Feels strange calling myself @mileposts but after having that handle for 11 years online it’s what people google vs my name.
I frequently get asked what my favorites are, so in an effort to cut down on the mess that is my instagram DM’s I’m going to put my favorites in to a series of blog posts so I can send them over to you whenever you ask!
First up are my favorite black shorts. I’ve been running races for the past 20 years and blogging for 11 so you could argue that I’ve tried a pair of shorts or two! I HATE wasting money on gear (…I actually just hate wasting money in general) so these are my TOP favorites because I’d hate for you to waste money on gear too!
Keep in mind that shorts are truly a personal preference. What I love, you might not and visa versa. If I had to pick 6 pairs of shorts to keep and toss all my others, these would be the ones I’d wear on repeat.
MALO PR Shorts: These are my go to tight black shorts. I have a bunch of them in the prints as well and have worn the printed ones in multiple different marathons. According to their size chart I should be a smaller size than I purchased but when picking out shorts I have to consider the size of my waist compared to my thighs, which are much thicker in relation. I often struggle to find jeans that fit because if they fit my thighs, they gape in the waist. If your body is like mine then you might want to consider sizing up. I have noticed that the solid colors of these shorts feel tighter than the prints – just as an FYI. I’ve had some runners tell me that the legs roll on them – they don’t roll on me – that’s usually a result of not having the correct size for your body type – though sometimes tight shorts just roll up in general. If you want a longer version I have the MALO Little Bit Longer Shorts and like those as well. They are also super cute as a lifestyle piece worn with a big comfy sweatshirt!
If you are looking for looser black running shorts with liners these ones from Athleta are one of my favorites. I find I chafe less in shorts that are shorter so that’s why the majority of my favorite black shorts are shorter. When a short has a longer inseam there is more fabric that can bunch between my thighs vs using some type of glide with a shorter short. The fabric on these shorts is really soft and dries quickly.
Another one of my favorite looser black shorts with a liner are these ones from ASICS. I often struggle to find looser running shorts that fit comfortably because they don’t stretch like tight shorts. When I get a size large enough to fit my thighs then they are swimming in my waist, that’s not the case with these shorts from ASICS – they fit perfectly. There is a draw string in these shorts so you can get them over your hips and then make them tighter in the waist. The back of the shorts is slightly longer than the front, which is barely enough to notice while looking at them, but makes a big difference in coverage while running. Wore these for LA Marathon this past March and like them so much that I just ordered another black pair the other day.
Lululemon Hotty Hot Short II 2.5″:
In comparison to the Athleta and ASICS shorts these ones from Lululemon are lower rise (though in this picture they don’t look that way!). They sit more on my hips than the other two and while you can pull them up a bit they are still low. That being said I like having different styles of looser black shorts with liners. I gravitate towards these shorts more in the summer than in the winter months because I like tucking in a tank top in the winter to keep my stomach warm and there really isn’t much to tuck in to in these shorts. I wore them for Berlin Marathon and loved them + did not chafe at all (I always use glide though because I’m just someone who chafes in general).
Rabbit catch me if you can 2.5″:
Another favorite that I’ve worn during multipe marathons, including Boston Marathon are these black ones from Rabbit. They are tiny in comparison to the other shorts I’ve mentioned – so I gravitate towards them when I’m feeling fit. They are the type of short that makes you forget you are even wearing shorts. I like that the back pocket is 100 percent functional – I’ve stuffed gels in there and had no issue with them bouncing while trying to run fast-for-me.
I love love love Day Won for their size inclusivity. They go from a size 0 to a size 32 in this short. When I first pulled the shorts out of the bag I wasn’t sure they were going to fit because they looked really small, but they fit perfectly. The fabric is a bit thicker than my other tight black shorts and offers more compression, so even though they may look smaller than you actually need, they fit perfectly (they suggest sizing up if you want a looser fit). The rise is higher which is nice on days you want more support. There is also small pocket which is great for holding a gel and an ID or something similar.