When the pandemic set in听a year ago, there was no shortage of articles telling us听which gear we needed听to work comfortably from home. Scrolling my Twitter feed, it often听felt like every online publisher (including 国产吃瓜黑料)听had听weighed听in on the best home-office products: standing desks, fancy stools, mousepads, extra monitors. I smugly ignored all of these stories. Pre-pandemic, I worked from home three days a week and had no extraordinary aches and pains. My setup was sparse鈥擨 usually edited听from my kitchen table, seated in an Ikea dining chair, with my laptop elevated on a stand鈥攂ut I had no complaints. The people who needed these product recommendations were somehow different from me, I was sure. Maybe they鈥檇 gotten soft from all those days relying on comfy, ergonomic office chairs while I鈥檇 been unknowingly training for our work-from-home apocalypse. But several months into the pandemic, the aches and pains arrived.

I must have been demonstrating听terrible听posture at my computer听before I actually started complaining about my back and shoulder pain.听I only know this because very soon after the aches arrived, my boyfriend received听a stream of packages at our apartment that were full of work-from-home gear. I hadn鈥檛 asked for any of this, but he had ordered it听all for me. (Some gestures can be thoughtful and vaguely insulting at the same time. I cringe thinking about how hunched over my laptop I must have appeared to have prompted the unsolicited gifts.) There was a back cushion, a seat cushion, and a pillowy footstool, all from different companies. Out of desperation (and an attempt to be grateful), I outfitted my Ikea dining chair and got back to work.

I soon realized that I鈥檇 tried to implement too many changes too soon. On day one of my new setup, I felt restricted and uncomfortable at my workstation, but I couldn鈥檛 pinpoint which item was to blame.听Over several weeks, I tested out different arrangements to see what felt best: I reintroduced the items in different combinations and tried to take note of any changes to my overall achiness.

Eventually, I settled on the winner: the 听($79) from Purple, a brand mostly known for its mattresses. The 鈥渃ushion鈥澨齣s made from a grid of firm, rubbery鈥攁nd yes, purple鈥攇el webbing听and features a zip-on cover with a no-slip grip on the bottom. Unlike a regular cushion, the material is supportive and pleasantly solid. (You don鈥檛 sink into it.) It successfully upgrades my rock-hard dining chair to at least the level of those comfy office chairs. At the end of a long workday, I no longer feel desperate to book a deep-tissue massage.听It鈥檚 a bit pricey听but still much cheaper than a high-quality听ergonomic听chair.

I鈥檝e mostly ditched the other add-ons, and I have to admit that I still have work to do to perfect my setup. (For starters, my large monitor has been gathering dust at my office for a whole year while I work from my laptop each day.)听But I still can鈥檛 quite stomach the idea of putting a full-blown ergonomic office chair in my kitchen鈥攊t feels so final, like I can no longer pretend that we鈥檒l be back to our normal office lives soon enough. Until I get over my denial, this seat cushion is an excellent stopgap.

The post This Cushion Fixed My Work-from-Home Back Pain appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

You鈥檝e probably heard that Alexi Pappas isn鈥檛 an ordinary professional runner. In addition to being an Olympian in the 10,000-meters, the 30-year-old has also co-written and starred in multiple feature films. She often addresses her legions of young fans鈥攚hom she lovingly calls 鈥渂raveys鈥濃�攚ith short poems on . (She studied poetry while in college at Dartmouth.) Her latest creative project is , out听January 12.听

In many ways, the book represents a shift in tone from much of听her earlier public presence. It opens with memories of her mother, who died by suicide when Pappas was four years old. Pappas鈥� own听struggle with severe depression, which reared its head after the 2016 Olympics, is a major subject of the book. But there are also lighter themes that will be familiar to Pappas鈥� fans and followers: the importance of mentorship, self-belief, and chasing ambitious dreams.听听

I spoke with Pappas about the book, her decision to share her experiences with mental illness, and balancing creative work with intense training.

OUTSIDE: Can you start out by giving me the elevator pitch for your book and what it鈥檚 about?听
PAPPAS: It鈥檚 a memoir in essays, with a foreword by听Maya Rudolph. The trajectory of the book is an emotional arc: my editors and I听decided to structure it so that it followed growing up with me and learning, after some early challenging memories鈥攍ike losing my mom to suicide鈥攈ow to find female mentorship and how to manifest the greatest version of myself in unexpected circumstances. And then it comes full circle, which wasn鈥檛 something we鈥檇 planned when we wrote the proposal because I hadn鈥檛 yet gone all the way through my own depression, but I realized it in the writing process.

Who do you consider to be the audience for this book? You have a huge fan base of younger runners, and you often address them in your social feeds. But there鈥檚 also some heavy stuff in here!听
It鈥檚 not a children鈥檚 book, I think it鈥檚 for adults. And I consider a 14- or 15-year-old, especially in this day and age, mature enough to handle that kind of content. But I think the book is as much for parents as it is for dream-chasers, because so much of it is talking about my dad and how he raised us.听

I didn鈥檛 write it just to speak to my immediate audience. I wrote it to听do justice to my experience. On social media, I鈥檓 a lot more likely to post the thought at the end of the experience, which might come out in a whimsical poem. But a lot of those poems, people will now understand, have a lot of melancholy behind them and a real challenging experience that birthed that thought. That鈥檚 why I thought the book was an important medium鈥攂ecause on social media, it can feel like it doesn鈥檛 have the density behind it that it does. I think people can handle that at a young age. But part of it, also, is that some people think there鈥檚 a certain age where we outgrow seeking mentorship. And if you believe that, then maybe you do outgrow being an audience member for this book. But I would argue that you never need to outgrow seeking mentorship,听looking up to people, and evolving. And so in that way, I think anyone who鈥檚 open-minded enough to have a mentor would be a great audience for this book.

As you said, one of the major themes in the book is about seeking out mentorship in your own career, and I was wondering if you see yourself as a mentor to those younger runners who follow you on social media, or if you think that鈥�s a different kind of relationship?
Yeah. I think this is a full-circle awareness that if this kind of book existed when I was their age, I would have latched onto it. And so I always recognize on social media that anything I say, I need to feel comfortable with someone imitating, or absorbing, and interpreting for themselves. In writing this book, I tried to be careful with my words and be as honest and specific as possible, because I think that was where I could do the most good and also write with the most integrity. The more specific we are, the better, I think. It鈥檚 just sometimes a little bit gritty because the truth is maybe not what people thought.

You recently published about your experience with depression, and you write about that experience a lot in Bravey. Did you set out to have mental health be a significant theme in this book, and was it difficult for you to discuss that publicly?
When I was writing the proposal for the book with my literary agent, I was in the middle of the depression,听and I didn鈥檛 have the understanding I have now that it would have been an OK thing to admit. I thought it was not OK and that it would ruin my chances of writing a book. And so it wasn鈥檛 in the proposal. What was in the proposal was my experience with my mom and how that shaped my outlook on life. But I hadn鈥檛 had the final third of the book, emotionally. I hadn鈥檛 realized that myself yet. And so when I set out to write the book, it would have been two-thirds of what it is.

When I started writing it, because it was essays, that allowed me to submit a few essays to my editors and we didn鈥檛 know how they鈥檇 ultimately fit in. One of the essays I wrote was the depression essay, and they weren鈥檛 expecting it. They learned about it for the first time when I sent them that chapter. And then I think we started to realize, 鈥淥h, this is the book.鈥� Because there was this evolving relationship with my mom even after she died, and then the mental health journey, that went hand in hand. It came about in the writing process because I was understanding that about myself.

What has the response been like to you sharing The听New York Times piece and the parts of the book that are specifically about depression and mental health?
I think it hopefully pushed the conversation beyond, 鈥淭his exists,鈥� because there鈥檚 been a lot of conversation in the last few years that鈥檚 like, 鈥淗ey, elite athletes have mental health issues too.鈥� But there鈥檚 been so little conversation about what to do about it. And what I鈥檝e found, in the way people talked about my mom and the way that sometimes I hear people talk about someone else who took their own life, it鈥檚 as if it鈥檚 inevitable or they had to do it. And that鈥檚听how I grew up thinking about my mom because that鈥檚 what I was told. And really it irked me to my core because one, it was really sad. And two, it made me feel like if I ever felt that way, is it going to happen to me? Then do I just have to die? What I hope this has done is pushed the conversation beyond acceptance to a point where we can see mental illness as a solvable 鈥渋njury,鈥� and that there鈥檚 a path forward.听

And also, not blame the dreams themselves. I think sometimes people are like, 鈥淥h, it鈥檚 the Olympics, too much pressure,鈥� or whatever other dream people have, like going to a certain college or something. And actually, the Olympics and these other dreams are wonderful experiences. And we should be prepared far before that. I wish I was prepared as a teenager to understand this so that I could have done the prehab, if you will, if you consider the body metaphor.

One of the other things I found refreshing in your book is that you鈥檙e so open about things like partying in college, since a lot of professional runners can be a little one-dimensional in their public presence. Were you hoping to communicate anything specific by including those kinds of details?
Just the truth. And with social media, I just did not find that Instagram was the place to put out my diary entries. It was too fragmented to share with people that becoming the person听I am today鈥攚ho maybe some people are looking up to鈥攚as a roller coaster, labyrinthian process.听I鈥檝e always tried to do my best in the moment that I was in, and there were times in my life when I didn鈥檛 think that it would be useful to not go out and socialize.听If I hadn鈥檛 gone out to parties, I wouldn't have met the love of my life, because I met him at a party. And he wasn鈥檛 a runner, so I wasn鈥檛 going to meet him in those contexts. So that makes it tangibly worth it.

But also, I wanted to give young Braveys and their parents, who might read this, the understanding that who we are in a moment doesn鈥檛 represent the whole journey. And to suppose that someone is exactly as they were today when they were 12听or 15 or 18 is probably not true. And I feel a responsibility to share. It would be sad to me if someone suppressed some experiences, whether they choose to do it at听a party or choose to do dance for a while and then find running or whatever. They need to be manifesting the greatest version of themselves at any one moment, and that might look different when you鈥檙e 18 than when you鈥檙e 25.

One of the other messages in your book is about the commitment it takes to achieve ambitious goals. One thing that stood out to me in the chapter toward the end about this (鈥淔or Those Who Dream鈥�) was that there wasn鈥檛 much discussion of the bigger, more structural barriers that might prevent someone from achieving an ambitious goal听even if they鈥檙e very committed to it. Have you gotten that critique before, and how would you respond to it?听
I was in some of the final editing this past summer and I did write a line in there that talks about systemic barriers. But it's not what my book is about and I think my personal barriers were the ones I wrote about. I tried to speak to my experience, but in the edit, I remember thinking, there are going to be people who do all of these things and there are still going to be walls, and I need to write to that. And so I wrote that line, but I did not feel like it was my book to write more than acknowledging that that also exists and that that should shift. I think I did address it in the way that was appropriate to my experience.

I鈥檇 love to know more about the logistics of writing a book as an active professional athlete. What does your time management look like?
I did a huge amount of writing on my honeymoon, which is funny, but it was when I wasn鈥檛 training, so that helped to have a period of time. I went to Italy and I was gone for a month. It wasn鈥檛 my whole honeymoon, but I did get to spend several days where the whole day could be dedicated to writing and that really helped. Other times when I wrote, I just made sure that I had a three- to six-hour chunk to write, which is not on a day when you鈥檙e doing a hard workout or you have a double. It鈥檚 a day when there鈥檚 a whole afternoon free. It takes some time to get into writing and it can鈥檛 be done in 30-minute chunks. And that was more challenging when I was training. But that was why the deadline for the book, I think, wasn鈥檛 as strict as someone who wasn't training.

How do you take care of yourself during busy periods of creative work and training? Do you have specific strategies and routines to prevent yourself from burning out?
I try to plan as much the day before as I can, and write that down. And on any given day, I need to know what my priority is. Most days, training is my number-one priority and everything is structured around that. But on easy days, for example, I鈥檝e been able to be like, I write best in the morning. Maybe I can push my run to the afternoon, even if I have to run alone. As far as longevity, I think boundaries are important, like knowing I鈥檓 not going to stay up past 10 P.M. no matter what, because that will just create a domino effect. And then knowing that the cells only know effort. So sometimes I wouldn鈥檛 do my double because between the writing and the morning running, that was enough cellular effort for today. So I would say I probably have a 15-mile variation week to week, in the context of a 100-mile week. That kind of flexibility allowed me to give or take when I needed to. Cooking also really replenishes my willpower. I like the thought that something is baking in the oven while I鈥檓 writing. I like the smell of it. I like the thoughtfulness of it. There are things that I enjoy that make me feel like I鈥檓 thriving even during a busy time.听

Has the running community been supportive of your multiple ambitions as an athlete and an artist?
Yeah, it depends. Now, yes. Early on, it was so important for me to perform well in both arenas separate from one another. To be a fast runner was important no matter what kind of creative dreams I had. And that was partly on me. I didn鈥檛 want to be given any sort of excuse to not win a race because of a movie that I had made. I wanted to be performing and chasing that Olympic dream. I think once I was able to have a movie in the Sundance Labs and perform well, for better or worse, people started to get on board.听

I鈥檝e been super grateful to people like . When she read the book, she blurbed it, but she also called me and was like, 鈥淚 felt like you were in my head.鈥� I was driving to a workout and I just pulled over and we talked for over an hour. And that meant a lot to me because it鈥檚 OK if not everybody believes in you or what you鈥檙e doing, but it is really lovely and it is really a gift when some people do and when those people are people you admire.听

So what鈥檚 next for you in running and in your creative work?
I have the book release, and then I鈥檓 speaking at South By Southwest this year as a featured speaker, and I鈥檓 very excited for that. And we have a big TV project we鈥檙e working on, which is almost like changing events in running鈥攊t鈥檚 the same sport, but a different event. And some movie projects that I鈥檓 doing with bigger and bigger teams. So I don鈥檛 have to wear every single hat anymore.

And then I鈥檓 running. I want to be in Tokyo. I think it鈥檚 going to take a race in late spring. And I have hope that something will be there for me to race. But I also respect that the world is the way it is. So right now, I need to be nimble and agile. I think later in the spring there鈥檒l be some races. Women still have to qualify, but I respect that the world needs to do the responsible thing.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

The post Alexi Pappas’s New Book Tackles the Heavy Stuff appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Tracksmith 颅Allston Tights ($118)

The Allston鈥檚 颅nylon-elastane blend is breathable, compressive, and smooth. A wide, flat waistband provides a sleek fit.

Whoop Strap 3.0 Fitness Tracker 颅($288 per year)

Running hard means learning when to back off. Whoop鈥檚 simple screenless band uses an app to track workouts. It also uses heart-rate variability and sleep data to tell you how recovered or worked you are, and suggests training adjustments accordingly.

The North Face Etip Recycled Gloves ($45)

The Etip is warm enough for 颅frigid temperatures without being bulky. All five fingers are touchscreen compatible.

Darn Tough Vertex No Show Ultra Light Cushion Socks ($17)

We keep reaching for these socks because of their versatile lightweight merino fabric and just-right compressive fit. The lifetime guarantee doesn鈥檛 hurt.

Janji Swift Tech LS Top ($66)

Janji鈥檚 slim-fit mock-turtle top is so flattering, you鈥檒l want to keep it on 颅post-run鈥攚hich you easily can: its wicking 颅poly-merino blend stays stink-free.

HydraPak Recon Bottle ($16)

Don鈥檛 forget to hydrate after cold runs. The Recon鈥檚 cap twists open to produce a titrated flow, which prevents spillage while you鈥檙e drinking. Each bottle features 50 percent recycled material.

Houdini Power Headband ($30)

At eight inches wide, the Power is perfect for those who want more coverage than a headband but don鈥檛 like the restrictive feeling of a hat. The four-way-stretch fleece yields a snug, no-slip fit.

Brooks Carbonite Jacket ($180)

Dwindling daylight hours are no reason to skip your run. This water-resistant shell is designed to maximize your visibility, with high-contrast black, white, and yellow coloring, and reflective strips at major movement points: the chest, shoulders, elbows, and wrists.

Oiselle Pockito Bra ($58)

This bra boasts not one but three pockets鈥攑erfect for long days when you can鈥檛 travel light. We were skeptical at first, but the front center pouch holds a large phone with no bouncing, and the two underarm stashes fit keys, gels, and other sundries.

The post The Best Women鈥檚 Running Gear of 2021 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

鈥淚 became a writer for a reason,鈥� No茅 脕lvarez tells me a few moments after we meet. 鈥淪o I wouldn鈥檛 have to talk too much.鈥� The 34-year-old is quiet but friendly, wearing a beanie and a flannel shirt. We鈥檙e at a coffee shop in Boston, where he lives, discussing his forthcoming memoir, , a remarkable account of a 6,000-mile ultramarathon relay through North America.听

脕lvarez was raised working class in Yakima, Washington, the son of two Mexican immigrants. Early on in Spirit Run, he laments the impact that years of labor in an apple warehouse had on his mother鈥檚 body, explaining how he鈥檇 internalized a singular idea: his parents鈥� existence was a painful one, and making it to college was his only way out.听

In 2003, 脕lvarez earned a full scholarship to Whitman College in Walla Walla and figured he鈥檇 secured a more comfortable future. But on campus he struggled, falling behind on his classwork while feeling like an outsider among the largely white student body. In the spring of his freshman year, he attended a student conference and found an escape from academics鈥攖he , an organized run that passes through hundreds of indigenous communities in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central America听 over the course of several months.听

According to a PDJ brochure quoted in the book, the intent of the relay is to 鈥減articipate in spiritual practices and traditions; spark dialogue on the issue of peace and dignity for indigenous peoples; model their responsibility to Mother Earth, Father Sky, communities, and themselves; and receive the community鈥檚 prayers.鈥� The run takes place every four years, and the route changes each time. Leaders and elders in the communities the runners pass through tell the story of their area, so the group can develop an awareness of the land, its people, and its history. The run is sometimes referred to as 鈥渢he longest prayer in the world.鈥澨�

脕lvarez鈥檚 grandfather is of Pur茅pecha descent, and he felt drawn to explore that piece of his heritage. 鈥淚t was described as an indigenous spiritual run, and I couldn鈥檛 really make sense of that, but somehow it just pulled me,鈥� 脕lvarez says. 鈥淟ike, 鈥業 have to do this. This is crazy. I don鈥檛 have the money to do this. I鈥檓 going to do this.鈥欌�夆�� He was seduced by the PDJ鈥檚 promise of community, but also by the opportunity to buy himself more time. So in the spring of 2004, 脕lvarez dropped out of Whitman to join.听

The main conflict in Spirit Run revolves around 脕lvarez鈥檚 identity. When he first meets the PDJ runners at the relay鈥檚 start in British Columbia, he doesn鈥檛 quite fit in. He鈥檚 overeager鈥攚earing bright yellow shoes, volunteering for extra mileage, and running his early legs too quickly. Many in the group intimidate him; some are outright bullying. 脕lvarez is hesitant to speak negatively of the other runners now, and he attributes much of the conflict to the fact that most of them were going through struggles of their own. But it鈥檚 clear from the book that tensions ran high. In one scene, he describes being deprived of water for extended periods by one of the run鈥檚 leaders. 鈥淚 was just so out of my league,鈥� he tells me. 鈥淔or a lot of these people, the run was a lifelong commitment. Why is this outsider coming in, asking a lot of questions, fumbling things, not knowing how to put up a tent?鈥�

In middle school 脕lvarez ran track, and in high school he would jog along the Naches River in Yakima to clear his head. But long-distance running was new to him. And he learned quickly that measuring time and distance is not a priority on the PDJ. Usually, each relay participant runs their stage alone, with limited info on the route, while the rest of the group rides in a van, often along a different road. At some point, another runner takes over. (Most average between ten and thirty miles each day. They can choose their own mileage, but the group leaders often intervene to keep the run on schedule or push newer participants.) 脕lvarez struggles in the beginning鈥攐n his first morning, he wakes up late and is almost forced to run with his pack on鈥攂ut soon the journey begins to change him. He learns to navigate the prickly group dynamic and becomes close with a few of the more welcoming runners.

脕lvarez鈥檚 descriptions of the role that running plays in his evolving self-concept contain some of the book鈥檚 most powerful writing. Recalling the early stages of the PDJ, he writes, 鈥淚 am … submerging myself in pain like I did when working in the warehouses alongside my mother, so that I may control the turmoil within me. But unlike any other labor, running relieves me of the weight that I should become better than my parents, my people.鈥� The farther he runs, the more he realizes that he doesn鈥檛 need to reject his history.听

鈥淚t really complicated my narrative,鈥� he tells me. 鈥淚t gave me this sense of self-love that I didn鈥檛 have. That it was OK to be proud of where I came from, that it was OK to be working class, that it was OK to be Latino, that it was OK to be from farm country.鈥�

脕lvarez ran four months of the six-month journey before being forced to drop out in Guatemala, after a doctor warned him that he was at risk for permanent damage if he continued to push through the severe knee pain he was experiencing. He was devastated, but on some level he still got what he set out for. Upon returning to Yakima, he writes, 鈥淚 know now that every bit of earth contains the sacredness of another person鈥檚 existence.鈥澨�

After the run, 脕lvarez tried to regroup. He eventually found his way back to school, finishing his degree at Whitman and completing a fellowship at Princeton in public policy. He devoted his time to social work and the odd service job. It wasn鈥檛 until the fall of 2011, when he took a memoir class in Seattle, that he seriously considered writing about his experience with the PDJ. He鈥檇 been a diligent journaler during the run, and at one point during our conversation he pulled out his notebook from that time. There鈥檚 a sticker with the PDJ logo on the front, and inside the pages are filled with cramped entries鈥攎aterial that he shaped into a book.

Today, 脕lvarez seems more self-assured than the young man he describes in Spirit Run. But he still harbors some insecurities about being seen as an authority on the PDJ. When I ask him about his transition from being an outcast on the relay to becoming something of a spokesperson for it, he bristles. He insists that the book is only his perspective, and is unsure about how the other runners might react to it. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to take on that weight, because the run is a different thing to every person,鈥� he says.

The next several months will be busy for 脕lvarez: His book tour is coming up, and he hopes to invite some of the runners from the 2004 journey to a few of his events so they can share their stories. He also plans to run portions of this year鈥檚 PDJ, aiming for British Columbia, where it all began for him. Running remains a significant part of 脕lvarez鈥檚 life, and he tries to get out regularly on the trails near his home. He prefers to go alone, and he longs for less crowded, more rugged terrain than what鈥檚 available in Boston. But he鈥檚 doubtful he鈥檒l attempt the full PDJ again. 鈥淚鈥檓 in a different place,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a part of my history that I will carry forward, but I鈥檓 a different person now.鈥�

The post This New Book Tells the Story of a 6,000-Mile Relay appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Apparel and accessories to get you through your chilliest runs

Buff ThermoNet Neck Warmer ($27)

If you鈥檙e a year-round runner, you鈥檙e aware of the lifesaving virtues of a Buff during the coldest months. Synthetic PrimaLoft insulation makes the ThermoNet version even warmer than the original, and it鈥檚 extra effective at wicking away moisture.

Darn Tough Vertex 1/4 Ultra Light Socks ($18)

These socks are comfy, well-cushioned, and warm, without a lot of unnecessary bulk. Striped ankle cuffs add style.

Rabbit Breezy Back Jacket ($120)

This water-resistant layer is lightweight and gets the job done in crappy weather. We tested it during the 2018 Boston Marathon monsoon, and while it didn鈥檛 keep us from getting soaked, it spared us the worst of the deluge.

Outdoor Voices Key Bra ($55)

The distinguishing feature of Outdoor Voices鈥� Key bra is the stealthy pocket. But we love the high neckline and wide band, which offer support during high-impact activities without feeling restrictive.

Tracksmith Harrier Long Sleeve Shirt ($78)

Don鈥檛 be fooled by this top鈥檚 simple look. Yes, it has a flattering cut and comes in a host of understated colors. It鈥檚 also a workhorse, thanks to a blend of nylon and merino wool, which provides stink-free staying power even if you wear it a few runs in a row.

Tracksmith Inverno Gloves ($32)

Panels of soft fabric along the thumb and forefinger allow you to wipe that lovely midwinter snot from your face without irritating your skin. Like many modern running gloves, the Invernos are touchscreen capable at the fingertips.

Patagonia Capilene Air Hoody ($149)

This merino-polyester base layer doesn鈥檛 disappoint if you keep logging miles through the darkest days of winter鈥攊t鈥檚 seamless and unbelievably light. The soft and stretchy knit fabric and flexible hood are so cozy, you鈥檒l want to leave it on after you come in from the cold.

Lululemon Speed Up Tights ($108)

These leggings are sleek and plenty warm, so they鈥檙e a great choice for most cold-weather activities. Big, stretchy thigh pockets鈥攑erfect for stashing a few gels if you plan on being out for a while鈥攎ake them 颅particularly good on long runs.

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During the 5,000 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics, D鈥橝gostino collided with another runner and took a nasty fall on the track. The image of her and New Zealand鈥檚 Nikki Hamblin helping each other to their feet became an about sportsmanship, but D鈥橝gostino was left with a torn ACL and meniscus. After taking five months off, she听gradually resumed her full training load.听Here鈥檚 how she powered through her recovery.

鈥�Pay attention to energy drains. Social media is a positive thing in a lot of ways, but during my injury it could really breed comparison and negativity.鈥�

鈥淚 take a day off every week, which is pretty unusual for pro runners. At first it was hard for me to accept that I could do that without detracting from my competitiveness. But a day of rest for your mind, body, and soul is really important.鈥�

鈥淛ournaling is crucial for me. I鈥檝e always been someone who values time to reflect. This became really critical after my surgery, because I could look back and see the progress I鈥檇 made.鈥�

鈥�Focus on the controllables. The hardest part of getting injured was not being able to trust in the same things afterward. But I have a coach who knows me and knows what I鈥檓 capable of. And I can control the positivity I approach a workout with.鈥�

鈥淧ractice self-care. Allow yourself to take a night on your own. For me, as an introvert, this helps to balance out the emotionally taxing parts of cross-training and rehab.鈥�

鈥�Podcasts and audiobooks help pass the long, redundant hours of cross-training without disengaging me from the workout. Some of my favorites are TED Radio Hour, NPR鈥檚 On Point, Boundaries by John Townsend and Henry Cloud, and Scary Close by Donald Miller.鈥�

鈥淐ross-training usually makes me sweat more than running, so electrolyte replacement was a priority. I would come home from the gym or pool longing for salty foods like chips and hummus, dried chickpeas, and peanut butter on toast. After listening to that craving, I realized it was exactly what my body needed.鈥�

鈥�Find an identity beyond your sport. A break makes it easier to see the bigger picture.鈥�

鈥�I bring index cards with mantras to my elliptical sessions. Two phrases that I find helpful are 鈥楥heck and adjust鈥� and 鈥榊ou are never alone.鈥欌�夆��

鈥淥ne of the hardest things to do as an athlete is to listen to your body and treat recovery as a discipline. But you can out-recover the competition by considering time off as part of your training.鈥�

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Training essentials for road and trail.

Tracksmith Twilight Tank ($48)

This breathable polyester tank is perfect for sweaty summer miles. Bonus: it looks as sleek as a racing singlet.

Sol Sunguard Sunscreen (from $30)

This mineral-based 颅sun颅screen is the holy grail of skin protection. It doesn鈥檛 leave you wraith white and won鈥檛 come off when you鈥檙e sweaty or hitting the waves.

Brooks Canopy Jacket ($120)

There are lots of lightweight, water-resistant layers that will shield you from wind and rain. But the Canopy is made of ripstop polyester, so it鈥檚 soft and breathable, not crinkly like most technical running jackets.

RYU Tough Interlock HiRise Capris ($80)

The stealthy inner pocket on these flattering, quick-drying tights is ideal for stashing cards or fuel. The compression waistband and mesh liner mean you don鈥檛 have to choose between style and function.

Balega Hidden Comfort Socks ($13)

We鈥檝e never gotten a blister in Balegas. Credit the plush heel tabs, which help them stay put (no slipping or chafing) and ventilation throughout so feet stay dry.

Brooks Chaser 3-Inch Shorts ($46)

The length is ideal for smaller runners and anyone who prefers a trim cut but isn鈥檛 crazy about spandex. The flat waistband stays comfortable and bunch-free for as long as you can keep up the pace.

Oiselle Ballard Bra ($50)

The sports bra is notoriously difficult: somehow it always feels like too much or too little. The Ballard is wonderfully uncomplicated. It isn鈥檛 bulky, it isn鈥檛 flimsy, and it doesn鈥檛 fit like you鈥檝e been strap颅ped into a straightjacket.

Sunski Singlefin Sunglasses ($58)

The Singlefin looks nothing like your dorky traditional wraparound running shades. But thanks to polarized lenses and a snug fit, it performs just as well.

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Only 15 runners have ever finished the notorious Barkley Marathons, and none of them have been women. Every year, through a highly secretive and selective process, the race organizer鈥擫azarus 鈥淟az鈥� Lake鈥攁dmits about 40 runners to attempt the sufferfest in Tennessee鈥檚 Frozen Head State Park. Usually only a handful of women make the cut. This year, which some dubbed the Barkley鈥檚 鈥測ear of the woman,鈥� Laz offered entry to more women than usual.

For the unfamiliar, the Barkley is a five-loop, unmarked course, totaling roughly 100 miles. Runners must navigate their own route and find hidden books along the course, tearing out pages to bring back to Laz as they go. If a runner finishes a given loop over the time limit, they鈥檙e forced to drop out. The cutoff for the entire course is 60 hours, though many runners are booted out long before that. Completing three loops is considered a 鈥渇un run.鈥�

Before arriving in Tennessee in late March for this year鈥檚 race, many of the participating women caught wind that there鈥檇 be a larger female contingent at the Barkley. But because the entry list isn鈥檛 published in advance, they didn鈥檛 know exactly what to expect. They eventually learned that just nine women would be racing鈥攁 small number, but still higher than in the past.

The field included a handful of promising newbies (called 鈥渧irgins鈥�), including well-established ultrarunners like , , , and , and just one veteran: five-timer . , also a Barkley virgin, was gifted bib number one鈥攖he annual distinction Laz gives to a so-called human sacrifice, who he believes has no chance of finishing.

鈥淚t was exciting to see that Laz let in more women than usual, and competitive women to boot,鈥� Canty says. 鈥淕enerally, since the race and entry process are so secretive, and ultrarunning is historically male-centered, it was only simple math that not many young, competitive women had given it a shot.鈥�

For most Barkley runners, the race distance is far from the primary concern, but the extreme elevation gain, the navigational challenges, and the unpredictable conditions all combine to create a uniquely masochistic experience. This year, the weather had a larger impact than many of the women had expected. 鈥淭here was a foot of snow two days before, and then it melted,鈥� Boone says. 鈥淚鈥檇 never seen mud like this before. I wasn鈥檛 anticipating sliding back down on 40 percent grades.鈥� Rehn says she鈥檚 experienced terrible conditions in other years as well, but the rain and fog were major factors this time around.

Several runners felt there was a lot of pressure on the women to prove themselves, but the added weather challenges affected the whole field, and no runners (male or female) finished more than three loops. 鈥淚 knew a lot of people, particularly other women, were rooting for us,鈥� Guterl says. 鈥淏ut in hindsight, we were definitely under a microscope.鈥� According to Case, 鈥淟az proclaimed that 鈥榯he honor of an entire gender is on the line鈥� and implied that he was giving some preference to women.鈥�

In the end, six women finished a full loop of the course, including Williams, who turned out to be significantly for the human sacrifice title. Boone, Case, and Guterl finished a second loop but were over the time limit and so couldn鈥檛 go back out. Despite the results, the majority of the women were pleased with their collective showing, all things considered. 鈥淰ery few men or women finished two loops, within or over the time limit, so the fact that three women were part of that group is pretty darn good!鈥� Case says. 鈥淩elatively speaking, the women did well. More of us completed loop one, percentage-wise, than the men.鈥� (Twenty men finished a first loop and nine finished a second, including those who went over the time limit.)

While they鈥檙e temporarily satisfied with this year鈥檚 results, all these women say they hope to come back and give it another shot鈥攊f Laz will allow it. Such is the nature of the runners who take on this race. 鈥淚 would sell a kidney to come back and try again,鈥� Canty says. Guterl adds, 鈥淚 worked too hard and learned too much to let it all go to waste. It was the most humbling experience of my life. I鈥檓 hooked.鈥� Perhaps it won鈥檛 be long before we see a woman finish the Barkley.

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started running almost 60 years ago. In 1967, she became the first woman to enter and run the Boston Marathon when it was open only to men. This past April, 50 years after that historic race, Switzer returned to Boston and ran it again at age 70. In between those milestones, she鈥檚 run dozens of marathons, winning the New York City Marathon in 1974 and clocking a personal best of 2:51 at Boston in 1975.

I spoke to Switzer before Boston this year, and when I asked if she鈥檇 ever felt burnt out on running, she said no. I was skeptical and recently asked her again. Switzer replied, 鈥淚 must have felt burnt out on running at some point鈥攂ut only for a couple of days. Does that count?鈥�

Given that, I asked Switzer what she鈥檚 learned from her lifelong relationship with her sport.

I鈥檓 always going to feel better for doing a run than for not doing one. Even if it鈥檚 only ten minutes, running is a contribution to myself. When people tell me they don鈥檛 have time to run, I say, 鈥淵ou have ten minutes.鈥�

Running never fails to surprise you. My training for Boston this year was good鈥擨 had confidence in it, but there were many things that psychologically could have derailed me. When I got to the start line, my legs felt like cooked spaghetti. I was under such stress, I couldn鈥檛 eat, I couldn鈥檛 sleep鈥攖he media attention was piling, and the pressure was enormous. I was acutely aware of the fact that people would remember me more for not finishing than for finishing. I was extremely tired, but a miracle happened. As soon as I started running, my body unwound and relaxed. I started seeing things around me again, and the world got colorful. In the end, my time was only 24 minutes slower than when I was 20 years old.

Running has always been a gift to me; it always gives me more than I give it. In a funny way, it鈥檚 given me everything. I sometimes say that running has given me my religion, my job, my husband, my love, and my appreciation for nature. It鈥檚 given me the ability to connect with myself.

You鈥檙e never too old to improve.

No matter what, you鈥檙e always better when you come back from running than when you go out. If I鈥檓 really wondering whether or not to go run, I say, look for the 鈥渂onus鈥濃�攕omething you see that will brighten your day.

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In 1967, Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially enter and run the Boston Marathon, when it was still a men鈥檚-only event. The of a race official attempting to pull her off the course is now iconic, representing what became Switzer鈥檚 lifelong fight for women鈥檚 inclusion in distance running.

Since then, she鈥檚 gone on to run dozens of marathons. Switzer won the New York City Marathon in 1974 and placed second at Boston in 1975. She has also authored three books, commentated for hundreds of races, including the Olympics, and started a nonprofit called , dedicated to 鈥渆mpowering women around the world through the transformative vehicle of running.鈥� (Switzer鈥檚 bib number in 1967 was 261.) At this year鈥檚 Boston Marathon, on April 17, the 50th anniversary of her historic run, Switzer will in celebration of the progress women have made in distance running.

We caught up with Switzer about the 1967 race, her plans for this year鈥檚 marathon, and the broader landscape of women in sports.

OUTSIDE: What does it mean to you to run Boston again this year?
SWITZER: First of all, I鈥檓 very grateful that I鈥檓 healthy enough to attempt it. Anything can happen when you鈥檙e 70. And I鈥檓 thrilled for the celebration. Fifty years later, women make up almost half the field at Boston. It鈥檚 a phenomenal social revolution, and it has happened in my lifetime. To be there in Boston to celebrate that moment, the place where it all began, is extremely gratifying and validating.

Do you have a performance goal in mind for this race?
I don鈥檛 have a performance goal, but I don鈥檛 want to be out there for six hours! There are two objectives: the first is to get to the start line healthy, with as little fatigue as possible, which is hard, because there are so many demands on my time. [At the practice run] I was really, really weary. I thought, 鈥淥h boy, this is going to be interesting!鈥� But once you start running, you always feel better. That said, the last 10K of a marathon is still the last 10K of a marathon. The other objective is to finish.

Having said that, the training has been going well. Only a few little niggles, which, of course, at this stage you get totally psyched out about those. After this, I really want to take the training and do a few races that I have always longed to do and even helped to create. I won the New York City Marathon in 1974, but that was when it was in Central Park. I helped to , but then I was asked to do the commentary. When I run it [this year] though, it won鈥檛 be a big deal. I鈥檓 a 70-year-old woman running through the streets of New York鈥攖hat鈥檚 not unusual!

What is your favorite part of the Boston Marathon course and why?
You can say it鈥檚 , but I think it鈥檚 the moment you come over Heartbreak Hill, and you feel like you鈥檙e going to get there. People always talk about three hills at Boston, but there are actually four. At mile 16 is the worst one. Once you get over Heartbreak鈥攊t鈥檚 a wonderful hill, it dips and then goes up again鈥攊t鈥檚 not downhill to Boston, but it鈥檚 the moment you know you鈥檙e going to get your butt in.

Is there anything about the story of your first Boston Marathon that people often get wrong?
So many things! People say I disguised myself鈥擨 did not. I was wearing baggy gray sweats like everyone else. I was actually disappointed because I was wearing [something cute], but the weather turned, and I had to wear everything I owned. You couldn鈥檛 tell I was a woman, but all the men near me knew I was a woman.

People also think I intentionally used my initials instead of my full name [so people wouldn鈥檛 know I was a woman]. I鈥檝e used my initials since I was 12. I wanted to be a sportswriter, and 鈥淜athy Switzer鈥� seemed dull for that. At that time, I was reading J.D. Salinger, e e cummings, T.S. Eliot. I thought, 鈥淚f you鈥檙e going to be a writer, you sign your initials.鈥� The truth is actually more fascinating.

What single piece of training advice would you give to a first-time marathoner?
Get the miles in. The difference between running a 10K and marathon is the difference between writing an article and a book. You鈥檝e gotta get the miles in, but I wouldn鈥檛 worry for your first one about speed if your goal is really just to finish. But also train for the course鈥攊f you鈥檙e running Boston, you need to be training on downhills.

Have you ever felt burnt out on running after all these years?
No. Running has always been my touchstone. It鈥檚 always been my soul. It鈥檚 given me back the day. It helps me to sleep. It brings me back to myself. Want me to keep going?

What was the greatest disappointment you鈥檝e faced in your running, and how did you overcome it?
I had a back injury, and it came because I didn鈥檛 warm up properly. I threw my back out, and for 18 months I had to go to the chiropractor and do PT for a while鈥攊t seemed like a such a simple thing, but it wasn鈥檛. I then realized how much I loved running. During the time off, I substituted running with something else significant: I wrote a book during that time. With running you feel like you鈥檝e put another brick in the wall every day. During time off, you need to find something else that gives you that same kind sense of accomplishment.

Which female runners competing today do you most admire?
I love her, absolutely love her. She鈥檚 unassuming. It鈥檚 not about her but about the race. She puts her head down and works hard. She sits back and watches strategically. If you watch her progress at becoming an elite athlete, it鈥檚 been a long time, her rise wasn鈥檛 meteoric. Compare her to someone like Shalane Flanagan or one of the Kenyans鈥攊t鈥檚 not sheer basic talent, but she鈥檚 overcome so much with hard work. That鈥檚 what I did. So many people are much more talented than they believe.

What are the most significant barriers for women in sports that we still need to overcome?
So much! Even though the United States and other industrialized nations are moving along so quickly, other parts of the world people believe the same old myths鈥攊f you run you鈥檒l never have children, or you鈥檒l turn into a man. These are women who live in cultures where they鈥檙e really not allowed to go outside, walk the streets, get an education. My foundation, 261 Fearless, can really start helping these women, even if they run virtually or indoors. What we know is that running is a transformational thing for women鈥攊t鈥檚 changed whole societies. Look at Kenya and Ethiopia. Women together become empowered. This celebration is also about what the next 50 years will look like.

Do you plan to run Boston again after 2017?
That鈥檚 a really good question. I prefer to run than broadcast. Every time I finish a broadcast and I鈥檓 freezing cold, it鈥檚 so ephemeral. Poof, and then it鈥檚 gone. People don鈥檛 really listen. When you run, it鈥檚 like writing a really good article or book. Its stays forever. So, I鈥檓 not saying no. We鈥檒l see.

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