What You Want To Know
- Our favourite must-have gear for operating a marathon
- We’ve run a mixed 65+ marathons between the three of us
- No matter you select, be sure you comply with this cardinal rule: Nothing new on race day!
Marathon season is upon us (isn’t it all the time although?), and whereas we’re about to run the London Marathon subsequent weekend, there’s nonetheless some bangers just like the New York Metropolis Marathon and California Worldwide Marathon coming later within the season. No matter race you’re operating, we’re certain this complete listing of one of the best marathon gear will help you out. In any case, we’ve run so much of marathons during the last decade, so we all know what works and what doesn’t.
Listed here are our favourite picks for racing proper now from Thomas, Meaghan, and Ben.
Our Picks For Finest Marathon Operating Gear
SHORTS ➡︎ Tracksmith Van Cortlandt ($64). These shorts are tried and true in any scenario. No chafing, buttery gentle, and look nice with something. I nonetheless have pairs which can be 5 years previous and nonetheless going sturdy.
SINGLET ➡︎ Regardless of the Quicker Bastards’ are presently sporting as the usual difficulty uniform. Proper now, that might be the Saysky Clear Fight Singlet ($58). It’s mild and ethereal, and the lower is flattering. For chilly climate, I all the time go together with the Tracksmith Brighton Base Layer ($88), a temperature-regulating merino-wool piece that may keep in your operating assortment ceaselessly.
SOCKS ➡︎ Feetures Elite Lite Cushion No-Present Tab ($18). Every part you want and nothing you don’t on race day.
SUNGLASSES ➡︎ Dynafit Extremely EVO ($149). The total protection of those shields helps me cover my recreation face.
NUTRITION AND GEAR ➡︎ Flipbelt ($33). This belt permits me to hold all the things I want (like my Maurten Caffeine gels), and it doesn’t bounce round.
HAT ➡︎ Imagine within the Run cap, duh ($25).
WATCH ➡︎ Coros Tempo 2. Extremely light-weight watch that disappears on the wrist. Nice on race day, and I by no means have to fret about battery life. At $199, it’s an insane worth.
MUST HAVE ➡︎ Physique Glide ($17). This roll-on glide will enable you keep away from that friction hearth, as a result of nothing worse than a nasty chafe midway by the race.
SHOES ➡︎ Nike Alphafly Subsequent% 1 ($275). I imply, do I must say extra? Different manufacturers are catching up, however this one nonetheless sits on the throne. And sure, each Meg and I are taking this over model two (sorry, Ben).
My marathon tip: Don’t exit too quick. Like, critically. Banking time is a idiot’s errand, so go means slower than you suppose you’re operating (and perhaps even slower than your aim race tempo). Higher to make it up within the again finish than crash at mile 15 and loss of life march it to the end.
SHORTS ➡︎ Tracksmith Session Velocity ($72). Whereas this quick solely has one pocket for gels (see under for the remainder of my gas storage technique), it appears like they’re not there on race day, which is admittedly all you need.
SINGLET ➡︎ Tracksmith Van Cortlandt Singlet ($68) or Bakline Crop Prime ($52). Relying on the climate and temper, I go for the singlet or crop high. Both means, you’ll be able to’t go mistaken.
SPORTS BRA ➡︎ Rabbit pocket bra ($50). This bra is ideal for holding a few additional gels (or my cellphone) without having to fret about chafing.
SOCKS ➡︎ Bombas Ankle Sock ($16.50). And I’m not simply saying it as a result of it can save you 20% off your first order by utilizing code BITR20.
SUNGLASSES ➡︎ Goodr Wrap G’s ($35) or OG ($25). Can’t beat the worth and elegance of those shades. Plus, in the event you lose them on the after-occasion, you gained’t go broke changing them.
NUTRITION ➡︎ Maurten Caffeine and Common. If it’s ok for Eliud Kipchoge, it’s ok for all of us on this listing. That must be sufficient to persuade you, even when the worth ($43-$50 for a 12-pack) appears a bit steep.
HYDRATION ➡︎ Skratch Labs hydration drink combine ($22 for 16 servings) in a Nathan SpeedDraw Plus handheld ($37). I observe what I preach, so I by no means strive one thing new on race day (i.e. the course hydration/vitamin). For me, carrying a handheld bottle with a mixture that may work is a key a part of my race-day technique.
SHOES ➡︎ Nike Alphafly Subsequent% 1 ($275). I imply, two years later and there’s nonetheless nothing that may toe the road with this shoe over the course of the marathon distance.
MY MARATHON TIP ➡︎ Gasoline early and sometimes. When you wait till you are feeling such as you want a decide me up, it’s already too late. For extra insights on how this works and one of the best technique for you, try our Gasoline For The Sole episode on race day vitamin.
NOTE: Ben maintains an ongoing partnership with Nike, so fairly expectedly, all his race day shit is Nike. Think about this part a “Finest Nike Marathon Gear” roundup.
SINGLET ➡︎ Nike Aeroswift ($70). Ultralight with bonded seams and hems and comprised of a cloth that doesn’t absorb moisture. Plus, it’s all the time accessible in shiny colours! Dimension up as a result of it’s a very slim lower, and be warned that it’s very quick (think about it a weight financial savings).
SHORTS ➡︎ Nike Aeroswift half tights ($85). At all times been a fan of half tights. The Aeroswift are tremendous comfy and now contains drop-in pockets for gas storage and a zippered pocket within the again. “Looks like I’m sporting nothing in any respect!” -Ned Flanders
NUTRITION & HYDRATION ➡︎ Maurten with caffeine. I begin with a handheld bottle of the Maurten combine ($42 for 18 servings) and toss it as soon as empty. Then I change to Maurten gels ($43-$50). They go down simply, don’t upset my abdomen, and have the carbs and caffeine I want.
SOCKS ➡︎: Nike Racing ($28). Nice match with grippy sections on the underside to maintain your toes from sliding round. Nonetheless, they’re very skinny and fragile, so save them for race day.
WATCH ➡︎: COROS Tempo 2. As Thomas stated, this watch is mild, low worth ($199), nice battery, and does all the things I want. It’s tremendous easy to make use of and has by no means let me know.
HEADWEAR ➡︎ Something that I can tie round my head. The Nike head ties ($12) are nice and are available in many colours and designs. Ties are my decide as a result of they hold sweat away whereas permitting for some air flow, and might be tied in order that they aren’t too tight.
SHOES ➡︎ Nike Alphafly Subsequent% 2 ($275). A number of bounce and loads of cushion to maintain the legs feeling contemporary for the final 10K of the race.
MY MARATHON TIP ➡︎ Ensure you have enjoyable. Smile, wave ‘hello’ to individuals, take within the surroundings on the race course. On the finish of the day, that’s why we’re doing this. Even in the event you’re having a nasty race, there’ll all the time be extra. Operating is a present, so respect it absolutely.
Thanks for studying our listing of the Finest Marathon Gear, and good luck in all of your fall and winter races! When you have another options, please depart them within the feedback.
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Thomas is the Founding father of Imagine within the Run and has all the time been a gear junkie, and when he fell in love with operating, he additionally discovered a ardour for the gear that goes with it. He has been reviewing trainers and kit by Imagine within the Run since 2009. Stats: Shoe measurement: 10.5 USA, Foot form: Slim, Midfoot strike, 35 Marathons, 13 Extremely Marathons, 2 Ironman 70.3
