Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Runner Must-Haves

When I first got serious about running, I was overwhelmed by the world of gadgets out there.  Really?  I thought all I needed was a pair of old shoes and the road.  Love them or hate them, gadgets can make life on the road easier.  These are what I consider my must-haves:

Great shoes - for me Asics Gel-Nimbus and Brooks Ghost 3.

Garmin watch - currently sporting a Garmin Forerunner 405

iFitness Belt

Nathan Handheld Waterbottle
Fuel - Current favs are chocolate GU, vanilla GU, and Sports Beans (mixed)


Hat - some people hate them, but I can't live without my hats

Sunglasses - I would have a stack of them if I could!  Currently I own a pair of Native's and a pair of Tilfosi's and a pair of Ryder's.

Body Glide - If you don't own it, you will soon discover why you should.

A vast array of moisture-wicking apparel - I happen to strongly favor Nike Dri-fit

And I think I'll be adding compression socks to the list very soon.  I just got my first pair of CEPs, and I'm still in the discovery phase with them.

What are your "must-haves"?

21 comments:

Elaine Hillis said...

AMEN to BodyGlide!!!! Music (my IPOD shuffle), Chocolate GU, Propel-grape, Thorlos socks, and a great pair of shoes. Asics! =)

Meredith said...

Looks like you got it covered! Love my Garmin. Love my Nike capris. Love my Saucony shoes. And love my Nathan hydration pack when I'm on long runs. Oh, and my Clif Shot Blocks.

Julie said...

great list! couldn't live with out my garmin, my energy drink, my lululemon racing tights, and coconut water!

Patrick Mahoney said...

it's all about compression socks. Check out the sleeves as well a bit shorter...

TxTriSkatemom said...

gotta have the BodyGlide. I spent a lot of summer running naked since my Garmin 201 is dead, so I really just need the BodyGlide, my Kilkennys and my feets. I have routes around the house that stop at water fountains so I don't need to pack water all the time. Those are my favorite runs - no time, no tunes, no carrying anything - just running.

Jen said...

Great list -

I need my saucony's, iPod, water, fuel if it's a long run, and I love my injinji socks for my long runs/race days. They are the "toe" socks. They really work for me.

Jenny said...

I'm never without my Asics (of course), water bottle, tissues for my constantly runny nose(!), pedometer and my MP3 when out alone. Am currently investigating whether I REALLY need a Garmin gadget ... my head says yes but my purse says a definite no no no!

Sherry said...

You covered a lot of great ones.... I have that same Nathan water bottle but I prefer my fuel belt. It's really nice not to have to carry something while running, especially when we are on our long runs.

I love Nike anything and won't leave the house without a visor or hat!

And yes - I thought running was supposed to be FREE!

Lizzy said...

Many of the same- the handheld water bottle, the jellies, my Nike Capri Running Spandex, my iPod and cash to buy water/gatorade!

FruitFly said...

I support all of your must-haves. I don't have any fancy water bottle - yet. The more I run with the regular one, the more I know I need to upgrade.

After my next 5K when I'm in an actual city with actual running stores I am totally checking out compression socks and leg sleeves!

My iPod is something I can't go without. That and my Road ID.

Julie @ "Hotlegs Runner" said...

Garmin Forerunner 305, GU Roctane during long runs and races, Nike visor, Nathan hydration belt, ipod =)

track coach and adorable wife said...

music is a must plus some kind of headband!I also am loving clif shot bloks! Oh and a variety of outfits, running isnt as much fun if you can't look cute!

Andrew Opala said...

That's a decent list of stuff - the water bottle looks like my golf bag!

The Garmin - well, what can I say, I've started writing it poems and I want to wear it on my wrist when I go to bed!

How much does one of those body glides cost?

Lesley @ racingitoff.com said...

My Garmin sleeps in a bowl of rice (to absorb any excess moisture)... makes it happy!

Body Glides come in a couple sizes, but run maybe $8-10... they last quite awhile though.

misszippy said...

I'm really quite simplistic w/ running, but I do need my hats! After that, give me the right clothing and I'm good to go.

Married with Children..... said...

Body Glide became my very best friend when I started picking up my mileage. The Garmin is now my new bestest friend:-) He is only 2 days old but all I want to do it run and play with it! Its is sooo cool!!! Way better than using my iphone to calculate laps, distance, and time!
I don't have a water bottle??? HUM! Might need invest in one! And yes, new running clothes for the winter, as I don't fit in the old clothes anymore!
Great list:-)

Andrew Opala said...

Congrats on your new bestest friend Married with Children. I've written my Garmin into my will. Thinking of getting a tattoo ...

Jenn said...

Umm, you forgot to add your running friends to your list of must haves ;-) We know you can't run alone!!! LOL.

irunyourun said...

Totally running my marathon with my compression socks! And I just posted today about my struggle putting on compression pants yesterday (but I think they're worth it!)

Lauren said...

Body Glide is my new BFF, and my Garmin 405 is probably a near second- I joked when I got it that it could do everything but go on my run for me but now I'm thinking it actually can do pretty much anything I need (but go for my run for me).

Also, I'm digging the nike dri-fit line right now, but my favourite shorts right now are the sugoi verve and the cw-x tights for the winter. Good clothes and sport bras are high on the list of Things I Need.

Fuel belt for the long runs, because I can stash a couple of gels in it, and, of course, my running crew!

KK @ Running Through Life said...

Great list! I love my garmin and my ipod (and then pretty much everything you listed above!)!!