These are a few of my favorite things

When I started running all I had was an iPod, which I held in my hand as I ran. I’m lucky I didn’t break it with sweat! Almost four years later my running gear choices have evolved. I’d like to share some of my favorite running gear and products.

The tunes

I used to have an iPod classic (which I eventually got an armband for). Then one day it stopped working, so I bought another one. Then that one stopped working. When I complained to the Apple geniuses they asked how I used it. It was then I learned that those particular versions tend to break when you run with them. Thanks for sharing!

Since then I’ve been perfectly satisfied with my 3rd generation iPod nano. It holds plenty of music but is very small.

The armband has also been a lifesaver. Although I could do without the dog chew marks.

I stick my health insurance card in here. This works for identification in case of emergency.

The clothes

When I was at the beach, I did some serious outlet shopping and one of those outlets was the Nike store. I had already had pleasant experiences with their drifit line for my winter running wardrobe, so I decided to try a pair of these Dri-fit running capris.

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Oh how I love these. I can wear them on my bike without worrying about cloth getting caught in the gear. I can run for miles without having them ride up. They feel like second skin. There is also a convenient little pocket in the back.

I also love my hat for rainy day runs. A hat keeps the water out of your face and makes running in the rain a breeze.

The timer

My dad bought me my Garmin 305 as an Hanukkah gift last year and I don’t know how I would have gotten through marathon training without it. I’m now suffering from a full-blown Garmin addiction.

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When I first started running I would glance at the clock before I left, and then when I got home to figure out a rough estimate of my pace. Then I graduated to wearing a sports watch. Then I bought a Nike plus. That worked well for a while, but eventually started miscalculating my distances on long runs. As in I was wearing it on the Cherry Blossom 10 miler and it was accurate up to mile 4. At the end of the race it said I had run 7 miles or so.

There are lots of things I love about the Garmin:

1. I can set out on a run without having a route planned out.  DC is a very easy city to navigate (a giant grid with number streets going north-south and letters going east-west).  I don’t have to figure out exact miles before I leave and can form a basic loop, or out-and-back route as I go.  This has also been helpful when I’ve run in new cities.
2. Numbers.  I’ve said it before and I will say it again.  I love seeing my stats: pace, calories, elevation.
3. Comfort.  Yes, it looks big, but I hardly notice it.
4. Other sports.  I use it for biking, and I used it during the tri for the swim (granted I forgot to push start for the swim leg, but it’s waterproof!)

What I don’t like?  It takes forever to find the satellite, especially when you are surrounded by large buildings.

The shoes

I’ve been a loyal Aasics gal since I started running. Every few months I just go into the store and replace them. But since the stress fracture I’m considering trying something new. Luckily I have a groupon to a local running store, so I plan to make a trip there in the very near future.

The fuel

I’m partial to Gu and Sports Jelly beans on my runs. Both give you extra energy without weighing your stomach down. Plus they are portable and easy to eat quickly. I tried chomps before but they were too hard to chew for my liking. I bought a big box of Jelly beans on amazon to save some money in the long run.

What is your favorite workout gear?