Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Advice for First-Time Marathoners, Part III: Equipment

Lesson #3: Get quality gear, even if it is more expensive than you might like -- if you get cheap equipment that falls apart prematurely, you will not only wind up paying more in the long term, but you may even wind up injuring yourself.

As everyone quickly figures out, running is one of the most expensive "free" sports out there. Not just because of the registration fees, travel, and hotel arrangements (and, in the case of Walt Disney World  Marathon Weekend, park tickets), but especially because of the clothing and equipment that you need.

Now that you've decided to run a marathon, you'll want to make sure that you have all of the clothing/equipment you may need. While much of this list is obvious, and not everyone needs/uses all of it, when you add it up, it can get very pricey, especially if you get some of the more expensive items out there:


  • Sneakers (make sure to go to a full-service running store to get properly fitted, don't just get the cheapest running shoe that feels comfortable in the store -- some stores like RoadRunner Sports have programs where you can try out the product for up to 90-days with a money-back guarantee)
  • Moisture wicking socks (do *not* use simple tube socks for anything other than very short runs -- you'll get nasty blisters)
  • Underwear (spandex/moisture wicking -- not just ordinary plain cotton, heaven forbid)
  • Shorts (some have small pockets, others don't -- runner's choice)
  • Shirts (singlets, compression, etc. -- make sure these are moisture wicking, regardless)
  • Body Glide / Vaseline / other anti-chafing product
  • Digital watch (Garmin, etc.)
  • Tights
  • Compression socks
  • Compression sleeves
  • Gloves (I have yet to find a pair that works really well for me)
  • Hand warmers
  • Hat or Visor
  • Water bottles / Hydration belt / Hydration vest / Camelbak
  • Flip belt
  • Phone case/strap (for those who like to listen to music/podcast/e-book while running)
  • Bib magnets (if you don't want to use safety pins on race day to secure your bib)
  • Foam roller
  • Ice pack / heat pack
  • Band-Aids / Nipple Tape
  • Sunscreen


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