These $120 sneakers made me hate running less - I no longer count the minutes until my run is over

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• Even though I hate running, the Saucony Ride ISO sneakers have helped me run longer and faster - and maybe enjoy it a little more.
• The sneakers are lightweight and supportive for neutral runners, with lots of cushioning throughout the shoe.
• The White Noise colorway works with every outfit, and also aims to promote mental clarity and focus while running.

A few years ago, I started running with my fiancé as an easy couples' exercise. I hated it. Even at my sloth-like pace, I couldn't go a half a mile without stopping and I would complain every few minutes that my feet or my sides hurt.

Even now, it's almost like once my body realizes I've run a mile or two, it just shuts down. Part of it is my mentality - I dread running, counting down the minutes until I'm done and telling myself that the faster I run, the less time I actually spend running.

But while I still can't run as long or as fast as he can, these Saucony Ride ISO sneakers have definitely helped.

The Ride ISOs have been a popular Saucony sneaker style for a few years and are a good pick for runners who have a basic or neutral pronation like me, or exhibit underpronation in which the feet roll outward a bit. They're also pretty lightweight despite a good amount of cushioning and support in the heel, so it doesn't feel like you're running with weights around your ankles.

One of my favorite things about the Ride ISOs, aside from all the technical benefits, is the White Noise colorway that launched earlier this year. Inspired by white noise that masks annoying background sounds like clinking glasses from the bar below your apartment, the mostly-white shoe has a bespeckled mesh upper and pastel soles aimed to help the runner block out mental distractions. For runners with different degrees of pronation, the colorway is also available in several other styles - the Freedom ISO2, Kinvara 9, Kineta Relay, and Liteform Feel.

"Running should be one of the best ways to clear our mind and activate our senses," says Sharon Barbano, head of Saucony Communications and certified coach from Road Runners Club of America. "Yet, when we go out for a run, most of the time we're thinking about work deadlines, hitting a certain pace, or the music playing in our headphones. Running mindfully teaches us to disengage from our mental chatter and instead focus on the actual act of running, reconnecting with our breath and redirecting our attention to our body."

Whenever I lace up my Ride ISOs, I do find myself zen-ing out instead of thinking about how much I hate running, the movie soundtrack I'm listening to, or the other million random things going through my head. And because I'm focused on my run, I usually run longer and faster than normal. I even find myself taking better care of my body afterwards, like recovering with a protein shake from Core Power or stretching instead of just plopping on the couch for a Netflix marathon.

Don't get me wrong - nothing can make you suddenly love something you hate and that causes your body to cramp up, but at least now I've stopped counting down the minutes until I can stop running.

Buy the Women's Ride ISO White Noise Running Sneakers for $120 from Saucony