I love the Run: Speed Short for many reasons. The wide waistband is made of soft and moisture-wicking Luxtreme (no muffin top here thankyouverymuch) and the seams are flat to reduce chafing. There's a little zippered pocket on the back of the waistband for a key and cards so you can grab mimosas coffee after your run. The 2 1/2" inseam is an ideal length for both quick training runs and on the day of your half marathon. I also like to wear these bad boys during summer at the beach - they are perfect to throw on over your bikini bottoms after a long day on the sand.

In order to celebrate Leg Season (that's what we're calling it now, right?) we have put together four run outfits featuring the Run: Speed Short in some of our favourite hues of the season: Aquamarine, We Are From Space, Parfait Pink and Beach Blanket Blue.

aquamarine

1. Run: Speed Short in Aquamarine (coming very soon...check back!)

2. Mizuno Wave Runner 15 - I LOVE these running shoes...good for mild pronators.

3. Pure Balance Water Bottle - the grippy handle is perfect during sweaty workouts.

4. Rosebud Perfume Co. Smith's Menthol & Eucalyptus Lip Salve - no chapping allowed!

5. Cool Racerback in Aquamarine (also coming soon!)

6. Run From Work Backpack II - color blocked and über functional.

7. Fly Away Tamer Headband in Aquamarine (yes, this is also coming very soon)

we are from space

1. Run: Speed Short in We Are From Space (coming soon!)

2. Shape Magazine - the recipes and tips in here are always on point.

3. Dense Foam Block - always good for deep stretches post-run.

4. iPhone 5 in White - let's be honest, this puppy never leaves our side.

5. Vega Pre-Workout Energizer - this will put a little vrooom into your engine!

6. Nike Free 5.0 in Black - these are a gamechanger. Buy a pair and thank me later.

7. Mula Bandhawear Thong in White - the most comfy thong on the planet.

parfait pink

1. Run: Speed Short in Parfait Pink (coming soon!)

2. Kate Spade Mikas Pond Lacey Wallet in Zinnia Pink - worth blowing your budget on.

3. Mula Bandhawear Bikini in Parfait Pink - I have junk in my trunk and these gave me zero VPL.

4. Run: Tame Me Tank - great for those with larger busts who want a little more coverage.

5. Pure Balance Water Bottle in Parfait Pink - hydrate, hydrate and then hydrate some more.

6. Nike Free 3.0 - I saw one of our managers wearing these and fell in love...vintage!

beach blanket blue

1. Run: Speed Short in Beach Blanket Blue (coming soon!)

2. Women's Ultimate Padded Run Sock in Beach Blanket Blue (ALSO coming soon)

3. Bath and Body Works Body Cream in Sea Island Cotton - this stuff smells good.

4. Run: Swiftly Tech Long Sleeve in Beach Blanket Blue (yup, you guess it...coming soon)

5. Zico Coconut Water - electrolytes are our friend in training season.

6. Light As Air Thong - so light you'll forget you're even wearing underwear.

New colours AND warm weather = good times ahead! See you on the streets, trails and seawall soon...remember to give the "runner's wave and smile."

Deanne + short shorts sitting in a tree, R-U-N-N-I-N-G.

Before I began copywriting here at lululemon, I was an executive assistant for Deanne Schweitzer, our Vice President of Women’s Design. Deanne is one of the busiest people I have ever met. She travels regularly for work, has three kids, skis every weekend in Whistler and, (oh yeah) manages an insane workload...

...and somehow she also runs five times a week without fail.

Every week, no questions asked, Deanne makes the time to run regularly. I used to think that people like her didn’t exist – that they were an unattainable myth. Then I managed her calendar and literally saw it happen.

the start line

I asked Deanne when she began running and why she loves it so much. She first started running in high school and university to cross-train during swim season (jock alert: Deanne was also a competitive swimmer all through university). After she graduated, she had her first child and running was the one thing she could just get up and do; after all, going to classes and to the pool required childcare, preparation and money. Now that her kids are getting older – and sometimes even run with her – Deanne has been able to dedicate more time to her running routine. Here are some of her tricks for making it happen.

5 tricks for making a run routine stick no matter what

1. pick a time that works for you and book it into your calendar

If it’s in your calendar, it’s more likely to happen. Making appointments with ourselves and committing our precious time makes us more likely to stay on track. Also, most of us have a time of day we like running at (Deanne is a morning person). Learn what your time is and stick to it – you’ll enjoy your runs more.

2. find awesome running partners

Deanne enjoys running the most when she is joined by some of her running pals (usually her daughter or her friends Michelle and Eric).  Enroll some of your friends into joining you on your running missions – we are more likely to keep with a program if we have a partner in crime. Added bonus: running buddies also make great coffee buddies (a VERY important part of run training).

3. keep your running gear with you at all times

All of the most disciplined runners I know have one trait in common: they bring their running stuff with them every day. To make excuses even more obsolete, keep toiletries and a change of clothes at your office (Editor’s Note: I have a conspiracy theory that Deanne was born in a pair of Speed Shorts).

4. set goals and work towards them

Without fail, people who set goals achieve more. Deanne regularly participates in races and sets time goals for herself – this gives her the additional motivation she needs to train hard with a target in mind.

5. eff the program – aka, if you have spare time, just go

There were many days when I saw Deanne leave at lunch time and run for 40 minutes, only to come back and take a conference call filled with bliss and yes, covered in sweat. The moral of this story? Instead of setting rigid rules about how long her runs had to be, Deanne seized the time she had and just went running. Sometimes it is as simple as that.

How do you stay committed to your run routine?

Rest, relax, recover and revel in your accomplishment! You have trained hard for the past four months, so it's time to let your body repair. This is often hard for many runners, as a marathon brings not only peak physical fitness, but a phenomenon called "runner's high," which makes you feel so good after a run that you can’t wait to run again.

Along with all of these wonderful feelings, post-marathon can also bring about feelings of depression. A lululemon run club guest recently came to me a couple of weeks after her first marathon and told me that she was feeling depressed. She asked if it was crazy to feel that way. The answer? Not at all. Post-marathon depression is very real and is often accompanied by a sense of loss. You spend four months training, you structure much of your life around your training, you look forward to race day, and then in a matter of hours, it is done.

Rest is vital. Your body needs a few weeks to repair itself and recover before you begin your next training cycle.

a game plan

For me, I set out a post-marathon game plan. This season, my race is the Philadelphia Marathon. After the marathon, I am taking five weeks off from hard training to allow my body to repair and recover. Besides lululemon run club, I will not be running, but will be replacing my hard runs with yoga classes, core work, and strength training to let my body recover and to lay a foundation for my next training cycle. In terms of beating post-marathon blues, I always host and cook Thanksgiving dinner (this year for 14) to give me something immediate to look forward to and focus on once my fall racing season is over.

after you cross the finish line

Once you cross the finish line, start rehydrating immediately. Before your post-run celebration beer or wine, make sure you have had plenty of water -- after all, that is what your body needs. Replenish yourself with some carbs and protein, stretch, and put on a layer of clothes over what you raced in for your walk back to the hotel to keep you warm.

the morning after

The morning after the race, jog 10-20 minutes to get your legs moving a little bit.

the next month

Following that, the next month should be about easing off of running to let your muscles repair. If you're going to run, take it very, very easy, don’t race, and don’t do speed workouts. I recommend cross training. While I pick-up yoga (and cooking), try a racquet sport or something different that keeps you moving, but not training at full capacity. This will not only be good for your body, but you will start your next season feeling fresh and eager to be running again, and will help you keep your post-race emotions in check.

how you spend your post-marathon time

How you spend your month post-marathon is important. As runners, we are sometimes greedy about our fitness, and we want to stay in peak form all year round. This is impossible to do, and trying will often lead to injuries and feeling of burnout.

Are you just starting to run? Read Elyse's other blog post about The Run Date!