By Jon Hoefer
Sneakers: I have worn Saucony for years with success, with inserts to help with pronation (game changer!). I have tried a couple different brands over the years, but I keep going back to Saucony. Final answer.
(Editor's Note: Go to a local runners shoe store and ask for a fitting. They usually have machines to analyze your particular physiology and expertise to recommend options to suit you.)
Headphones: I was introduced to Air Shokz a few years ago. I really like these. They’re super lightweight and the technology behind these is that you hear the sound through vibrations into your bones and then into your inner ear — super clear. I find it fascinating. They don’t slip out from sweat like AirPods and even after long runs they do not give me headaches / ear aches like traditional earbuds can. And since they do not go into your ear canal — you still can hear outside sounds, alerts, voices or emergency sirens, if needed. I do wear them on Marathon Sunday, but listen to music only when I feel I need to separate myself from the crowds or try to get into “the zone.”
Nutrition: My go to is Gu. I like the new Roctane version which has higher levels of sodium and (in some cases) caffeine. With the higher humidity on Florida, these have been lifesavers. I take one packet of Gu every 45 minutes of training, and that seems to work well for me. They have a decent amount of flavors and my stomach seems to tolerate it OK. It’s still a weird concept for me, but it works. I usually bring about 6 packets with me on Marathon Day.
Water bottles: I don’t like running with bottles of liquid, so I plan my runs around the city of St. Petersburg’s water fountains. If I stray off the public walkway, I ask friends and family that I know to leave a cooler of drinks (water / Gatorade) on their porch for me. The NYC Marathon is well equipped with hydration stations, so I am never worried about trying to carry it with me when running.
Running belt: In my opinion, this is one of the most important pieces of training equipment for my long runs and on Marathon Sunday. The brand I use is “Nathan” and has a few cool features: it is made of a stretchable polyester with two zippered pockets, and (which I found out by accident) folds all the way around the belt that I can put lots of other things if needed: my phone, Gu’s or salt tablets, etc. It’s crazy lightweight and the best part it has no buckle or clasp that could irritate or chaff. If you are in the market for a running belt, I would I highly recommend looking into the Nathan brand products.
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