If you’re anything like me, you get bored of the same workouts. From week to week, my favorite ways to sweat include yoga, spin, bar classes, running, swimming, dancing, and methods not appropriate for a public blog (hi Mom!). If a friend approaches me with a new wacky workout, I get excited to break up the monotony of my routine with something designed to shake me out of my comfort zone.

The same thing applies to a good run playlist. Don’t get me wrong, when the sweet chords of “Don’t Stop Believin’” come through my ear buds, I do an air-guitar slide with as much excitement as the next girl. But having the same tunes repeat OVER AND OVER in your head isn’t going to inspire you to run faster – it’s going to have you plateau and head home early.

update your run playlist

Infadels – Love Like Semtex
Once again proving that British musicians just “get it more,” this 2003 jam jam is still en fuego 10 years later. This high energy number is as good a lead-off batter as Derek Jeter – the perfect catalyst to your new running playlist.

PNAU feat. Ladyhawke – Embrace (Miami Horror & Fred Falke Remix)
Looking to start a neighborhood jazzercise class on your parent’s front lawn? Ding ding ding, we have a winner!

Big Boi feat. Gucci Mane – Shine Blockas
Gucci Mane has an ice cream tattoo on his face. In related news, Gucci Mane has AN ICE CREAM TATTOO ON HIS FACE.

Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work (RAC Remix)
These Irish dudes know how to fire it up. An added bonus: the lead singer has been known rock an extended TAMBOURINE solo at concerts. If that isn’t hard as #$!% I don’t know what is.

Theophilus London – Why Even Try
Like Theophilus says, timez are weird. Who would’ve thought that the most ethereal and ambient song listed here would’ve been a hip hop track?

The Temper Trap – Fader
Someone might want to look into some sort of Australian musical steroid conspiracy, because ALL of the music coming out of Down Under is completely, butt-kickingly amazing these days. Download this whole album – it’s a keeper.

Generationals – When They Fight, They Fight
Were you born in the wrong era? Well throw this puppy on your playlist ASAP – it pairs a sweet 60’s girl-group chorus with run-worthy beats.

Arcade Fire – Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
I’ll admit it: I always liked Arcade Fire, but I was never the uber-fan that most of my friends are. Then I heard this song and my life changed. Yachtzee!

Kid Cudi feat. MGMT & Ratatat – Pursuit of Happiness (Steve Aoki Remix)
Kid Cudi did what every kid with a Hype Machine account & a dream wishes for and invited his hipster besties onto his hottest track. The results are a confusingly great recipe for sweating it out.

MSTRKRFT feat. John Legend – Heartbreaker
If you’re looking to get into electronic music, which coincidentally is perfect for sweating, try MSTRKRFT. Along with Cut Copy and The Presets, you’ll be ripping it up in no time – this track is a good segue if you’re already a fan of the radical John Legend.

Crystal Fighters – In The Summer (Picture House’s “Summer in the Balearic’s” Remix)
French electro is the triple espresso of the music world. Let this track be your much-needed hit of adrenaline when times get tough.

David Byrne & Brian Eno – Life Is Long
The Emperor of Cool has a catalogue of hits just perfect for an early morning soul-searching jog. This is my favorite ditty for an open-minded sweatathon.

Bon Iver – Towers
Two words: instant classic. Knowing this gem is waiting for you at the end of your run will make you go faster than ever.

Imagine looking forward to your run because you can’t get that unexpectedly catchy song out of your head. Music playlists are like a potluck dishes: some will make you dive for a glass of wine to drown your taste-buds and put them out of their misery; others  are so good they'll have you fencing with plastic forks for the final, delicious mouthful. That being said, who cares? This is a minimal commitment: you aren’t painting your walls silver or getting a pixie cut. So freshen up that iPod already and listen to some things you might normally skip. Who knows, maybe you were a rapper in a former life…you won’t know until you’re rhyming your heart out.

want more?

Check out some of our other rockin' playlists

Life moves fast in the digital lane, especially for Kristina Simmons, our Manager of Social Media. Don't be fooled. She stands five feet (OK, 5'o.5") tall but she has giant goals. (Like her BHAG to attend the ever amazing annual celebration of music, film and all things interactive - SXSW. She's going, alright - as a presenter, no less. ) No matter how busy life gets, she fits in her workouts. Who says miracles don't happen?

tips for fitness with a busy schedule

It's all about prioritizing when you work crazy hours. Being on the Digital team at lululemon means my days are jam-packed but I always get in a good sweat. (Well, at least most days!) Preparing to speak in Austin has things a little more chaotic than usual for me and I'm relying on the following to make sure I stay fit and sane. Here are my tips.

Sweat in the morning.
My productivity increases big time if I work out first thing in the morning. I'm more likely to do it before the rush begins, plus I don’t have to think about it the rest of the day. I put my gear out the night before. My alarm goes off at 5:30am and I am on the treadmill by 6am.

Schedule workouts into your calendar. Set reminders. Have integrity.
I schedule a circuit class every Wednesday at 4:30pm. I tell my co-workers in the morning so they are fully aware of my plans and they hold me accountable even if the day gets crazy.  

Seek out your workouts before travelling.
Before I travel for work or pleasure, I check out where the cool studios or running spots are and choose hotels with gyms whenever possible. I'm already looking into options for Austin, TX. (PS. If you're travelling near a store, drop in to find out where all the locals go.)

Kristina getting her om on in NYC at Barefoot in the Park

Get some new gear.
New workout clothes make my day. (Yes, I work at lululemon. Call me biased.) It's the perfect reward when I've been working hard. I swear that getting up early is easier when I get to break in a new pair of pants or shoes.

Plan a meeting/workout mashup.
If I don't need my computer, it's fun to meet while going for a run or a walk. The endorphin rush makes for great brainstorming and bonding. (Editor's note: If you want to keep your friends at the office, we suggest you do this only if you have access to a shower at work or if it is at the end of the day.)

Work out at work.
I'm fortunate to work at company that has yoga and fitness classes throughout the day. Why not propose it at yours? If it isn't feasible, start a run club before or after work 1-2 days a week. Our No Excuses Run Club is a big hit here at the office.

Make workout plans with a co-worker or a friend.
I'm less likely to back out if I make plans with someone ahead of time. I typically schedule my weekly plan on Sundays and share it with friends and co-workers to see if they want to join. Sometimes, I even tweet to see who's interested in going.

Commit to a challenge.
If I pay the money to do a 30-day challenge, I’m more likely to actually go. Plus, a little friendly competition always helps.

Diversify.
When I change up my workouts, it doesn't feel like work. I attend complimentary classes at our stores, try new studios, go for runs, hikes, swims - you name it. I’m always searching for new fun classes, running routes and DVDs.

Get new tunes.
When I am feeling unmotivated, I add some new music to the mix. It keeps things fresh, fun and interesting.

Pick up a fitness magazine.
Getting new workout ideas and healthy tips motivates me to work out. I love Women's Health, Fitness, SELF and Shape when it comes to magazines. I also love reading Fitsugar when I'm on the go.

Get into a routine.
It's all about establishing good habits. Whatever activities you choose, commit and make them a routine. When you get into the habit you are less likely to back out. Your body craves it.

My final note? Don’t let lack of time become an obstacle to taking care of yourself. If your goals are to work out more, make it a priority. You’ll feel better, get more done, and be happier!

Have mat. Will sweat - no matter what. 

want more?

• Get your local store's class schedule. Every location has amazing weekly events.
• Discover new music. We have lots of playlists to browse.
• Freshen up your wardrobe. Breaking in new gear is the perfect catalyst to sweat more.
• Download a fitness app. Lesia has great tips on apps to keep you motivated.
• Mix health with travel. Go on a yoga retreat for the most enjoyable workout to date.

Kristina totally inspires us! We know she'll knock SXSW out of the park without skipping a workout beat. What are you going to do to reach your health goals in the midst of your busy life?

We are more aware of our water requirements on hot summer days but it's equally as important to be well hydrated all day everyday. If you’re out of practice with a water drinking ritual carry a reusable water bottle around as your best defense against dehydration. Headaches, minor fatigue, cramps, muscle spasms and even hunger can be dehydration in disguise. If you begin to listen to these thirst signals beyond a parched mouth you will stay properly hydrated and feel great during your workouts!

So what’s the solution to staying hydrated? Develop a water ritual!

Every runner, whether they realize it or not, has a water ritual to prevent dehydration.

• The water addict: an obsessive water drinker in perpetual fear of dehydration.
• The sports drink junkie, who will only drink fluid if it’s flavored and contains electrolytes.
• The camel, the runner who chugs all their water in one go and trains off the reserves.
• The borrower, generally not a crowd favorite, the one who swears they’re not thirsty but after workout you find them sneaking your supply.
• The bottle princess: the one who will only drink water if it’s filtered and prepackaged.

Which one are you?

View running clothing:

• Run: Swiftly Racerback
• Run: Swiftly Tech Long Sleeve
• Run: Hustle Crop

Elyse after her full marathon.

Was I nervous? There were the normal pre-race jitters, but I tried to keep them at bay as I went through my pre-race routine. Besides, I knew I wasn't really going into the race alone - I had much support from friends and training partners, and I was confident that my running coach, lululemon Ambassador Mike Hamberger, had me well trained. I was read to go.

I had two goals in this race:

1. to stay relaxed and have as much fun as possible, and
2. to run a 3:10 marathon

I knew what all of my split times had to be for each mile, and all of my training runs had shown that this was in the realm of possibilities. I lined up in my corral, and the gun went off. My first mile should have been a 7:15, but I ended up hitting the first mile split in 6:38. Way too fast! Instead of panicking I re-adjusted my pace, but I never ended up slowing down to that 7:15 pace. By mile 15, I was three minutes ahead of where I needed to be in order to run 3:10, and by the last 10k I was nearly four minutes ahead of goal, so I just held the pace until the end. I ended up running 3:06, over an eight minute personal best time, and finished 24th!

One of my favorite moments was passing the Philadelphia lululemon cheering section. It was definitely the loudest and most exciting! I was looking forward to seeing the lululemon crew all race, and hearing them during the last 10k was exactly what I needed to keep me on target.

For me, being able to run well and be myself at the same time is of the utmost importance, and this was a race where I really tested that. I am learning that I don't need to put a lot of pressure on myself to be a serious runner, but that I can be fun and my natural friendly self at races, while achieving new personal bests at the same time. I can be focused in a race and be taken seriously as a competitor, but still wear a cute outfit and pearls! I can finish in the top 1% of a major marathon and have the most fun doing it. I can smile at crowds cheering and still remain focused and in the moment with each mile. Hence, I ended up putting it all in stride, and really enjoyed each and every moment of the race. And all of the cheering for the girl racing in pearls didn't hurt, either!

Lastly, this was not a solo effort by any means. I attribute much of my success to many pre-race pep talks by my training partner, the guidance of my coach, all of the great training runs with the lululemon and Washington run clubs, and the inspiration of my amazing run mentors and friends!

Elyse's running journey has truly been inspiring. Read her first blog post back in April, there’s nothing like your first time.