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I've tried running in the regular ole t-shirts that you get from different activities or clubs, but these are HOT! I didn't realize it until I wore a dri-fit type outfit. Once I tried the true running clothes, I was hooked. I've read the technique of setting goals and then rewarding yourself with something when you reach the goal, such as new running clothes. But, I have motivation issues... so instead, I decided to start with outfits that would motivate me to run. If I've invested a little money in outfits, I will be more motivated to continue. That being said, there are tons of brands and styles out there. I decided that I like stretchy material, especially on the shorts when I run (I used to run in cotton knit type shorts). I searched the internet and read many reviews and chose to go with Brooks Epiphany stretch shorts and Brooks tops. I love the undershorts inside the shorts and the fabric. When I sweat, the moisture does not just lay on me, but quickly dries which keeps me cooler. I have a couple of different Brooks tops, such as the EZ racer back and the Equilibrium short sleeve and sleeveless. I love the "tropic" color that Brooks has with the line right now and purchased a couple of different pieces so they would match (yes, I am a matchy, matchy person!) I bought my choices from several different online retailers, including Brooks, so I could find the best deal for what I wanted.
images from brooksrunning.com
Cold Weather Clothes
Running in the cold weather demands different clothes than in the summer. I've added to my collection capris for the days that it is not cool but not hot, long pants, jackets, hats gloves and several different types of face coverings for warming the air for breathing. Most of the items that I've added have been from Brooks (I'm such a loyal customer!) but a few are from other places. I have a Buff head gear that my husband bought me that is used on my mouth, or as a hat or other various ways. I still like clothes that are stretchy, so most of the items I have chosen are stretchy. My capris are the Glycerine Capris from Brooks and the pants, long sleeve shirts, and gloves are also Brooks.
images from brooksrunning.com
Shoes
For years I have hated tennis shoes, running, shoes, aerobic shoes, and anything like any of these. I ran many, many years ago, and really never found shoes that were comfortable. I have done many other workouts such as aerobics, Jazzercise, jumping rope, & P90x. In almost all of these I was more comfortable jumping and moving with no shoes, always to the dismay of the instructors! When I saw information about "minimalist" shoes such as Vibram's Five Fingers, I still wasn't sure. The toes do look kinda funny and the shoes look really big on the feet--at least looking down from above. When I finally decided to begin running again, I decided to bite the bullet and pay the money to get a pair. After a year with Vibram KSOs, I bought two more pair of trail type shoes called Bikala LS. I love them! I will say, that these aren't made for everyone. I am the only one in my family of five who wears these to run, although one daughter does wear minimalist running shoes. Since I was so comfortable running and moving barefoot, it was an easy transition for me. For right now, my shoe choice is Vibram Five Fingers!
images from vibramfivefingers.com
NEW Shoes:
After my infamous "lost run" on very rocky and bumpy roads, I realized that I need a pair of shoes that can handle roads around here. Most of the time, I am on pavement, but there are a lot of gravel roads around us, so having the shoes that would work on these roads would be nice. My daughter had found a pair of Merrell barefoot shoes at TJ Maxx, but I didn't know it. I was searching on the internet for a pair and reading reviews and descriptions trying to decide what was best. When she saw me searching, she mentioned she had a pair. I tried hers on and was surprisingly pleased. I ordered two sizes of a the Merrell Barefoot Dash Glove on sale (I wasn't sure which would work). When they arrived, I tried them on and walked around. After picking a size, I decided that I probably needed toe socks to help me adjust since I was used to the separation of my toes when I ran. So I then did a search on socks, and decided to try the Injinji toe socks with my shoes. These toe socks have no seams in the toes and keep me from getting toe blisters. They also are excellent at wicking away moisture...I don't feel like my feet are really sweating as I run, which is great. The feel is a little different from the VFF, but I have no issues when I run in these either! They are definitely better than the traditional running shoes that I really don't like, so running in them, to me, is easy. So now I wear either my VFFs or Merrells, depending on how far I plan on running and what type of road.
Note: I added Lace Locks to my Merrells, so there are more like my VFFs--they can be pulled on easily, and they never seem too tight while wearing them. Plus, they never untied while running!
Accessories
There are so many watches for running, sports, and other activities that it can be overwhelming. My husband is great at researching and reading everything he can about what is available, whether it is something to buy, a place to eat, or a place to visit. He helped me research and we had almost decided on a particular GPS one, until we went and looked at some in person. We looked at several we had researched but they were pretty expensive (especially for this sale shopper). While at REI checking out watches, the knowledgeable sales lady showed us all the GPS watches they had. I still didn't want to spend a ton of money, and most are more than $150 or $200! She remembered a couple of new arrivals and showed me the New Balance Marathon watch. This one cost only a little over $100 but offered GPS, chronograph, a heart rate monitor and strap, lap timing, and other features. So this is the one I chose. After reading the manual a couple of times, and consulting my husband for help, I was able to set the watch and have used it several times for walking and running. I love it! Having GPS to tell me how far I went, the ability to time each mile as a lap time, and tracking my heart rate has been useful and motivating.
image from rei.com
This is how I started wearing my watch while running.It seems much more comfortable to rotate my hand to look at the watch this way than the normal way!
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