Why I'm Resolving To Let My Legs Lead The Way This Summer

I’ll be honest here: For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a love-hate relationship with my legs. Throughout my life, I’ve gone back and forth between wanting to show them off and then feeling self-conscious when they didn’t fit what I thought of as the “ideal” shape and size. In high school, I shoved my poor calves into knee-high boots that were too tight, leaving behind deep impression marks. When skinny jeans became popular, I struggled to find a pair that I felt comfortable in.

It wasn’t until I discovered the joys of distance running during my senior year of college that I started appreciating my legs more. For the next decade, my weekdays were filled with early morning wake-up calls to get miles in before work, and my weekends were typically scheduled around long runs that ended with brunch as I trained for my next marathon. Although I’d always been athletic and the appearance of my legs didn’t change much, my mindset did: Instead of looking in the mirror and seeing something I wished were different, now I saw strength.

But then, I turned 30 — and not long after that, I found myself returning to school in a high-risk city in the middle of a pandemic. The time I had so preciously carved out for running in the past was no longer so easily available. And the marathons I had so tediously trained for were now suspended indefinitely. In the absence of my usual confidence-boosting activities, it was hard not to let old insecurities about my legs creep back in.

Fortunately, I soon discovered something that would once again change my relationship with my legs for the better: high-waisted bike shorts.

If you aren’t familiar with the phenomenon of high-waisted bike shorts, let me describe them for you: These shorts are sleek, stylish, and stretchy. You’re covered and supported in all the right places, allowing you to bend, stretch, and move comfortably. Your thighs will never annoyingly and uncomfortably chafe, because bike shorts are typically longer and reach mid-thigh. Plus, if you’re really lucky, they have pockets! They’re perfect and keep me feeling equal parts comfortable and secure for mid-morning runs, intense workouts, leisurely hikes, and, yes, even studying for long periods of time.

Finding a pair of shorts I felt confident in — specifically, Athleta’s Ultra High Rise Elation 7” Short — reinvigorated my love for my legs, despite the fact that my activity levels weren’t as vigorous as they used to be. The beautifully-designed product also inspired me to seek alternative ways to challenge myself physically beyond organized races, like exploring new hiking trails and trying exercise regimes that benefit my whole body, like yoga.

I’ve also found fitness challenges to be a great way to motivate myself, which is why I’ll be participating in Bustle and Athleta’s What Moves You Challenge on Strava this May and June. It’s a celebration of everything that allows us to live life in motion. Instead of focusing on miles run or distance covered, it simply encourages movement: Participants are challenged to log 500 minutes of activity from May 18 to June 18.

This challenge is a great motivator when it comes to reaching my summer activity goals. To celebrate my renewed appreciation for my lower extremities, I’m planning to hike as many trails as possible in an attempt to explore my new city and spend more time outdoors. So the fact that I’m able to choose my own form of movement — from yoga, to hiking, to surfing and even running — gives me the freedom to explore my new home and move in ways that benefit my whole body. After 500 minutes of activity, I know I’ll be starting the summer season off strong!

The fact that I’m able to choose my own form of movement — from yoga, to hiking, to surfing and even running — gives me the freedom to explore my new home and move in ways that benefit my whole body.

While a 500-minute goal may seem difficult, if you break it down, it’s actually less than 17 minutes of activity per day. And whether you choose to walk, run, swim, or do a high-intensity interval (HIIT) workout is up to you! All you need to do is accept the challenge of making movement a regular part of your day, track it with an activity tracker or your phone, and upload your activity to Strava.

Athleta believes in the power of movement and connection to help you reach your limitless potential. To me, resolving to let my legs lead the way this summer means that I’ll be focusing on what they can do — not how they look. But if they happen to feel amazing in a pair of high-quality Salutation Stash Pocket II 5” Shorts and have enough pocket space to fit all of my hiking essentials, I guess making a few new gear purchases (especially from inclusive brands like Athleta) will only help me get closer to my goal!

So, who’s joining me for the What Moves You challenge? Remember: Committing to 500 minutes of activity is an investment in your health, and a chance to showcase your strength. Plus, it’s an opportunity to treat yourself; 500 minutes of activity surely warrants a new short purchase.

Whatever your goals may be this summer, I encourage you to trust in your strength and have confidence in your legs — whatever size, shape, or ability — to take you there.