My Tried and True Running Favorites
Let me just say, I am not much of a shopper. I hate going into stores, trying on clothes, and spending money in general, but when it comes to running gear? I am all over it! I have tried so many products over the 7 years that I have been running consistently, and spent so much money on items that I ended up not liking. So...to help you not make the mistakes i made, I wanted to suggest my tried and true products that have helped me run 7 marathons and more half marathons that I can count.
All these products I mention are linked to Amazon or the product site! So just click on the picture or link and it'll take you right to it.
It is SO important to find a pair of shoes that match your style of running and fit you. For me, a zero drop shoe has always been my favorite, and the wide toe toe box Altra's shoes have provide a lot of room for my weirdly shaped feet (seriously, all running shoe experts I've talked to have said my feet are weird). This past year, I actually bought 4 pairs of shoes from Altra to target my training goals and rotate my shoes so that they did not wear out as quickly. I found that I actually liked switching out shoes and I would look forward to runs because each shoe offered something different. The shoes I wore were the Provisions, Olympus, Escalade, and the Vanish.
The Provisions are the ones I wore mainly on my easy day runs, these offered a little cushioning, but were still a little flexible and bouncy. I liked these because they were sturdy, they never felt too loose or too big, and they never rubbed my feet in the wrong way. Honestly, a great every day running shoe.
The Olympus were my FAVORITE shoes of all of them. I wore these on my easy long runs because they were so cushiony, with a think sole like your grandma's old lady shoes. They were so bouncy and comfortable and made my long runs feel a little easier. I also wore these on some of my recovery runs because they offered so much support.
The Escalades were for my tempo and speed work runs. I used these on all speed runs that were under 10 miles, so mainly my short distance speed work sessions. I loved how lightweight and breathable they are! When I first got them, I was shocked at how light they felt on my feet and honestly didn't know if I would like how light and loose they felt. They are made with mainly mesh, so they really keep your feet from getting too hot, and allow for a lot of wiggle room, which is great for the faster paced days. I will say that they are not rainy day shoes. The mesh on the top will be no match to the rain and puddles, and your feet will be soaked before the first mile.
Finally, we have the Vanish. I used these specifically for my long speed work sessions; so if I had anything over 10 miles that required tempo or speed work, these babies were worn. These have carbon plate technology so they are super lightweight and a quick shoe. They were they only shoes i wore during races this year, and they have kept up with the demands I have put on them. Honestly, they are worth the price they cost!
2. Energy Gels
Energy gels are so important when training for a race longer than a 10k. They help fuel you so that you can keep running, even when your glycogen and fuel sources are depleted. For me, I love the traditional GU, Huma, and Honey Stingers. I find that these have good flavors, and don't make me feel nauseous like other brands. I also like that these have some flavors with caffeine, which is so important in a half or full marathon distance.
While these are my favorite, it is so important to figure out what works best for you! Practice fueling before your race and never try anything new on race day. I've tried new things on race day, and it has never ended well for me, so really make sure to get to know your body and how you react to different brands, flavors, etc.! It will really help you on race day and will take a lot of the guess work out of the equation!
Finding the right running shorts is SO important. I can't tell you how much money I have wasted on shorts that do not work. They ride up, they cause chaffing (which is the WORST), or they just bunch up in weird ways. Over the years, I've found that my tried and true shorts are the original NIke Running Shorts. They never do me wrong and always fit perfectly, no matter what the weather is or what kind of workout I'm doing that day. Others shorts I enjoy are from CRZ Yoga, and Vital Apparel (BASS15 for 15% off!!). These are compression shorts that don't ride up or down and have pockets to hold my phone or energy gels.
There are so many other products that I would recommend for running, especially when running longer distances, but these are the biggest ones for me. I would love to hear from you and what products you recommend or have questions about! I would also love to do some product reviews, so comment on this post, or send me a message on the blog or any of my socials, and maybe we can collaborate together!
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