The Best Running Shorts for Women + Running Tips

Hi ladies! It’s been a minute since I posted here, but I’m excited to be back today talking all about THE BEST RUNNING SHORTS FOR WOMEN! I enjoyed some much needed down time in Seaside with my little family and am back home and gearing up for a HUGE week in the world of Style Your Senses (read THIS post to stay in the know)! Ever since I mentioned my dilemma about running shorts on Instastories a few months ago, I cannot tell you how many pleas I’ve gotten to help us all find running shorts that you can actually RUN in. Let’s all be really clear, I don’t have thin thighs…never have, never will. My thighs touch when I run and that can absolutely cause a major snaffu in the world of running shorts…unless you want to quite literally be running around town looking like your hind ate your shorts. Running shorts seem to be better suited for extra thin gals, but let me tell you I am not running in leggings in this Texas heat- so I set out on a a mission to find functional running shorts! The good news is that I FOUND SOME! Here are some honest reviews on SEVEN pair of the best running shorts for women, some of my favorite running apps and also some tips to ensure that your running form is on point!

The Best Running Shorts for Women:

Kicking it off with my favorites. These are now my Holy Grail of running shorts and I will absolutely be buying more. I love them because they have built in tights underneath that prevent any chafing or riding up. The bottom of the tights have a nice silicone band around the opening so they truly stay put for your entire run. Even with the built in tights, they do not look matronly and still have a fun, sporty feel. If you need a GO TO for actually running…buy these now. 

New Balance Running Shorts (Wearing a M here) | Nike Top | Sneakers (ON SALE!)

Next up are another pair from New Balance. I also really liked the design of these. They have built in under layers and a very generous tulip hem on the sides that allows for some extra room mid-stride. They have reflective details for night runs and also have a zipper pocket at back for keys, etc. I am wearing a M in these.

New Balance Running Shorts (Wearing a M here) | Nike Top | Sneakers (ON SALE!)

Quite a few readers raved about Under Armour shorts for running, so I ordered this pair. At the time this bright pair was all that they offered, but thankfully they have a ton of new colors including black, grey, etc. I will say I loved this neon pair with a tan. Overall, I liked the fit but would likely wear these more for athleisure and less for running. The side opening wasn’t big enough to allow for the shorts to flow through a run, instead I felt like they would definitely ride up.

Under Armour Shorts (Wearing a M here + LOTS of new colors) | Nike Top | Sneakers (ON SALE!)

 

Ok, I must say that I was most surprised by how much I liked THESE. They have built in unders and I LOVE how the tulip hem is slightly towards the front of the short. It really allowed them to flow perfectly during a run and they didn’t ride up at all. They material is super lightweight and they have lots of reflective elements. I kept these and absolutely love the fit for a run or athleisure wear.

Reflective Running Shorts (Multiple Colors + Wearing a M here) + Nike Top | Sneakers (ON SALE!)

Here’s another pair that I liked and kept. This Nike pair had a great leg opening as well that allowed them to flow freely during a run and I really liked how the looked on. I’ve already worn this exact outfit countless times this Summer with the girls to the park, library, Chic-fil-A, etc. It’s easy and these Nikes are a very nice upgrade from the Tempo shorts that we all wore in college. They also have a wide waistband and a few little storage pockets, as well as built in undies.

Nike Running Shorts (Wearing a M here) + Nike Top | Sneakers (ON SALE!)

This Sweaty Betty pair fit very cute for Athleisure wear but were non-functional for running. There was very little given in the hem and they were riding up right away. Even sizing up for me wouldn’t have made them work. Cute for errands, not cute for running.

Sweaty Betty Running Shorts (Wearing a M here) | Nike Top | Sneakers (ON SALE!)

This pair of Brooks were probably my least favorite of all. Didn’t like the fit or the functionality. Boo.

Brooks Chaser Shorts (Wearing a M) | Nike Top | Sneakers (ON SALE!)

The Best Running Tips:

After 15 years of running, here are some of my best tips and tricks that not only get me through a run but more importantly make me LOVE running. I always tell people that I run instead of going to a therapist. Running is not only a form of physical exercise for me, but it’s equally as much of a mental reprieve. Happy, sad, mad…you name it….a run can normally turn around even the crappiest of days and release lots of endorphins to take me back to my happy place. The term “runners high” is so true in my case. I feel refreshed, stronger and happier after a run and I don’t take having two strong, capable legs for granted at all.

I picked up the habit from my mom who woke up at 5:30am to jog every single morning as I was growing up and have been running myself since I was 18…that means that I used to run holding a discman, y’all! Things have come a long way! Here are a few things that I’ve learned throughout the years that keep me lacing up my shoes:

The Best Apps for Runners:

Thank goodness for smart phones, because they make running SO much easier! Here are my favorite apps for runners…

Aaptiv: If you follow along on Instagram, you know that I rave about Aaptiv. It’s a sort of personal training app that has choreographed workouts for most forms of exercise, but I especially love the outdoor run workouts. It’s like having a personal trainer in your ear and I ALWAYS push myself harder when I am doing an Aaptiv run. You can also filter workouts based on music you prefer, run time, and/or your running level. I even have Dan hooked on it! It’s $15/month and it can honestly replace a gym membership if you’re willing to come up with a little self-motivation.

Map My Run: This is the app that I use to track the distance of my run. It denotes path, pace, calories burned, elevation and total time. I typically use it when I’m on a free run (not using aaptiv) and it keeps me on track with a steady pace.

Spotify: I swear by Spotify! I love love love it and will never use anything else to stream my music. It’s easy to use, has the best selection and they have the most amazing playlists! Here are a few of my favorites:

“I Love My 90’s Hip Hop”

“Throwback Workout”

“Today’s Top Hits”

Tips for Your Best Running Form:

Truth be told, I am not a natural runner. Good, clean, effortless form does not come easy to me. I look more like a gangly giraffe trying to stay upright. For the majority of the years I’ve spent running, I never worried about my form and was only concerned with the distance that I was able to run. Regardless of if I crawled across the finish line, I really thought that the distance defined the run. Thankfully, today I am way past that and have really honed in on perfecting my running form so that I am able to get the most out of my run physically. I mentioned on Instagram that my natural running form was very reliant on my quads, which bulked them up.

Side note: There are lots of theories about whether running is able to give bulk to your muscles…some people agree and some don’t. But I can tell you that the continued use of one set of muscles is enough to flood that muscle with blood and fluid alone enough to cause it to expand. I always felt like my thighs bulked from running, but I continued to do it anyway because I loved the way a run felt. 

The game changer came when I started using aaptiv and had the coach in my ear consistently reminding me of my form. I began to realize that I was doing it all wrong…I was over-striding, striking with the sides of my feet and towards my heel, not using my core at all and was very reliant on my legs alone to propel me forward. ALL.WRONG. By making a few simple tweaks (that still don’t come naturally to me and ones that I still have to consistently remind myself of during each run), I can tell you that it’s made all of the difference. I am able to use my entire body in one controlled motion to propel me forward and that’s helped to shred and tone my legs and core, it’s improved my pace and it’s also given me an overall more enjoyable run that I feel more confident in.

Here’s a great graphic to illustrate proper running form:

Image via

I mentally check in with myself every few minutes to:

-Loosen my head

-Make sure that my shoulders are relaxed

-Make sure that my core is VERY engaged acting as my stabilizer

-Make sure that my arms are chopping to my sides and not swinging around my body

-Make sure that my fists are not clinched (I pretend that I’m holding a feather between my thumb and pointer finger)

-Make sure that my foot is landing right under my body and not in front of my body

-Make sure that I am landing mid-foot, right at the center

-I think of each strike as if I’m pushing off of the ground (think of it like a leg press) that way you maintain the energy upwards instead of letting it absorb into the ground

-I always look up ahead of me, never looking down and also have a very slight lean forwards.

*This all sounds like a lot to take in, but I promise it becomes second nature. It will also take your body a few runs to adjust to the new form and the new way to expend and devote energy, but in the end it will make your runs a ton easier!

I hope that you enjoyed this post on the best running shorts, it was a little different for me and very fun to write about my love of running! Are you a runner? I’d love to hear more of your best tips and tricks below!

P.S. | Make sure that you are prepared for Thursday by reading THIS POST