Sharing my favorite running essentials to keep you healthy and happy in your new running routine, no matter the season or your starting point!
I always considered myself a runner until May 2016 when I ran my first half marathon. I grew up playing sports where running was key – soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey – and I even went on to play Division 1 lacrosse at Stanford for 3 years. In the ten years since college (yes, I graduated in 2008, gasp!), running was one of my favorite forms of exercise.
That is until I trained for and ran the 2016 Brooklyn Half marathon. The race was amazing. I felt accomplished and got such a runner’s high running along the boardwalk on Coney island. But then the next day, and the weeks that followed, I knew something was wrong. There was a dull and incessant pain in my knees and hips that wouldn’t go away no matter how many Epsom salt baths I took or how long I stretched/foam rolled/rested.
So, I had to take a semi-hiatus from distance running that lasted the last two years. The most I would run during this time was 1-2 miles, usually no more than once a week and as part of a Barry’s Bootcamp class or a jog with Bond over the Williamsburg Bridge. I also incorporated more yoga, pilates, and strength training, plus lower impact cardio like spinning. After two years, my body finally feels rested and strong enough to start distance running again and I’m so excited! To celebrate, I’m sharing my top running essentials – both nutrition and gear.
Running Essentials for your New Running Routine
Garmin Fitness vivoactive 3 Music
If you don’t track it, it didn’t happen, right?! There are so many things I love about my Garmin vivoactive 3 music, I don’t know where to start. I used to have to run with my phone to track my distance and listen to music, plus, I never knew how hard I was actually running because I couldn’t track my heart rate. Now, I can kill all three birds with one stone, AND leave my phone at home. Hallelujah! Plus, you can download running workouts onto your Garmin, and it will keep track of the reps, sets and rest time – all without your phone.
When it comes to looks, the chroma display makes it easy to read, even in direct sunlight. I have the blue and rose gold, which goes with everything – and it’s safe for showering so this puppy never has to come off.
Proper Nutrition and Hydration
Our bodies use mostly glucose (aka carbs) and stored fat when running long distances at a steady pace, so I always load up on carbs before a run. I like to eat a piece of toast with nut butter and a banana to give me a nice combination of complex carbs, protein and healthy fats to keep me full. When it comes to hydration, starting early is key. You don’t want to be chugging water in the minutes leading up to your run or you could get a side cramp or tummy ache, so I like to start hydrating the night before a big run.
A Good Playlist
Music makes or breaks my workout, so I need a playlist that will keep me going strong. Since I can download up to 500 songs onto my Garmin and listen phone-free with my Bluetooth headphones, a playlist was a must-share. These are some of my favorite running songs because they match the beat I’m running to, which keeps me energized and on pace:
- Call on me – Ryan Riback remix
- Party on the West Coast – Matoma
- Aber – Tobtok
- Inspector Norse – Todd Terje
- Cut to the Feeling – Carly Rae Jepsen
- Firework – Katy Perry
- Sweet Nothing – Calvin Harris
- Hello – Martin Solveig
- We Own the Night – Chainsmokers
- Whip It! – Lunch Money Lewis
Light-Reflective Clothing and Accessories
Now that it’s getting dark at 4:45 pm (blerg), I’ve found myself wanting to go for a run after class, but I’m too scared; like a true New Yorker, most of my workout clothes are black. Many athletic brands like Athleta and Nike make light-reflective clothing and accessories like hats, armbands, or even your running shoes, that will keep you visible and safe when running in the evening or early morning.
Thanks for reading and thank you to Garmin Fitness for partnering with me as I get back in running shape this fall! Did I miss any of your running essentials? Comment below!