How I Found the Confidence to Run in Shorts After Years of Hiding My Legs

I used to wear ¾ leggings even in the middle of a heatwave.

Not because they were comfortable. But because I couldn’t bear the thought of my thighs being seen.

The cellulite. The softness. The way they touched. The way they moved when I ran.

No one ever said anything. But I did. Every time I looked in the mirror. Every time I saw another woman running in tiny shorts with long legs and zero jiggle.

I told myself I wasn’t “built for this.”

That maybe I should wait until I looked more like a runner before acting like one.

So I suffered in silence — and in sweat.

I’d head out for my morning run in 28°C weather, wearing long, clingy leggings.

Even though I was the only one who cared. Even though it made running hotter. More uncomfortable. Less joyful.

But shame will do that.

It’ll convince you that comfort is something you have to earn. That you have to look the part before you get to feel the part.

And then one day… I put on the shorts.

Not because I was brave.

But because I was tired. Tired of overheating. Tired of tugging at my waistband. Tired of waiting for my thighs to look different.

That morning, I didn’t feel confident. I just felt fed up.

I ran in the shorts.

And yes — I noticed my thighs. I felt exposed.

But I also felt free.

And by the end of that run, I wasn’t thinking about my legs. I was thinking about how strong I felt. How proud I was to be out there. How good it felt to run without holding anything back — including my body.

I wish I could tell you the self-consciousness disappeared for good.

But the truth?

Even now, I still have moments.

Moments where I tug at the fabric. Where I wonder what people might think as I run by. Where the voice in my head says: Should you really be wearing those?

But here’s what I’ve learned:

I’m not running for them.

Not for strangers.

Not for opinions.

Not for some invisible ideal I’ll never reach.

I’m running for me. For the strength I’ve built. For the peace I find. For the version of myself who keeps showing up — even when it’s hard, even when it’s hot, even when I still feel unsure.

And that reminder is enough to keep going.  

No, my thighs aren’t “ideal.”

Not by the standards I grew up with. Not by what I see in running magazines or fitness ads.

But they carry me. They power me up hills. They support me during every walk break, every sprint, every 5:15am alarm. And they don’t need to be perfect to deserve comfort, or confidence, or pride.

If you’ve ever hesitated to call yourself a runner because of how you look… I get it.

If you’ve ever changed outfits three times before a run, or waited to “lose the weight” first, or felt like the slowest one out there — you’re not alone.

But here’s the truth:

Being a runner has nothing to do with looking a certain way. It’s about showing up. Even when it’s messy. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when your inner critic is louder than your motivation.

This identity doesn’t come all at once. It’s built — slowly, honestly, one run at a time.

That’s how mine started. Not with speed. Not with races. But with permission. Permission to run in shorts. To be seen. To show up in a body I’m learning to accept — one sweaty, strong, imperfect run at a time.

  If you’re just starting out, I made something for you.

 It’s called the First 5 Runs Mini Planner.

It’s gentle. It’s flexible. And it’s made for women who are curious, hesitant, hopeful — and ready to stop waiting.

You don’t need to change your body to start running. You just need a place to begin.

Get your First 5 Runs Mini Planner by clicking here: Download my Mini Planner