My Running Gear

Over the course of the past few years I have accumulated several pieces of running gear. Some I have liked better then others. Below I have listed the different types of running gear that I use, and where applicable, the brands that I prefer. Some would argue that you can run in anything (and I'm sure that you can), but having comfortable and useful gear can sure make things easier and more enjoyable.

Running Shoes
Probably the single most important piece of gear when it comes to running. Good running shoes are not just important for comfort, but the proper style and fit can also be the difference between getting injured or not. I was lucky to find shoes that worked for me early on, and even better, they aren't very expensive. I am currently on my 4th and 5th pair of New Balance 610 Trail Runners. I limit each pair of shoes to 400 miles and I try to start breaking in a new pair every 200 miles so that I always have 2 pairs going.

Compression Shorts
If shoes are the most important piece of gear, these are a close second, especially for me as a "larger individual" who would otherwise chafe like crazy. I own and use several brands, but one has stood out above the rest just because they fit me better. Adidas Techfit are my compression short of choice because they form to my legs the best and have a nice wide waist band that does not roll when I run. I also wear Adidas running tights in the colder months.

Running Shorts
I like longer shorts that have a bit of stretch to them. I also prefer to have actual pockets to hold my keys and energy gels in while I run. Nike Challenger are my shorts of choice

Running Shirts
I started out running in just standard cotton t-shirts, but quickly found value in performance material running shirts. For starters, they don't absorb water like cotton and dry more quickly. Also, they tend to not hold the nasty body odor smell that come from the copious amounts of sweat that I produce. Recently, with my triathlon training, I have switched to sleeveless shirts and have found this very helpful when trying to beat the heat during the summer months (plus, everyone enjoys seeing my ripped biceps and triceps). Champion is my brand of choice for a straight running shirt, but I use Pearl Izumi for my tri tops.

Hats
Again, I started out with standard ball caps, but quickly switched to a Nike running hat. The material is lighter, wicks away sweat, and can be washed in the washing machine. This year I have actually started using a visor (which requires that I put sunscreen on my mostly bald head). The visor helps a lot with dispersing heat during the summer months as well.

Socks
A good way to ruin your feet quickly is to wear cotton socks. I don't have a huge preference here other then making sure they aren't cut too low. I have a couple pairs of socks that will cause blisters on my heal from rubbing on the back of my shoe if I'm not careful. I am currently running in either Saucony or Adidas brand socks.

GPS Watch
I started out 3 years ago by using my cell phone with the MapMyRun app. This worked ok, but it quickly became a pain to run with my phone. As a reward for completing my first 8 week training program that year, I bought a Garmin Forerunner 10 and began using the free GarminConnect website to track all of my running activities. I have since added in all of my other training activities as well as weight loss tracking on the website. It is great to be able to track personal records as well as run progress reports on the data.

Nutrition
So far I have been using GU energy gels during longer races and training runs, as well as Gatorade G2 drinks between training legs or after a run. I recently ordered some Gatorade Endurance chews for use during the triathlon, as I'm hoping these will be less messy to consume then the gels. I am also working with a former coaching colleague to beginning using Advocare products to supplement my training.

Other Running Gear

• Original IPod Nano - although I don't run with headphones/music anymore, this is what I used for the first 2 years. Load it up with music and go
• Headphones - I used to prefer headphones that included a thin strap to go over my head (so they held in place), but have since switched to an over the ear model from Amazon. Again, I don't listen to music while I run anymore, so this is no longer something I use
• Armband - I used to use this for holding my nano, but now it is only used when I take my cellphone along on a run. I prefer the compression sleeve style over the strap style and I own a couple of different brands
• Nipple tape - again, something I couldn't live with out. I used to buy NipEaze brand, but now I just buy roles of 3M transpore first aid tape which saves A LOT of money
• Sunscreen - a must for the number of hours that I spend out in the sun. I use either Coppertone or Banana Boat sport sunscreen
• Race bib strap - a must for triathlons, so I don't have to mess with safety pins during a race
• Reflective vest - to help keep me visible during training runs in the early morning or late at night

Going into this off season, I plan on investing in some better cold weather running gear including some Yaktrax that are designed for running. 

Looking back on this post, I guess that I didn't realize how much gear that I had accumulated. Of course, I would say to not be intimidated by this list if you happen to think of starting a running program. The only thing that I would say is an absolute necessity (and that you wouldn't have already) is good running shoes. Keep in mind that "good" does not necessarily equate to more expensive, but it does mean they need to fit you properly and match your gait. I would highly suggest having a professional help you with that.