I noticed the other day that I genuinely get excited when my Lululemon Align leggings are clean for my every-other-day running habit through Central Park — almost always a portion of which finds me traipsing along Jackie O. Reservoir, seen above on a recent circuit. They are simply the most comfortable and flattering exercise leggings I have found to date — they boast the ideal level of compression and hold up exceptionally well to heavy use. (They also, conveniently, come in multiple lengths to fit nearly any height.) I am deeply impressed with almost everything Lululemon makes. I have a pair of (non-Align) black leggings I bought from them perhaps six or seven years ago that I still wear frequently and that I have laundered regularly against their explicit instructions and they still look and feel good as new. And all of the details in their designs are appreciated — pockets for keys and cell-phones, thumb holes in shirts to keep hands warm, vents where you need them, etc. All of this to say: I love a good deal and continue to test various less-expensive athletic finds to varying degrees of success and enthusiasm (two affordable athletic wear products I fully stand behind are these $22 leggings, which are not as amazing as Aligns but pretty darn good for the price, and these $8 running tanks, which have a fantastic, soft feel and the loose fit I prefer in running tanks) but Lululemon is one brand worth the investment, especially given longevity of life. So much so that when my mom asked what I wanted for Christmas, I asked for either a gift card to Lululemon or a nap dress from HHH. Right now, the items in my Lululemon cart:
+Though I generally prefer loose-fit tops for running (j’adore this specific style — the scooped back hem offers flattering rear end coverage), now that I’m layering under my running jacket* most days, I reach for form-fitting styles for a more streamlined look. I am eyeing their Swiftly Tech long-sleeved tops for this purpose.
+I have been eyeing this vest for a long time for those in-between days when a coat seems like overkill but there’s a chill in the air. I love the fact that it was specifically designed for running and that there’s a hidden phone sleeve.
+Of course, more aligns.
*I have written a lot about this coat, but there are still a few left at the closeout price of $35 and you must buy one if you run outdoors! It has magical properties — it keeps you warm while never making you too hot, it is lightweight, and it is just the right amount of form-fitting (i.e., you can still layer items beneath it without feeling “bunched up”). I also love the quilting detail and it comes in great colors — oh, and the pockets are generously sized to fit phone/gloves/sanitizer/etc. I love it so much, I just ordered it in a pullover style (also on sale for $35) in a great spruce color.
P.S. What do you listen to while running? Some of my current playlist here.
P.P.S. Do you carry a phone sling?
P.P.P.S. On dealing with interruptions.