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Some people really enjoy running and are naturally good at it, and if that’s you, congratulations, but this blog post is not for y’all.
This is for the people who struggle to maintain an 11-minute mile, whose technique looks like a parody, whose bodies give them zero advantage, and who finish every run with a prayer and a sigh of relief -- aka me. It’s no secret that I am a terrible runner, almost to a comical degree. Yet, ya girl is running a marathon in less than two weeks. Training has been brutal, but I did it, thanks to in no small part my grit and determination, yes, but also to some really incredible gear I discovered through research, recommendations, and trial and error. And, I’d like to share it with you. *In this day and age, I feel like I should point out for the record that this post is NOT sponsored in any way (I have less than 1,200 followers on Instagram LOL).* 1. Without a doubt, my most precious piece of running gear is my Hoka One One shoes. I’ve written about my issues before, but I have horrible feet. My arches collapsed a few years ago, which means the others bones in my feet take more pressure than they're supposed to. I used to never be able to run more than 2 or 3 miles before I'd get stress fractures (I've fractured my right foot 4 times and my left foot 6 times). However, after my grandmother had her hip replaced, her doctor recommended Hokas, and since I have the bones of a 60-year-old, I figured I would try them too. Long story short, I will never wear another shoe. They're definitely not cute and a little pricey, but to me they're worth every penny, and I'll take clown shoes if it means I never have to wear a cast again. I have worn the Arahi, Arahi 2, and the Gaviota 2 (my current shoe) and if I had to rank them, it would be 1) Gaviota 2, 2) Arahi, 3) Arahi 2 (but each one blows all the other brands I have worn out the water).
2. I’ve found sock type to be less important than shoes, but still probably the second-most important gear I run with. If you’re running outside during a North Dakota winter, you have to have merino wool socks. Brand isn’t important, but making sure they are real merino wool is crucial. Especially since I don’t wear snow-specific running shoes or crampons (I told you, I literally can’t run without my Hokas), I need something that doesn’t absorb moisture, or else I get gnarly blisters. If windchill is below 10°F, I’ll wear two pairs, and as long as they’re wool, my feet stay happy. Now that it’s warmer, I’ve been running in my Balega Hidden Comfort socks. I also recently ordered some Enduro No Show Running Socks and Blister Resist Quarter Running Socks but they haven’t come in, so I can’t give an opinion on those yet.
3. Especially if it’s cold outside, my next most important piece of equipment is my merino wool half-zip pullover (can you tell I love merino wool?). Both of the pullovers I have are from Patagonia -- I’m a big fan of their business model and how they give back -- but I gave my husband one from SmartWool, and he really likes his, so once again, brand is not near as important as what it’s made of. The reason merino is so much better than any other material is its warmth relative to its weight. When we would run together, Craig would always be so confused as to how I could wear so little and still be comfortable. For example, we ran the Minot Turkey Trot 5K in November, and while it was about 12°F, I was only wearing leggings, a dri-fit top, and my merino pullover, but I was sweating. However, when I bought him his SmartWool pullover, he understood -- it really does make THAT much of a difference. Bonus: Because it doesn’t hold onto moisture, you can wear it multiple times before it starts to stink, making it ideal for multi-day backpacking trips as well.
4. Oh how I (and my bank account) wish there was a more affordable option, but there is really no other legging brand that compares to Lululemon. When the mercury drops and the frostbite risk is real, the only pants I’ll reach for are my Speed Up Tight with Warp Tech Fleece. When it’s not so cold, brand is not quite as important, but my favorite is still Lululemon’s Fast and Free Tight II 25". However, if Lululemon is completely out of budget, Nike is probably my second favorite brand, and I also have a couple of leggings from Aerie and Old Navy that will do. The main thing for me is that they have to have a drawstring -- I have thick thighs and a booty, and if I don’t tie them, I’ll be constantly pulling up my pants while running.
5. I finally got boobs last year (at 25 years old ? better late than never I guess?), so I had to learn to navigate the world of sports bras -- and holy smokes, I never realized how many overwhelming options there were. So far, I’ve tried Nike, Under Armour, Victoria’s Secret, Aerie, Old Navy, and Target. To be honest I’m still not completely satisfied (so if any of y’all have recommendations, I will take them!) but my favorite has been the basic Nike Pro Classic Swoosh Bra.
6. Whether it’s warm or cold, I pretty much always wear a dri-fit top as my base layer. Thankfully, this is probably the item of clothing I wear where brand matters the least. I have a ton of Nike dri-fits from my college swimming days that I still wear, and I can’t tell the difference between those and ones I’ve bought from T.J. Maxx. Dri-fit material is like wool in that it wicks away moisture (great for people who sweat a lot, like me), but it feels a little lighter.
7. For my half-marathon, my longest training run was 10 miles, so I didn’t really need a way to carry water or gels with me; I’d just stick my phone in my sports bra and I’d be good to go. However, because my marathon runs have been significantly longer, I needed a way to bring water, and I knew I didn’t want to wear a backpack or carry a bottle the whole time. After a little research, I ordered a SPI H2O Venture Series from SPIbelt. I can’t speak to how it compares to other brands since this is the only belt I’ve tried, but I have been completely satisfied. My main concern was how well it would stay up and if it would bounce; if I was going to be running for 4+ hours, I knew something constantly jostling my hips would get old real fast. Thankfully, it stays put. The version I bought is big enough to hold my Galaxy S9+ and chapstick in the pocket, it has loops for two gels, and it came with two 8 oz. water bottles that hook anywhere on the elastic, as well as reflective trim for low light and race bib toggles.
8. Strenuous exercise makes my blood sugar drop more than it should, so I have to eat -- not a problem when I lift weights, but running makes my stomach super sensitive. Energy gels are generally a good solution to both of those issues, and I tried most of the big brands -- Gu, Clif Shot, Gatorade, and Powerbar, to name a few -- but they didn’t work for me. I do not have a sweet tooth, and most gels taste too cloying to me. Enter Hüma, an all-natural, chia seed-based gel. First of all, it tastes great, is easy to get down, and doesn’t upset my stomach. Secondly, as an Air Force wife, I obviously love that it’s a veteran-owned company.
9. The more I age, the worse my eyesight becomes. Part of that is probably due to how much I hate eyewear; everything I’ve worn in the past has either squeezed my head or kept falling down my nose. I rarely wear my glasses (only when I have a headache or drive at night), and I literally never wear sunglasses. This winter, I started to notice my eyes would feel a lot more sensitive after running in the snow, and I realized it’s probably about time to suck it up and look for some eye protection. I discovered Goodr online, and now I’m obsessed with them. They’re fun, fashionable, and affordable, but most importantly, they’re polarized, lightweight and they stay on. I’ve worn them running and skiing, and they’ve been equally awesome during both activities.
10. I take my dogs with me on most of my runs, and I wouldn’t be able to do that without my ThinkPet Hands Free Dog Leash Kit. I ordered it off Amazon, and it came with a belt, two clips, and two 6-foot bungee leashes. Same situation as my SPIbelt -- I have not tried any other brands so I can’t compare, but I have been satisfied with my purchase. I did replace the bungee leashes with 2-foot leashes (I wanted to teach my dogs to run right at my side and not get ahead or veer off), but that was just a personal preference, not a quality issue.
11. Last but not least, entertainment. Some people use running as a type of meditation, but I need something to keep my mind occupied -- Like Queen Lizzo said, "I need tempo." I know this isn't technically gear, but it's a necessity ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ When I run indoors, I listen to two main podcasts, Marathon Training Academy and The Vanished. MTA gives listeners training motivation and tips in a relatable way, and after every episode, you’re left with a positive, can-do vibe. The Vanished is a podcast that covers missing persons cases, most of which were never solved. It’s so fascinating that the miles really fly by. It can definitely get a little dark, which is the main reason I only listen to this one at the gym -- I have an active imagination, and I’m constantly looking over shoulder and thinking there’s a serial killer around every turn if I’m listening to this while running outside. So, I listen to music. I prefer Spotify Premium over any other streaming service, and I made a playlist called Run Forrest Run. Just a heads up, some of the songs are explicit, so be aware of that if you play it without headphones.
So there you have it: running gear recommendations for people who suck at running! What is your must-have product? Comment and let me know; I’m always looking for suggestions!
Note: Some of this gear is expensive, and there’s no way around that. However, I’ve tried to note where I think brand is important versus where you can look for deals. Also, as one of the thriftiest (read: cheapest) people I know, I am confident that all of these items are well-worth the price.
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“I have become the woman I hardly dared imagine I could be. There are parts I don’t love — until a few years ago, I had no idea that you could have cellulite on your stomach — but not only do I get along with me most of the time now, I am militantly and maternally on my own side. Left to my own devices, would I trade this for firm thighs, fewer wrinkles, a better memory? You bet I would. That is why it’s such a blessing that I’m not left to my own devices.” It’s April 5th, which means our marathon is exactly one month away (*gulp*). In honor of that, I have a confession to make: Despite my work in the mental health community, despite my constant preaching about being body-positive and loving/accepting yourself as you are, despite the fact that I am literally running 26.2 miles for the National Eating Disorders Association… there may have been a teeny, tiny part of me that wanted to train for a marathon so I could look like I ran marathons. You know the stereotypical body type: Super thin with sleek, lean muscles, or to use the very non-politically-correct term we called it back in college, crack skinny. Ya girl has always been thick. Even when my body fat percentage was in the teens, I looked more linebacker than lithe. I used to joke that had I been born a boy, I would have been HOT STUFF. I always felt too muscular, too masculine, too big to be an attractive female. I wanted to be small. I learned to cock out my hip, hunch over so I’d look shorter. I would play down how strong I was. I was constantly sucking in my stomach. I pretended I wasn’t hungry when I was. I wore sleeves that covered my biceps (arm muscles were NOT cool for girls when I was younger). I tried SO HARD to shrink myself, to take up less space. Nothing worked. What can I say, genetics are a bitch. Anyway, eventually I learned to love my natural build (thanks in a large part to rugby, which I’ve written about here), but I was curious to see if it was even possible for my body to look like the one I pushed for so many years ago. If anything could make me twiggy, surely it was marathon training. Well, I ran 20 miles on Saturday, and I’m still sitting squarely at 170 pounds (the weight I’ve been, give or take 5 pounds, since I recovered from my eating disorder six years ago). The petty part of me wants to shove that in some former coaches’ faces: “Look at this, asshole. This body was never going to be or do what you wanted it to -- it was going to be and do MORE!” Yes, I’m still a little bitter. Yes, I’m working on it. But that’s a blog post for another time.
In any case, I’ve spent most of my life obsessing over my size. Even now, despite loving the way I look 99.9% of the time, I’m still hyper-aware that I’m a sturdy girl. However, I’m learning that being a bigger athlete is not a bad thing. Yes, I am a large runner. No, I am never going to be a size zero (not that there's anything wrong with that -- skinny-shaming is not ok either). But I can be a role model for my young female athletes. I can demonstrate that your capabilities are not determined by what you look like. I can take up space without apology. I can show people that you can be big and muscular and still feel feminine and sexy. There’s a quote I try to live by: “Be who you needed when you were younger.” I needed someone who looked like me to stand up and say, “My body is flawless.” I needed someone to say, “Be loud, girl. Be bossy. You don’t have to be cheerful all the time. You can get angry.” I needed someone to say, “Compassion does not make you weak. Being sensitive does not make you a pansy.” So now, this is what I’m saying: My body is almost 6 feet tall, I wear a size 12 in jeans, and I freaking love it. My tree-trunk legs are about to carry all 170 pounds of me to a marathon finish line. I have a powerful voice and I will roar as loud as I need to to further the causes I believe in. I am emotional and I have a lot of feelings, but being able to put myself in other people’s shoes makes me an excellent leader. When I look in the mirror, I see someone who is tough, capable, adventurous, hard-working, strong. I see someone with calloused hands, a soft heart, and a steel spine. I see someone who stopped asking for permission to love herself and just grabbed it and refused to let go. I see someone who knows her worth. I see someone who’s been through the ringer and came out a fighter. I see someone who I am radically proud to be. And somehow, that has both everything and nothing to do with my size. |
About the AuthorConfessions of a failed southern lady. I've got messy hair and a thirsty heart. Writer, photographer, career wanderer. Archives
May 2023
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