 Self-portrait, post-run  |
In the year that I've been running, I've learned a lot about what works for me and what doesn't. In the process, I went through quite a lot of gear. Running is not an expensive sport compared to, say, cycling, but you do get what you pay for. Running IS a sport without a lot of tolerance for error--it's high impact, repetitive, and sweaty, with a lot of moving parts. I've upgraded nearly everything I use to run, from shoes, to shorts, to headphones, to sunglasses. In the interest of saving other novice runners money, I thought I'd recommend my favorite running gear.
Shoes
I run in Asics Gel Nimbus 10s. These replaced my Asics 2110s, but only after I wore them out. You're supposed to replace running shoes every 300-500 miles. I did easily that much in the six months leading up to the marathon. I got the Gel Nimbi for $35 at Ross, but they're WORTH their $100+ retail price. That's not to say that YOU should buy them. You've got to get the right shoe for YOUR foot. If you think running is excruciatingly painful, you're probably doing it in the wrong shoes.
Arches are natural shock absorbers. I have very high arches, and I underpronate. When my foot hits the ground, my arch doesn't flatten and spread the force of impact out over my foot. The good news is, my feet stay aligned, and the joints in my ankles and knees aren't strained. Vincent, on the other hand, has low arches and overpronates. His feet roll inward when he runs. I need cushioning. He needs motion control.
You can tell what kind of foot you have by looking at your favorite shoes. Are the soles worn towards the outside of your foot, like mine? If so, you probably have high arches and underpronate. Worn towards the inside? You likely have low arches and overpronate. Cushioned running shoes are for high arches. Stabilizing or motion control shoes are for low arches. The latter are harder to find and more expensive, but not as expensive as knee surgery.
Socks
I love cotton. Jeans, tees, tanks... 90% of the clothing I own is cotton. But cotton socks are not for running. There's nothing "athletic" about cotton. It absorbs sweat and does not dissipate it. Wet clothing leads to chafing and blisters. I run exclusively in Sock Guy socks. They are polyester and nylon--thick, cushy and soft like cotton, but they stay dry. And unlike cotton, they hold up well to washing--no pilling. Well worth the $5-10 a pair they cost.
Shorts
Having come over to running from cycling, I only recently discovered why runners wear those ugly, short, baggy nylon running shorts. It's because they stay dry! I still prefer the look of lycra compression shorts, but not the feeling of wet clothing and chafed skin. Also, they have built-in underwear--bonus! In compression shorts, I went commando rather than wear cotton underwear. My Asics Hyper track shorts have an inner pocket with flap which will be handy for safely stowing keys when I run on the beach. For $6/pair at Ross, I bought every color they had.
Headphones
I love my shuffle, but I hated the earbuds that came with it. They wouldn't stay in when I ran, and they weren't sweat-proof. I switched to Nike Flight. It's got a stiff but flexible nylon band that goes around the back of my head--think wraparound sunglasses worn backwards. The cord goes down my back, which means I can't accidently rip the earbuds out of my ears. The tension keeps the earpiece against my ear, but not INSIDE it. This means the sweat can run down my ear canal without shorting out my headphones. $20 at Target.
Watch
My Timex Marathon watch is indestructable, comfortable to wear, lightweight, small, easy to use, and not terribly ugly, as sport watches go. I never take it off, and I use the stopwatch function every single time I run. One word of caution--I'm on my second Timex, as the silicone wrist band on the cute pink one I had before eventually darkened to brown. Basic black is the way to go in watches. $30 at Target.
Sunglasses
I have custom pink and white Oakleys with the running ribbon logo etched into the glass. They are small, lightweight, and comfortable, but what I like best is the rose-tinted lenses. You know how sunlight looks warm and golden early in the morning or late in the afternoon? That's how the world looks every time I run. I'm tempted to wear my Oakleys all the time, because they make everything look nicer. $120 here.
.:.
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