Dark runs - I wear a small, reflective vest for runners when I run early in the morning or late in the evening. Because these really only get noticed when car lights shine directly on it, I added a very bright running light to the front and back. These were very inexpensive ($5 maybe) and they have 4 or 5 flash settings. These plus the vest help cars and other runners/walkers see me coming and going with or without light. The biggest danger I run into is people backing out of their driveways in the morning, not seeing me on the sidewalk behind them. I always wait, but now they usually see the flashing lights. I joke that I look like a Christmas tree running down the street, but I’m always amazed when I don’t notice another runner until I’m nearly on top of them. I’ve been running with a small flashlight lately too, and it helps illuminate the sidewalk. I’ve nearly tripped on cracks a few times, so this helps. Plus it's light and easy to carry.
Music - I love running with music. Love it. I used to run with an iPod Shuffle, but it broke so I use my iPhone now. I highly recommend the Shuffle to run or bike with. They’re cheap, durable, the clip holds it to anything, they can hold plenty of much, and it is easy to control while running. They have buttons you can feel, where as the iPhone is touch screen and it requires your attention to do anything beyond adjusting the volume.
Shoes - I run in Asics Gel Kayano 18 shoes. My last pair were Gel Kayano 17, which I bought after a fitting at a running shoe store (Bob Roncker’s in O’Bryonville). I actually think Asics and New Balance running shoes look very “boring”, and I’d love to be able to wear other brands or models. But my feet and legs act up when I run in other shoes. I tried Asics GT-2170’s once, and got what seemed like “Turf Toe” and it put me out for weeks and cost me running the full Flying Pig (I ran the half Flying Pig with what felt like a broken big toe). I use the Gel Kayano 18’s for training and races, but for the mud runs or fun runs that I know could ruin them, I wear the 17’s or some other old shoes. The Gel Kayano are extremely supportive and are supposed to help some form of pronation or something. All I know is I have issues if I run in other models. You might think, “So, just run in them.” I do, but they’re $150/pair. Ouch! Every 6 months paying $150 sucks when the GT-2170’s are right next to them for $100. Oh well.
Socks - I know some runners prefer certain socks but I actually have worn all kinds without issue. I found C9 mostly non-cotton socks at Target that I’ve really liked lately. They’re very soft and inexpensive, and work fine. I have the $10/pair kind and my feet don’t mind which ones I use, as long as I’m running in the Cadillac luxury support of the Gel Kayano. I should mention that I have had one black toenail and only 2 or 3 blisters EVER, so that might explain why this is more important to some. I've just been lucky and avoided these common running issues.
Shorts/Glide - My running shorts have evolved over time. I was a typical new running male and ran in basketball shorts, which extended past the knees. I wore boxer briefs under. After a while, I didn’t like the sloshing around of the big, baggy shorts. So I tried “running” shorts (C9 from Target) with the netting inside, though I still wore the underwear (I don’t even know why). This worked for a while, but I would get very bad chafing from the underwear. To help the chafing, I would use my son’s diaper rash cream (Butt Paste – yes, that’s the real name) and it dried it up overnight most times. One day, I tried trusting the netting and leaving the underwear at home, and I haven’t looked back since. I apply Body Glide to any areas that will rub, as I did before, but now everything works very well for most of the half marathon distance (13.1 miles). For my full marathon (26.2 miles), I put a TON of petroleum jelly on top of the glide and I was fine. I will do this for any longer runs going forward (10+ miles). Just the Body Glide alone seems to wear off after mile 11 or 12, making the last mile or two of a half marathon miserable. Chafing is miserable. I want to emphasize that. M-I-S-E-R-A-B-L-E. Glide and jelly up or you will regret it. I should mention that I sweat more than most, and that causes the Glide to disappear after a while. Less sweating runners I know have no problem only Gliding. But you want to avoid chafing at all costs.
Shirts - My shirts are always non-cotton, “tech” shirts. On hot runs (90+) I like to run sleeveless. Otherwise, short sleeves or long sleeves are fine. I find my iPhone arm band slides when put over the long sleeves, and has to be directly on the skin to stay in place. Try changing songs on an iPhone when it’s under a long sleeve shirt… sucks (another Shuffle benefit). I ran the Air Force Half Marathon in a regular cotton shirt, something my work gave me with our brand on it. I asked for tech, but got cotton, so I wore it. It wasn’t the end of the world, but it definitely won’t happen again. The shirt soaked up the sweat and seemed to weigh 20 pounds while I was done running. The tech shirts don’t hold the sweat like this, and feel much lighter. I also use Band-aids over my nipples for longer runs over 10 miles. I’ve had bloody nipples 3 times, 2 were with thin Band-aids that didn’t cover the entire nipple and once was a shorter run without Band-aids at all. The chafing is much worse than the intense sting of a raw, bloody nipple (caused by the shirt rubbing back and forth for hours like sandpaper), but to avoid it I use the heavy duty 2”x2” Band-aids now. Those things are like wearing a bulletproof vest. They don’t fall off, even after my long, sweaty full marathon. I will use nothing else going forward. But as for the shirts themselves, I run in the inexpensive C9 shirts from Target. Running stores sell very similar shirts for $50 or more. $10-$15 at Target for nearly the same thing. My last one I bought seems like a new line or model, and is full of features that make it as good as the nice ones, in my opinion.
Cold Weather - If it’s cold, I layer. Just like when I go skiing, I layer instead of wearing one heavy coat. I run in 60 degree (F) or hotter in shorts and a t-shirt. For every 15-20 degree drop I add one more layer. I saw this on a YouTube video once, and it works very well. You actually want your first mile to be sort of chilly, not cold, but sort of chilly. After that you warm up and are fine. If you are warm on that first mile, you might be too hot for the rest of the run. I’ve run in the snow, and with ice on the ground. I just tread lightly and didn’t fall. You could always run in the grass to pass slick spots. It’s nice and quiet when running in the morning, and I have grown to enjoy it.
GPS - I run with a Garmin 210 GPS watch. I had a 305 that was nice for biking, though I never used it really for anything beyond running (it was stolen in Hilton Head though). When biking, I use the bike computer (Cat Eye). The 210 is about the size of a Timex watch (the 305 is cartoonishly large), fits comfortably, and has all of the basic functions a runner would want. I did like that the 305's backlight would stay on constantly if set, which I liked a lot. I have friends with the 405 and 610, and I would take the 210 over those any day. My only issue with Garmin is the heart rate monitor. I’ve stopped using it because it drops my HR and gives no data after a mile or so. I’ve tried all of the online tips to fix it, but as of now it’s not working. It was great information to have though, so I’ll try again when I think of it. On my other wrist I always wear my RoadID bracelet with my emergency info. If something happens to me, no one will know who I am. I’ll just be some guy laying on the ground. Hopefully if something does happen, they’ll notice the bracelet and know what to do. I have the rubber band kind, and suggest the other, more secure/fabric kind. I feel like mine could snap each time I put it on or take it off. UPDATE 1/13/13: The RoadID bracelet did snap! It broke during a run and fell off without my noticing. A couple days later someone called my wife to say they found it, as she was listed as the emergency contact on it. I told the guy thanks, but to just toss it. That's what I get for buying the less expensive one. The fabric kind is definitely the way to go next time.
But that’s my basic running equipment. Oh, if I run more than 7 or 8 miles, I wear a Fuel Belt with GU and water or Gatorade (low calorie kind). I also have a rain coat to wear for heavy rain. I run on the sidewalk, even though I know some who run on the asphalt facing traffic (which seems very scary and risky to me). I tend to be more "techy" and research a lot, but when I find something I like I stick with it.
Garmin Forerunner 210 GPS watch
