This Is My 3rd Marathon And I’ve FINALLY Figured Out What To Buy To Make Training Easier
I'm currently training for my third New York City Marathon
, and I wish I could say that by marathon number three, running 18 miles (a typical training distance) on a Saturday suddenly feels normal. It does not.
What has
gotten easier is knowing what works for me. I've seen it all from blisters to not hydrating enough, and not using the proper gels. When I trained for my first marathon, I was figuring everything out as I went: what to eat on a long run, what to carry, what to do when my legs felt like they'd been hit by a bus the next morning and, perhaps most importantly, how to stop my nipples from bleeding. (Nobody warns you enough about that last one.)
A few years and a lot of miles later, I've become much pickier about what I actually use. Some of these things are decidedly unsexy: There are Band-Aids on this list. There's a foam roller. But there are also a few things I genuinely look forward to using after a long run.
Here's what's getting me through training for marathon number three.
Band-Aid Hydro Seal blister bandages to prevent more blisters
Blisters have the potential to ruin your training. During my last training cycle, my feet were blistering so badly after my runs that I had to wait more than a week before going out for another.
Hydrocolloid bandages
have become one of those things I want in the house throughout marathon training. They're designed to cushion and cover blisters, and I've used them when a hot spot or blister has made putting a shoe on miserable.
Pro tip: apply them on your feet in blister areas before your run. I did for my recent long run and it definitely helped.
Body Glide Original anti-chafe balm to keep my skin from bleeding
Here is something I wish someone had explained to me before marathon number one: If two things can rub against each other for several hours, assume they eventually will.
I use Body Glide
on areas prone to chafing before long runs, like my nipples. It looks like a stick of deodorant and takes about five seconds to apply, which is considerably preferable to discovering in the shower afterward that some part of your body has been rubbed raw.
These have saved me from bleeding in areas on my body that I never thought I'd bleed in.
Shokz open-ear headphones to still know your surroundings
Long runs mean I spend a lot
of time alone with my thoughts. It can go one of two ways.
I like these Shokz headphones
because they sit outside my ears rather than plugging them, so I can listen to music while still being more aware of what's happening around me. That's particularly important to me when I'm running outside in secluded trails, hearing for cyclists, other runners and even wildlife.
They've also been more comfortable for me over long distances than having earbuds sitting in my ears for hours. They're perfect for race day because you want to make sure you can still hear the crowd cheering you on at mile 15.
Amazon
A Sun Bum sunscreen stick for all that time outside
Believe it or not, you should still be applying sunscreen even if you're not on a beach in the Caribbean.
A sunscreen stick
is easy to swipe across my face before heading out, and that's especially useful when my training runs keep me outside for hours. This Sun Bum stick is compact enough to toss into my running gear, too.
Darn Tough running socks to avoid blistering
By marathon number three, I've realized that the socks you wear are just as important as the shoes.
Darn Tough's running socks
are made with merino wool, and I like that they manage moisture without feeling like thick winter socks on my feet. More importantly, they're comfortable and keep my skin from rubbing and creating unwanted friction.
Honey Stinger energy gels to keep you moving during those long runs
After I take an energy gel, I do feel a boost in my running, so it's a nice reset throughout my long training sessions.
I like Honey Stinger's gels
because they're small enough to shove into a running belt or vest, easy to get down while I'm moving and, most importantly, I actually like the taste. (During my first marathon five years ago, I tried GU gels
, but I could never land on a flavor that sat right in my stomach.) The Gold flavor tastes like sweet honey.
Arc'teryx Norvan 7 vest to keep you hydrated and hands-free
There comes a point in marathon training when you realize you're basically going on a three-hour field trip.
For my longest runs, I need lots of water, gels, and my phone. A running vest makes carrying all of that significantly easier, and the Arc'teryx Norvan 7
sits close to my body without feeling like I'm running with a backpack.
When I'm running alone in the park, I run into a trail where I run six miles in one direction, turn around, then run back. Having enough water is crucial for my performance and this vest allows me to stay as hydrated as I need to be.
The North Face Sunriser run belt to keep your phone safe and dry
This is one of those products I didn't think much about until I started running longer distances. Holding your phone for 10+ miles gets old very quickly, and stuffing it into a normal pocket usually means spending the entire run feeling it bounce against your leg.
I use the Sunriser
for my phone, keys and a gel or two. It holds the essentials without making me feel like I'm carrying too much for no reason.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 sneakers that have saved me from blistered feet
If there is one thing I would tell someone not
to experiment with on marathon day, it's changing your shoes.
I've been running in the Brooks Adrenaline sneakers
throughout my training, and their GuideRails technology saved my feet from blistering on my insoles. It's hard recommending a shoe because everyone's feet are different, but I can guide you to what you should be looking for. If your feet are rubbing, the shoe doesn't fit right.
Don't just buy a shoe for the colorway or brand, choose one that will carry you to the full 26.2 miles.
Men's: $125+ at Zappos (regularly $155)
Women's: $125+ at Zappos (regularly $155)
Goodr sunglasses for those hot, sunny days
Leave your fancy sunglasses home. No matter the conditions, I run in Goodrs
.
They're lightweight, they stay on my face when I sweat and, if something happens to them during a run, I'm not mourning a $300 pair of sunglasses on the side of the road.
If you plan to run the race in sunglasses, train in them too. You want as little surprise as possible for the big day. After running so much with them on, I barely notice them while I'm going long distances.
Theragun Mini to get my body loose
The Theragun Mini
has become one of the first things I reach for when something feels tight after a run. I like the Mini specifically because it's small enough that I actually use it, and can throw it in a bag when I travel.
It's more important to use it on your body before a run rather than after, to loosen your muscles. You stretch to avoid injuries. I'll use it on my calves, quads, lower back, shoulders and other areas that feel particularly tight after piling on the miles. I'm not pretending a massage gun magically erases an 18-mile run, but it feels very, very good.
A TriggerPoint foam roller to get my legs ready for my runs
A foam roller
is significantly less exciting than a massage gun. However, for a different type of stretch I use it just as much.
I use mine on my legs before and after runs or when I'm feeling particularly tight. TriggerPoint's Grid roller
is firm and textured, and it has held up through multiple marathon training cycles.
Is rolling around on the floor after a long run glamorous? No. But it helps so much that I actually look forward to it before race day.
Liquid I.V. to get me hydrated for my long run
I used to think hydration meant drinking some water when I got home.
Marathon training has made me much more conscious of how much I'm sweating, especially during long runs and warmer weather. I use Liquid I.V.
before or after certain runs when I want electrolytes in addition to plain water. I also drink this the day before my big run, to make sure that I'm hitting the course as hydrated as I can be.
I also like that the individual packets are easy to throw into my running bag or suitcase. Since I travel a lot while training, anything that doesn't require bringing a giant tub with me is more than ideal.
Hyperice Normatec Go to speed up recovery for my sore legs
These are for the days when my calves are especially angry with me.
Unlike full-size compression boots, the Normatec Go
wraps just around the calves, which makes them much easier to travel with and use while I'm sitting around doing something else. Running or not, these are a tremendous help after sitting for a 10-hour flight. The compression feels especially nice after a long run when my legs are tired and heavy. I use these consistently — more than four times a week if I can.
Biofreeze for when my muscles tense up
Sometimes I finish a run and immediately know which body part is going to complain about it.
Biofreeze
is one of the inexpensive things I keep around for temporary relief when my muscles feel sore. The cooling sensation is the main reason I like it, particularly after harder or longer efforts. When my calf cramped up after my run, this eased the pain there after a day.
It isn't a substitute for actually paying attention to pain or an injury, but for normal post-run soreness, it's become handy to have around.
Kane Revive recovery shoes for when I can't put regular shoes on
After running for a few hours, putting my feet directly into another pair of sneakers is the last thing I want to do.
Kane's Revive shoes
are my post-long-run shoes. They're roomy, ventilated and easy to slip on, and I like being able to give my feet a break while still wearing something more substantial than flip-flops because my feet still need support.
Are dedicated recovery shoes necessary to run a marathon? Of course not. Do I understand the appeal much more after spending a Saturday morning running 18 miles? Absolutely.
HuffPost and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.
