Marathon Training Gear

Hi everyone!  I always love to hear what people use as gear during training, so today I thought I would share some of my favorites.  Some of these products I've used for years, while others are new to my running collection or specifically used for marathon training.  I hope you enjoy this sneak peak into some of my favorites and I would love to know yours as well!  Be sure to let me know in the comments :)

Clothes

Athleta Fastest Track Top (see original review here)
Even though this is a recent purchase, it has quickly moved up the ranks as my favorite shirt to wear running!  It's so comfortable and is appropriate for a wide range of temperatures.  I also love how it looks, which is just as important as comfort, right?
 
Saucony Bullet Capri (my version here)
I think these capris are really comfortable and flattering, but I also love how funcitonal they are.  There are large pockets on both sides that can hold my cell phone or gels perfectly.  During races I like to wear these for the reason alone!  I also love the reflective "shark tooth" design around the pockets and by the zipper pocket in the back, which unfortunately is not on the new version.  I linked my version above, which can be found on Amazon.  The newer capris are available in more colors and are a more simple design.

Nike Pro Core Tank Top
On the other end of the spectrum, this is my favorite tank top.  It fits really well and I love how it's cut a little lower in the back so that I can show off the fancy back of my sports bra (below).  This top is also really comfortable and I like the simple design.

Lululemon Run Times Short 
I love the speed shorts from Lulu, but these are just a bit longer and a bit more comfortable.  These have a wide waistband with a drawstring and inner pocket, which is big enough to fit my keys or a gel comfortably.  I love the material on these as well because they keep me nice and cool and dry really quickly!
 
Lululemon Energy Bra
This sports bra is so comfortable and I love the strap design on it.  Lulu constantly comes out with new colors and patterns, so the possibilities with this one is really endless!  I think this is a great sports bra for running, but I also use it for yoga or lifting weights.

Fueling

Nathan Handheld Water Bottle
I like the small size of this water bottle, and it also has a large zipper pocket to store keys, fuel, or salt tabs.  (I could not for the life of me find my water bottle when I took these pictures, which is why it's not pictured above!)

Running Belt
I don't wear running belts very often, but when I do it's always this one.  The design is really and is made of a stretchy material so you can really pack it!  I doesn't bounce around at all when I run which is really important to me.  The size that I have isn't very large so it doesn't hold a ton, but I don't really take much on my runs!
 
Honey Stinger Gel
I've talked about my favorite fuel so many times, but it's the best!  This honey gel is delicious and doesn't bother my stomach at all.  This is actually the official fuel at the Pittsburgh Marathon for the next year which is great for people with sensitive stomachs like me!
 
Cellucor Alpha Amino Acid 
Once again, I talk about this a lot, but it's worth another mention.  I mix this with water after every hard workout and it completely eliminates soreness the next day.  Paired with my foam rolling and stretching routine, I've been recovering like a champ lately!

Shoes

New Balance Fresh Foam Borocay (see original review here)
I've had these shoes for a few months now, but I only wear them for short distances and speed workouts.  They're really light weight and comfortable!

Brooks Pure Flow 4 (see original review here)
These are my all-time favorite running shoe.  I've used them for every distance and workout possible and they work really well.  These are also the shoes that I wore for my half marathons last year, and I just repurchased a pair for my marathon.  I've tried the three most recent types of the Pure Flows (3, 4 and 5) and the 4 is by far my favorite.  I'm thinking about stockpiling these in case they stop selling them!

Brooks Pure Flow 5
This was a recent purchase because my local store stopped selling the 4's, but I'm not a huge fan of these.  They fit a lot more narrow than the 4 and aren't as comfortable for longer runs.  I do like them for mid distance runs (less than 7 miles) but anything longer I switch over to my 4's.  I definitely wouldn't repurchase these in the future, but they work fine for now.

Safety

Hand-held Mace
Luckily I've never had to use my mace on runs but it still gives me peace of mind when I'm running.  I usually only take this when I run on trails or if I'm running while it's dark out (either in the morning or at night).  It's a good idea to have mace to protect yourself against people or an attacking animal!  This is something I don't like to think about and hope nothing every happens, but I like having it just in case.

Mini Whistle
This is another safety tool that I have and hope to never use.  My mom actually gave me this tiny whistle and I put it on my keys to use just in case of emergency.  I can promise you this is a VERY loud whistle, and it doesn't take up much room at all on my keychain.

Head Lamp
This is actually Dan's head lamp from his old caving days, but it works great for running.  When I run early in the morning, it's really hard to see sidewalks clearly and I've tripped quite a few times.  Having a head lamp is absolutely essential and this one is actually pretty comfortable! 

Reflective Vest
To go along with the head lamp, I also wear a reflective vest in the morning.  I picked one up years ago at a Nike Outlet, but any old vest would work.  You can also DIY one for yourself using reflective tape!  


What are your running necessities?
Do you worry about safety during runs?
What shoe are you wearing now?


linking up with Tuesdays on the Run  
Wild Workout Wednesday and Jill
Post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support!