What I Take When I Go Running, and I’m a Gear Addict

 
I admit I’m one of those people that if I’m uncomfortable, I just can’t function. When I go running, I have to have as little on me as possible.
Don’t get me wrong, because I am a little obsessed with running gear, and own way more than I need… I just don’t want it all on me at the same time.

 
CAR KEYS:
Don’t you love running bottoms with zipper pockets on them? I don’t buy them without them, learned my lesson.
Because I usually don’t run straight from my house, but either drive to the boardwalk or drive closer to the gym to run around that area so I can do some strength/swimming/shower afterwards, I have to have my car keys with me. That’s when that zipper pocket comes in handy. Put the key in there, and forget about it.

 

Those pockets are a life saver

 
MUSIC:
I don’t think I ever ran without listening to music, I bet if I did I would run so much slower.. The rhythm of the music helps me move, and keeps me entertained.. how do people run without it, I would be so bored…
But then I would never consider swimming with musi, and some people love it, to each their own, of course.

 
So my IPod Shuffle is always with me, I have a pink one I bought I think 3 years ago, and it still works perfectly. I thought of buying a new one but there’s no point until this one stops working, since I would get the same exact model anyway. I love how small and light it is, and the back clip that I just attach to the waist of my shorts/pants and don’t feel for the whole run (the IPod doesn’t move or fall). I wish they had a screen to display the songs I’m listening to, but I guess they can’t fit one in such a small device, and really, size is everything in this model.

 


 
HAIR TIE:
I know this sounds obvious, it is to me, but I’ve seen girls running with untied hair and I just don’t get it. I always run with a pony tail and pray that my hair tie doesn’t break.

 

Simple and strong

 
RUNNING WATCH:
I started running with my phone to record my time and my distance (although GPS on a smart phone is not that reliable in my personal experience), eventually moved on to a regular timer watch, which was a few hundred steps backwards in terms of technology, but at least I could wear it on my wrist and didn’t have to carry it in my pocket like I had to with my phone.
The timer watch worked fine, I measured the distance of my usual routes with Google Maps so by knowing what time it took me to run the route, I could calculate my speed.
And recently I got a Garmin so now I’m back in the 21st century.

 

Same thing, right?

 
WEATHER RELATED GEAR:
I run early in the morning so in winter it is usually cold. Depending on the temperature, I wear gloves and/or a hat. I’d rather wear gloves than the hat because the hat sometimes makes me too hot mid run. The gloves I can usually stand until the end of the run.
If I’m running later than 08:00 AM, I take running sunglasses because the sun is strong here, even in winter.
I’ve never ran with a sun hat or visor, not even in the summer, I guess I would if I were to run closer to noon.

 

I’d rather just pick one

 
NUTRITION:
I don’t take fluids and I cannot imagine myself carrying any kind of bottle or water belt. Maybe someday if I’m training for a marathon? I think I would just do routes with water fountains in them, seriously.
I also don’t take fuel on regular runs or long easy runs. The only time I take a GU gel is when I’m doing a long run with a fast finish, since I’ll be making a hard effort from the half point on, and I eat it a few minutes before I start to run faster.

 

I get the variety pack but my favorite is Espresso Love

 
I like to see other people running by me with all their cool stuff (hair bands, arm sleeves, calf sleeves, water/running belts, phone arm bands), but I can’t do it.

 

 

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