I have been running consistently for years, and I rarely take time off. I am constantly relying heavily on my running gear. Having reliable gear is ESSENTIAL once you start to run long distance. After years of trial and error, I have now discovered my absolute FAVORITE items! They have helped me to reach my goals race after race, AND recover post-race (equally important!). Plus, there are some bonus tips in there for you non-runners. 😉 Here is my time-tested gear for superior distance running!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. These products are linked because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases.
The Basics:
-Running Hat
I have tried MANY different hats. My hands-down favorite brand is Headsweats. They are lightweight and super breathable. Plus the band on the forehead helps keep sweat from getting in your eyes!
-Sweat Wicking Clothes
Since I’ve discovered Oiselle, I have a hard time buying anything else! They are a brand for women made by people who understand a woman’s body. Their bras are the best I have found. I tend to pull muscles in my chest (weird, I know) and Oiselle bras have helped reduce that significantly!
-Running Shoes
I have gone through many different shoe brands. My favorite shoes have all been Adidas. I used to wear their more minimalistic shoes (like the Boston and Adios ) when I was trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Now I wear a more stable shoe, the Supernova, and it seems to work great for me! They use Boost cushioning which makes for a more responsive ride.
-Running Socks
I’ve tried SO MANY different brands of socks! Nowadays I tend to buy Balega. Their products are great quality and I get fewer blisters when I wear them. I love their super lightweight socks for summer, they help to keep me cool in the Texas heat!
Accessories:
– Water Bottle
After running the Boston Marathon and feeling like I was going to pass out from dehydration…. I am VERY attached to water bottles these days! My favorites have been by Nathan. They have a handgrip so you don’t have to put much effort into holding on to them while you run. Stay hydrated my friends! Especially if you are running during the summer, you MUST have water handy!
*Bonus Tip: My old Nathan bottle eventually got a leaky top. I liked the bottle but hated that it leaked! I bought a smaller/newer version of the same bottle and swapped the caps. The new bottle’s cap fits my older larger bottle and fixed the leak! Magic!
-GPS Watch
Garmin GPS watches have been a staple since I ran my first half marathon! What I want in a running watch is GPS tracking, calories burned, heart rate monitor and step counter. Garmin gives me all of these things and more in a simple watch design with easy to read data! I’ve used the Garmin Forerunner 10 & 25 in the past. Now I use the Garmin Forerunner 35, which is a slightly jazzed-up version of my old watches. It works great for my needs!
*Bonus Tip: I recently bought an AMAZING Garmin watch, the Garmin vivimove HR, that is stylish enough for everyday wear. It tracks my steps, heart rate, gives me notifications from my phone… I LOVE it! There is no GPS function, so I stick to my Garmin Forerunner 35 for running and racing. Though in a pinch, this watch could work for a treadmill run or non-GPS tracked run!
Body Products:
-Natural Deodorant
As a runner, you are going to sweat. That is a given. After trying out tons of different deodorants and antiperspirants I realized that trying to stop my sweating was sort of silly. Plus, I would sometimes sweat more when wearing antiperspirants. So now I wear more natural deodorants because I figure, why put something on my body that isn’t doing what it’s supposed to do anyway?
I have tried many natural deodorants. Now I use Schmidt’s Deodorant Stick Charcoal + Magnesium as my running or active deodorant. It is very effective for more sweaty activities! It leaves me smelling clean and lemony!
-Body Glide
Running creates some rather intense and unexpected friction. Body Glide is used to help reduce that unwanted burn! I use it on my feet to combat any rubbing and blisters on my toes. I also highly recommend using it when wearing tank tops. If you have fabric rubbing under your arms or between thighs this product is a must!
*Bonus Tip: Even if you aren’t a runner you can still use Body Glide! Chafing can happen walking around say… a Disney park? Rub some glide on pre-park hopping and prevent the pain!
Recovery:
-Recovery Flip Flops
When I first got Oofos recovery sandals, I wasn’t crazy about them. They felt very strange and took some getting used to. Now that I’ve consistently been wearing them after my long runs, I can notice the difference in how quickly I recover! They take the stress off sore feet after miles of pavement pounding!
-Rollers
TriggerPoint Grid Foam Rollers have been a part of my routine since day one! I admit some days I don’t roll as much as I should… but when I DO use my roller I feel much better the next day! These newer firm rollers are the BEST! My run club has them and they work deeply into sore muscles!
There are also various torture looking devices that are great for any tight spots that need some extra TLC. I keep mine at my desk so I can roll my muscles after an early morning run. You might get some looks (I sure do)… but having relaxed muscles is worth it, right? =p
-Compression Sleeves
I’m a bit obsessed with my compression sleeves. After a long run or a tough workout I throw the sleeves on with my recovery sandals and I’m set. Recovery mode activated! Since I started using them I rarely have sore calves. Plus you look so sporty! 😉
-Cooling Towel
Cooling towels are all the rage these days! Store one in your car to cool off after a hot run. I keep a small cooler with ice packs and a damp cooling towel inside to help bring my body temp down after a hot Texas workout.
*Bonus Tip: Bring some cooling towels on your next Disney trip! They sell them at the parks, but it’s much cheaper to get them on Amazon.
Nutrition:
-Honey Stinger Gels
The only gels that sit well in my stomach during a long run are Honey Stinger Gels. It took a lot of trial and error to find this out, so see if they work for you! Nutrition is a very personal thing for runners, so try all sorts of gels to see which one is your favorite!
-Beet Elite
Did you know that eating six whole beets before a workout can help improve your performance? That’s a lot of beets! Luckily Beet Elite makes it easy to get a that beety goodness in a condensed form! When I take it before a marathon I get an extra kick in the later miles! Plus, Beet Elite tastes much better than any other beet powder I’ve tried, trust me! See if it works for you!
-Nuun
Water alone won’t keep you hydrated when you are sweating ALL of your salts out! Nuun will help replenish the electrolytes you lose during a run. It has a great balance of minerals and is less sugar-loaded than standard Gatorade. I love how portable Nuun is since it comes in tabs that dissolve in water. Great for air travel since you can throw them in your carry on!
Don’t forget to check out why runDisney is to blame for my racing addiction!
Let me know in the comments if you have any time-tested running gear that you love!
Great information. I’m not a runner but some of the tips are good for everyone. I love the cooling towels. We spent the day at Magic kingdom and it was 100. The cooling towel was wonderful.
This had so much good info! Thanks so much!