Founded in 2018 by Bryce McConville, ChicknLegs is a popular athletic apparel brand that turned a classic track-and-field insult ‘chicken legs’ into a badge of honour. Born out of the Miami running scene and now operating out of Cary, North Carolina, they have created an online and local retail powerhouse dedicated to making distance running gear that is unapologetically short, fun, comfortable, and affordable.
Far from just a novelty, the brand delivers serious, anti-chafing high performance with smooth liners, lightweight fabrics, and ultra-functional split cuts that give track and cross-country runners total freedom of movement.
We recently spoke with ChicknLegs founder Bryce McConville to find out more about the distinctive company and their plans for their debut at The International Running Expo (IRX).
1. What is the story behind ChicknLegs? Where did the idea come from?
I was a big runner in high school and college, but always had issues with my calves. My coaches and teammates would poke fun at me, and I'd frequently be icing my calves after each practice. After running in college for 2 years, I developed compartment syndrome in my calves, requiring surgery and a year off from competing.
My competitive career ended shortly after as I was never able to return to normal running post-surgery. Years later while chatting with my wife one night, I thought of the name "Chicken Legs" and thought it would be hilarious as a brand for distance runners. It was a name that many runners could identify with, and all runners saw the humour in it. Even before launching a product, we knew we could build a community around that name.
2. How long did it take from concept to producing your first product(s)?
It took about six months to release the first pair of shorts. Then we continued to make many changes to the product over the next few years after that.
3. What was your initial design process like and how much has that adapted since the beginning?
The initial design process involved a lot of trial and error and endless rounds of samples. Even before the fun patterns were introduced, the company focused intensely on creating the most comfortable running shorts on the market. I ran track in college so thankfully I had many friends willing to test all the short iterations I presented them with.
4. How important is community feedback about ChicknLegs products and how do you monitor it?
It's extremely important. We monitor our website reviews closely to see feedback on each product (over 15k reviews now!). We also have an ambassador group of 300 of our biggest fans who consistently give us feedback and ideas.
5. What is the story behind the signature "chicken legs" logo?
Our logo and brand name humorously speak to the running community in a way that distance runners can all understand and identify with. The concept came very naturally after we came out with the name.
6. How does the brand balance being a serious running gear company with a humorous personality?
We pride ourselves on offering fun prints while ensuring we maintain the highest quality fabrics and construction. There is no compromise like you might find with other brands to choose between humour and performance - we've taken on the challenge to excel at both!
7. If ChicknLegs could collaborate with any other brand or celebrity, who would it be?
We love authentic collaborations, so if there are any celebrities out there who wear our shorts and love them, give us a shout! The non-negotiable is that it must originate from someone who authentically loves us.
8. Where is the most unusual place or race where someone has spotted your shorts?
We often hear stories from our ambassadors about seeing ChicknLegs at various places ‘in the wild’ - on top of mountains, at music festivals, in the grocery store, etc. When the shorts are fun and comfortable, people want to wear them everywhere!
9. What are your plans for The International Running Expo (IRX) 2026? What can visitors expect?
This is our first time attending IRX and we really want to kick off the brand and show people the fun and comfort of our products. At the end of the day, we make running fun and we do it better than any brand out there.
10. Beyond 2026, what are your plans for ChicknLegs?
We're building out a full collection of running products from singlets, sports bras, shorts, and more. We're also expanding into different sports and making products that speak to athletes everywhere. We love going to events and meeting people in person so we're always looking to expand our field marketing team and be at every marathon, cross country meet, or 5k around the world!
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IRX 2026 is THE event for global brands, retailers, distributors and industry leaders
Join fellow industry professionals at The International Running Expo (IRX) 2026 - Europe’s only dedicated business event for the running sector. Returning to RAI Amsterdam on 4-5 November, #IRX2026 features 200+ global brands showcasing the technologies and products shaping the future of the sport https://www.internationalrunningexpo.com/