7 Top Outdoor Destinations for Rock Climbing Newbies
Learn how to rock climb at one of these hot spots around the U.S. The payoff: seriously cool views from the top and some skills you can totally show off.
Laurel Leicht
Contributing Writer
Laurel Leicht is the fitness editor of SHAPE magazine and a freelance writer. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, Self, Men's Health, Redbook, and Modern Bride and on mensfitness.com, iVillage, and HGTV.com. She’s also served as a contributing writer for the local endurance-sports magazine Competitor New York. A Missouri native and a Midwesterner at heart, Laurel currently lives in Brooklyn, NY. She’s run nine marathons, biked two centuries, and competed in three Olympic-distance triathlons.
Articles by Laurel Leicht
The Most Popular Running Routes in All 50 States
The best way to see a city: run it! This list of the most popular running routes in every state shows you exactly where to go and what you’ll see.
6 Pool Workouts Worth Diving Into This Summer
From aqua spinning to floating yoga, working out in water adds resistance and revs up your heart rate. Take a dip into these new pool workouts.
4 Things No One Told You About Plant-Based Supplements
Searching for plant-based supplements can get super confusing. Here’s how to decode labels so you pick a stand-out product.
How Athletes Thrive Off Fear — And You Can Too
Fear can be a factor in your fitness — but a positive one, if you channel it into success, not setbacks. Learn how to do that from three extreme athletes.
6 Top Wearables for Every Kind of Activity Tracking
From triathlon training to sleek, discreet tracking, the new wearables offer something for everyone. Check out the latest and greatest activity trackers.
How Trainers Stay on Top of Their Self-Care
Dedicating time to unwinding is a must — even for the most health-minded trainers. Steal their self-care routines so you can finally de-stress, too.
7 Impressive Kettlebell Exercises for a Total-Body Workout
Skip your typical swing and try these seven creative kettlebell exercises. They each challenge your muscles in new ways to get you head-to-toe toned.
7 Snowga Poses to Prep You for the Slopes
Take your yoga practice outside for snowga, the Instagram-worthy yoga-in-the-snow trend. Your yoga poses won’t get any cooler than this.
Why I Started My Own Wellness Brand
Get inspired by the founders of seven wellness brands. They each took risks to launch a brand they believe in — all in hopes of helping others.
The Cheapest Winter Produce to Buy Now
Find out which fruits and vegetables are in season now. Then add the fresh (and cheap!) winter produce to your grocery list today.
10 Marathoner Mantras for When You’re Ready to Give Up
For those times on the course when you just want to give up and walk, nine marathoners — from pros to amateurs — have the advice to pull you through.
How Ironman Competitors Fit in Training (And You Can, Too)
Think you don’t have time to sweat? Take a cue from Ironman competitors on how to squeeze in triathlon training (or any exercise!), despite busy schedules.
The Best Forms of Sugar to Eat Pre-Workout
Sugar is often on bad-for-you foods list. But eating the right carbs pre-workout can sometimes boost performance. Follow this guide to see sweet results.