Tag: Running gear

Five summer running must-haves (for ladies)

On By shorterandfasterIn Fitness, Running3 Comments

On a sunny spring day in Boston, it finally feels like it’s ok to start thinking about summer running. I absolutely LOVE running during the shoulder seasons in New England, but the hot weather is going to come and this year I’ll be prepared. I’m generally not someone who deals well with heat, so I learned quickly last summer what to wear to avoid scary sweaty chafe-y discomfort. Here are my top five summer running essentials for my fellow ladies–I’d love you hear about yours in the comments!a056b8a5cf153afb69b95e25a159df60

  1. A dry-fit hat: I got my Nike hat on sale a few years ago and it is amazing! It wicks a little bit of sweat and keeps me from having to squint too much on days when I don’t want to wear sunglasses. Word to the wise–pick a light color. Black not only soaks up extra heat, but it shows sweat lines like whoa.
  2. Super duper lightweight tops: I have a couple of tissue thin tanks from Athleta that I LOVE for hot long runs. The style I have isn’t currently available but I definitely recommend something light and preferably white for the hottest days. Someday I’ll have the balls to just run in a sports bra, but this will do until then 😉
  3. A sports bra that breathes: Speaking of bras, it is essential to have a good one in the summer. I am blessed/cursed with a couple of not so teeny ladies and have found Moving Comfort’s Rebound Racer to be an total game changer. MC’s bras are designed by female runners and are thin and breathable (I hate thick padding) while still holding you in place for the long haul. And not one chafing issue since I’ve made the switch!!IMG_8578
  4. Long compression shorts: Short shorts may look super cute, but hot damn, nothing burns more than the ensuing chafing. I’ve made the switch to a longer compression short and haven’t looked back once. Plus, these Old Navy ones are still short enough that I stay nice and cool.
  5. A flipbelt (or hydration belt for longer runs): I used to run with a big, clunky armband for my phone, and recently switched it out for a flipbelt, which is made of comfy stretchy fabric that you wear around your hips. I pinky swear you can’t even tell you’re wearing it–no bouncing AT all. I wore this during the NYC marathon last year and didn’t even know it was there.

Are you ready for summer running?? It’s coming in fast and hot!!

Thinking out loud Thursday: my running must-haves

On By shorterandfasterIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

I’ve been getting a lot of good thinking done during my runs recently, especially since I’m trying to do less running with my headphones. Oddly enough, most of my thinking while running is about… you guessed it… running! Thinking-Out-LoudSo I’m linking up with Amanda from Running with Spoons for Thinking Out Loud Thursday to share my latest musings 🙂

The NYC marathon will be my first long (10k+) race in a year or so, and it has been fun breaking out all of my favorite running gear. Over the course of the past few years, I have a few pieces that have been indispensable to my training. Here are my top five favorite items:

  1. Fuel belt (or other hydration conveyance device): Hydration is incredibly important for distance runners–and finding a comfortable way to carry your H2O around is no small feat. Luckily, there are lots of options out there to lug water around. I happen to have a small handheld single bottle for shorter runs and a fuel belt for longer ones, but I plan to test out a small Camelbak this season. Whatever you choose, be sure to stay hydrated, especially in the summer heat.
  2. Reflective gear: Unless you don’t have a job (and you do have incredible time management skills), you will probably end up doing some running in the dark–so make sure you’re as visible as possible (and those teeny reflective stripes on your sneakers are NOT gonna cut it, sorry!). I love my Amphipod vest because it doesn’t bounce around, but anything reflective will do.

    Rockin' some sweet shades on top of Mt. Moosilauke
    Rockin’ some sweet shades on top of Mt. Moosilauke
  3. Comfy sunglasses: Getting caught without any eye protection on a particularly bright or windy day is the worst–and cute everyday stunnah shades are going to get old really quickly. I recommend snagging a pair of lightweight sport-style sunglasses for running. No need to spend major $$ here–I got mine for $15 off of an LL Bean sale rack. Not the most fashionable but an absolute lifesaver.
  4. A foam roller: Distance running does some… shall we say… interesting things to your muscles. You’ll be feelin’ it in places you never expected. My IT and I spend quality time pretty much every night with my foam roller and it has done wonders–it’s like an at-home deep tissue sports massage. Hurts SO good.
  5. A running ID: Thanks to my running bestie Bry for bugging me to finally get one of these. It’s a little bit scary to wrap your mind around, but you should always run with ID in case anything happens to you when you’re on the road. I got a Road ID that attaches to my shoe, so I never have to think about it, but there are lots of great options out there.

Runners, what gear can’t you live without?

Leah