strip inside to stop it sliding up. It has top opening pockets all round that are enough for a soft water bottle, snacks, phone and keys - one of the pockets has a clip for keys.

I did have a flip belt but found it too difficult to get water bottles in and out.

Go to TK Maxx
loads of running/liking/yoga leggings in there with side pockets and or small zippy pockets in the waistband.
Honestly, as long as you are comfortable it doesn’t really matter what you run in imo unless you are some sort of elite runner or running long distances.

I think you are looking in the wrong places OP, woman's exercise clothes not having pockets is a complaint from 10-15 years ago. It's not something I've noticed recently. All the big sports brands as well as the supermarket brands have leggings with at least one phone pocket, if not two, and sometimes a zip pocket in the back. Light colours sometimes "show every roll" but black (the most common legging colour) doesn't.

I find leggings really comfortable for exercise or my thigh and stomach fat would be flopping around painfully.

I brought a karimore fit belt in sports direct for about £11 is pretty much an exact rip off of the Salomon one but like 1/3 of the price. I’ve worn it for a half and a marathon so far and it’s been great.

I only buy shorts and leggings with pockets. Happystride are good and have under shorts with pockets and floaty shorts on top so that you dont feel too exposed. They also have a zip pocket at the back for keys. I don’t worry too much about what I look like when out running but I think I cared more in the early days.

I like Decathlons running bottoms, with phone pocket. I work out in them too as they are pretty squat proof. Long tee shirt covers my bum and excess fluff.
I use the GOADICONS method of training. Going Out At Dawn (or after dark) In Case Our Neighbours See. It’s worked for me, for years.

Nobody is looking or judging you. Just do it. You are doing great.

My running leggings/joggers are black Sweaty Betty ones, well worth it and cover lumps and bumps. I wouldn’t bother wearing a skort or skirt tbh. Try to ignore passers by looking.

I’ve got 2 Elle McPherson running/exercise tops and one has a small zipped pocket. See if you can still buy new (I got in TK Maxx) or try eBay/vinted.

People were running long before modern running designer outfits just wear whatever you find comfortable in it wont prevent you running

The advantage of a running belt over a bum bag or jacket pockets is that things don't bounce around or bang annoyingly against your body. Everything is held snugly around your waist and you can wear it over or under your top.

This is just how women's clothing works. A steady societal brainwashing into making you think the less sexualised option looks worse (ask yourself: does it really?). Personally I find leggings really comfortable for exercise, but it's surely no accident that the trend for revealing sportswear hasn't caught on amongst men.

I haven't run since 2020 but used to find TK Max had a good range of kit and yes, my leggings had a pocket in the back although I used a bum bag for phone which seemed to work.

As others have mentioned, look at proper running brands. And of course Decathlon who are great for pretty much anything outdoorsy.

North Face is not for running. In addition to those mentioned above, M&S do a great range especially leggings. You need leggings with drawstring to keep them up, side pocket for phone and back zipped pocket for keys. This alleviates the need for tops to have pockets and it wouldn’t be comfortable running as items would move around.

You can buy running belts which hold items also. Lots of options for tops, sleeveless, short sleeves and long sleeved around. Even Amazon can be a cheap place for tops along with M&S, Decathlon etc.

Running tights are by far the most practical for running, until we get to shorts season.

Proper running brands, Asics, Brooks, Ron Hill (and actually, Lidl running kit) will have a zipped pocket for keys (read the spec carefully if buying online, I only buy those that have a zipped pocket and a tie waist)

Increasingly, they also offer a drop in side pocket for phones, but personally I think a flip belt or spibelt is better because phones are too heavy for pockets.

I ended up buying a man's extra small running jacket as I needed one with proper pockets with zips!

Most running leggings now have at least one good pocket, ditto running shorts. My running shorts also have a little pocket at the waistband that you can tuck keys into, but I don't know if this is general (I didn't even know it was there until I was turning them inside out to dry them the other day).

But yes, try men's if you can find some that fit. MUCH more practical.

ETA I tried a bumbag but it flopped when I ran which drove me mad and I could never find any kind of waistbag that was comfortable - ie, didn't flop up and down but wasn't so tight that it constricted movement.

Fair.