One of the things that makes me the most angry is when fitness magazines say that some sports are free/cheap. Sports like running!
HA. HA HA HA HA HA. Running is *not* free. At least pain-free running is not. And while I’m sure one can get by on shoes from wherever and ratty t-shirts, I’ve been surprised at the amount of gear this sport requires. I’m still new to running, obviously, so I’m sure my list will expand and change, but this is the stuff I’ve found to be must-have.
I’m not picky about tops and bottoms, really—I’ve got capri workout pants from Target, Nike and Reebok, and while I might prefer the Reebok ones slightly more, I’m not picky. I prefer tank tops with a shelf bra (so I can rock a sports bra underneath and have double support) and long-sleeved shirts with any sort of wicking going on.
But none of these are as essential as the three pieces of gear I’m going to show you now:
First, my Vibrams. I have been fitted for running shoes before and they’ve been fine, but nothing feels as good as running in Vibrams. The knee pain I used to experience from running has dissipated, and my body just feels better. I highly recommend them. I was reluctant at first, but they really do feel amazing.
Secondly, a head lamp. I loathe running indoors. Half the reason I run outside is because I like to be outside, but as the seasons change, it’s harder and harder to run during daylight hours. My coach at my running group highly suggested purchasing one for our group runs. Since I primarily run at parks, where there are plenty of roots, rocks and minor hazards, or on uneven Midtown Sacramento streets, this headlamp is my new favorite thing.
Finally, this is really dumb, but the last time I attempted to run, the thing that set me over the edge to stop was a run in the rain in which I got soaked and my iPhone was nearly ruined. This time around, I invested in a running jacket. It’s rain-proof, fleece inside and has a pocket for my iPhone so that it stays protected. I am sure this seems ridiculous to those of you who have actual weather, but California winters don’t require much “gear” — this will be a game changer for me. It’ll also mean no skipping runs due to rain. So. Win? I’m not sure.
If you run, what running gear can you not live without? If you exercise in a different way, what gear do you consider must-have?
I’m not picky about tops and bottoms (I usually wear spandexy Old Navy capris) but I am fussy about having good cushiony socks, Nike running shoes – they just seem to fit me best – and my iPod is a must along with a good, grippy headband. I go through shoes quickly, and they’re not cheap to replace!
I’ve been running for a long time so I’ve been able to cobble together my favorite kinds of gear from sales and off-season buys. I must have a good sports bra, nylon shorts (no cotton), and moisture-wicking socks (again, NO cotton). I poo poo-ed the idea of needing fancy socks until I was doing half marathon training and kept getting horrible blood blisters (ew, sorry). The guy at the running store sold me on special socks and I’ve seen a huge difference. They’re expensive but I buy them on sale whenever I see them, only run them through the gentle wash, and don’t dry in the dryer so they last longer. Definitely worth it!
Oh man, I was really hoping you would link to the jacket you bought! i live outside Boston, so finding a good jacket to run in is quickly becoming critical and I haven’t yet had luck finding one I like that’s waterproof, too. :(
Sarah, I didn’t post it because I got it at Marshall’s so it’s out of season—I looked high and low online and this is the closest I came. It’s New Balance—that’s about all I know. I’m sorry!
My two favorites are good bra and smart wool socks!
I’m new to running too. I started running in the winter so I highly recommend warm running tights and GOOD SHOES. I started out with sneakers I bought for about $6 at K-Mart and actually ran my first 5k in them because my husband didn’t want me to spend over $100 on shoes if I wasn’t serious about running. My feet were SO sore! Good shoes (or Vibrams, I suppose!) make a HUGE difference!
I can’t live without my Asics Tri Noosas (best shoes EVER), tri shorts, breathable/wicking tee, arm warmers/coolers and my ipod shuffle. Oh yeah, and BODY GLIDE!
I actually own two pair of Vibrams, and while I love them for dang near everything, I can’t stand to run in them. They just don’t work for me.
I rarely wear any kind of jacket in the rain since I sweat so much (more than the average person) so it kind of a lost cause
I 2nd the headlamp. I like my shuffle because it can get pretty wet without getting ruined and it’s small. =)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you’re loving running! Keep it up!
Ok ok ok, but you can’t wear socks with those shoes. Do those shoes end up smelling really bad?!
I love Mizuno shoes and I have to have at least 2 pair at a time to rotate, nothing sucks worse that having to get ready for a run only to realize that your shoes are still wet from the day before. I also need a good pair of light weight sunglasses, a head lamp and for the winter when its cold, LOTS of cheap gloves (think the kind at target that are usually $1 a piece)that I can wear and toss if the need happens on a long run
My Garmin, FOR SURE. Must-have.
I’m on the hunt for some new shoes, and considered Vibrams, but I just don’t think I can do it. I’ve heard good things about Asics though, so that’s where I’m leaning :) And I definitely need to get some cold weather gear. It’g going to be that time of year pretty soon!
Sports bra. I will not run without one! And they can get quite expensive. The cheapest one is around R300.
I’m so going to try Vibrams one of these days :) My favorite gear is a watch I wear to time myself ($40) and my lululemon running shorts ($54). I KNOW that is a splurge for running shorts, but they have a zipper pocket on the side, a little pouch pocket at the waist, built-in skivvies and they don’t ride up or bunch up in a weird way and they’re not too short. They’re the perfect running shorts (that I’ve found so far). Next real investment needs to be in a few new sports bras.
Apparently, if your second toe is longer than your big toe, you can’t be fitted for Vibrams. Weird, eh?!
Running actually has been cheap exercise for me. I mean, at least it means not belonging to a gym. I’m only picky about having a decent sports bra and decent shoes (I was fitted once several years ago and just buy the same shoes all the time). The only time it really got expensive was when I was entering a lot of races. But I think I made that up in all the gold medals and trophies I collected.
I think it’s great that you’re investing in things that will keep you going with running!
I pretty much just run in old t shirt/tanks, BF’s old rugby shorts or my totally unsexy tapered sweatpants, and running shoes from the Warehouse.
New Blog Post: My favorite running stuff…: One of the things that makes me the most angry is when fitness magazi… http://t.co/ssRYNFTN
i love this post! i completely agree – running IS expensive. Can you send me or publish the link to your running jacket in the pic? I have been looking for a waterproof “fall/mild winter” running jacket and this looks perfect! That is, if you don’t mind sharing of course. Thanks!
- elz
I think for serious runners, it can be expensive with race entries and specific shoes and Garmins and sweat-wicking clothing. For me, as a newbie, I’ve found it to be relatively cheap. My major splurge is on my shoes but the ones I have now I got for around $70 so I don’t think that’s too much. I do need to invest in some sports bras but you need that for any kind of exercise. And while I’d like to line my closets in Lululemon, Nike, and Under Armour running clothes, the stuff I find at Marshall’s work just as well. At least for me. ;)
I’ve been seriously considering getting some vibrams – I keep hearing great things about them and I know I’d love them. I actually grew up running barefoot, so I’m pretty sure my body would support the idea. And I’d have to agree that running is expensive with race entry fees and with having to purchase new shoes on a fairly regular interval.