I thought the perfect running shorts didn’t exist. If they have pockets, they go up to your thighs. If they don’t go up to your thighs, they are sheer. If they are not transparent, they are uncomfortable.
I was about to give up, but they convinced me to try one last pair: Lululemon’s Track That shorts. I’d seen them praised by runners on TikTok, and since I hadn’t yet found the right pair for my upcoming marathon, I decided to click ‘buy’.
The Track That short is available in tall and tall and you can choose between three or five inch bars. I chose the five inch high waist. The “designed for running” stamp on the description filled me with confidence that they could be the perfect addition to my marathon kit.
My favorite features of Lululemon’s Track That Running Shorts
The make-or-break aspect of shorts is always whether they ride up or not. Nothing, and I’m not being dramatic here, is worse than spending your entire run straightening your shorts and dealing with the sting that comes from it (while you’re here, check out some of my favorite anti-crease creams).
I know better than to wear brand new kit on a long run for its first outing, so I tested the shorts on a couple of three mile runs first. Miraculously, they didn’t go up—not even a little bit. After a successful run of shorter runs, I wore them on both an 18 mile run and a 14 mile run, and again, they held up.
Not only did the shorts stay put on every run, but as with all Lululemon products, they are high quality and feel comfortable. The lightweight material is soft on the skin as well as fluid and breathable. From the second I took them out of the package, the material felt higher quality than most shorts in my current rotation.
This was also my first pair of drawstring shorts and I can’t help but think, why doesn’t every elastic waistband have this? Countless sportswear has been ruined by the drawstring getting lost in the fabric or pulled out. They go in the washing machine just fine, only to come out wireless.
In the second phase of the test: Design. Wanting to brighten up the Scottish summer, I had bought the shorts in Pastel Blue. On my 18 mile run wearing them, I experienced what can only be described as the worst rain I’ve ever been outside in all my years of running. From walking out the door to unlocking it again three hours later, the rain didn’t stop. Halfway through the run I remembered the color of my shorts and felt disappointed that they had probably become transparent in the wet conditions. When I got home I quickly ran to the mirror to see how much of my dignity was gone, and was pleasantly surprised. While the shorts themselves became quite sheer and you could see the skin of my thighs, the blue built-in lining was thick enough that even though it was soaked from the rain, it wasn’t revealing. Phew.
Full price, these shorts are $68 in the US and £48 in the UK, although I picked them up in the sale for £34. I don’t mind paying for items I know will be good quality (like these shorts) but I also watched the Lululemon site for a while after I bought and at some point there was always at least one color on sale, a bonus if you want to grab one chance.
My only small bugbeg with these shorts (albeit very minimal) is that while they do have a pocket (hurray!), it’s very small and quite tight. I can fit in one, maybe two 40g High5 energy gels in a squeeze if my house keys are folded as well. My phone, an iPhone 13, does not fit in the pocket. So while these shorts tick the “pocket” box, it’s worth noting that if you’re going out for a long run or hike, you’ll need other storage space, like a hydration vest. very.
After a few weeks of testing on training runs, on marathon morning I wore the Track That shorts with the rest of my favorite running gear. I can happily say that these shorts were perfect for race day and saw me through the entire 26 miles without a hitch.
I’ve run in many brands of shorts in the past, with some of my favorites coming from Fabletics and New Balance, but after proving themselves on marathon day, the Lululemon Track That short is now very high on my list of favorites.
If these do not suit you, Coach has tried and tested some of the best women’s running shorts to help you find your new favorite pair.
