All week long I have been thinking
about this post, making a mental list of all of my gear, and wow….I
have accumulated quite a bit over the years! Also, due to the fact
that I live in New England, I need significantly more gear than if I
lived somewhere with a climate like San Diego’s. With that thought
in mind, I’m only going to write about the gear that’s relevant
right now. I will do another post once the temps start going down
again.
Shoes: The only thing you really need
when you first start running. I don’t even remember what I wore
when I did the couch to 5K in 2009, but they definitely weren’t
anything fancy. Shoes are important once you start logging more
miles, and everybody is different. I highly suggest going to a
running store to get the proper fit. I ran my first two half
marathons in the same shoes …they lasted me a good two years before
I started getting pain in them. I cannot go wrong with the Brooks
Adrenaline and will probably buy another pair after the marathon.
Yes, they are the traditional cushy sneakers with a drop, but….they
work well for me. And I land mid/fore-foot with every step. Can’t
complain.
Bike: Oh, the road bike. I have done a
couple triathlons using my Mom’s 10+ year old Mongoose mountain
bike. Sure, I still got first place, but I had to work extra hard to
maintain speed on the bike. I vowed to purchase a real bike this year
with my taxes, and this I did. I went to a local bike shop, used my
Mom’s connection and bargaining skills, and was able to get a GT
Series 4 for $540 that was originally marked at $900. I cannot express
how much I appreciate having this bike as my own. It’s comfortable,
fast, and light-weight. Hills are no longer such a bother which means
I can ride to/from work with ease. Plus, the low weight means I can
get the bike into the elevator at work without a problem!
Swimsuit: I bought a TYR brand
reversible swimsuit off of Sierra Trading Post when my 7 year-old
girls-sized Speedo finally wore out on me. I took someone’s
excellent tip at using this website and was able to get a swimsuit
for $30 that usually goes for $70. This suit is great, it’s thick,
and it fits perfectly. I invested in this because I swim at least
once a week and will continue to do so for awhile.
Bike Shorts: I just bought my bike
shorts online and I love them! I have never ridden a road bike before
now and boy, are they different from what I am used to. Even the
bikes used in spin class are nothing compared to my road bike! These
shorts are a great length, the gel padding is thin but gets the job
done. I borrowed a pair of my Mom’s shorts to see if I could
benefit from buying a pair. I can say that I really appreciate how
much less bulky these are and am pleasantly surprised. They are even
comfortable to run in during my brick workouts! I did some research
on brands, pricing, etc. and found the Canari Gel Pro Short on
Campmor, bought them for $40 and they are originally $70!
Bike Shoes: I probably should mention
that I do not always get a long with bikes. In my short life I have
broken an arm, sprained two wrists, gotten a severe cut, bruised my
collarbone, and separated my first rib all by falling off of a bike.
For some reason I continue to ride without fear, BUT, I do not think
I can ever wear the clip-in shoes that the pros (or my Mom!) use due
to all my injuries. I took advice from my step-dad and wear sneakers
that have little padding so that I do not lose energy in that
absorption. Enter…my indoor soccer shoes! These babies are a boy’s
size 6 and were only $20 at Sports Authority. They have served me
well in three winters of soccer plus many spin classes and now bike
rides. Easy solution to a potentially expensive problem.
Fuel Belt: I recently purchased this,
and as of now it is untested. However, I bought the fuel belt NOW so
that I could use it for the triathlon. I figure it will be a lot easy
to put my bib number on here after the swim rather than pulling on a
shirt over my bathing suit. Also, this is obviously something that
will be needed as I train for a marathon in the dead of summer. After
much research I decided to purchase the iFitness Neoprene Hydration
Belt for $40 off a website called Holabird Sports. I wanted to buy
from the iFitness site, but they didn’t have anything in my size!
The belt includes two 8 oz. bottles, a place to store two snacks (I
don’t use gels), and a zippered waterproof front pouch for phone,
keys, cards, etc. Also, the toggles to hold the bib number as I
mentioned. I have tried it on and it seems comfy, the reviews are all
positive and it is supposed to stay in place well. My only problem? I
like to put my arms down by my side when running distance, but will
have to hold them up higher to keep them away from the bottles. Small
price to pay for keeping hydrated though!
Running Spandex: The last part of gear
I want to mention, that is also untested, is the long running spandex
I bought from Aero Tech Designs. I bought the Classic Fitness
Compression Shorts in order to avoid chafing and possibly assist with
muscle fatigue when running long distance. I recently discovered with
my half marathon training that running in my stretchy cotton capris
is infinitely more comfortable than traditional running shorts for
anything over 8 miles, but not really advised for mid-summer running.
Enter….the long spandex. They fit nicely, I will see how they treat
me this summer. They were only $20 so I figure it’s worth a shot.
Everything else that one needs for
running, I buy used, second-hand, almost always from Savers. I do not
see any point in spending ridiculous amounts of money on brand new
matching outfits by Adidas/Nike/Under Armour, etc. and spending at
least $70. My running wardrobe has held up quite nicely and is
obviously multi-purpose. I am not one to care about matching and
looking great while running so this is not right for everyone. But
when you’re on a budget, there’s no reason to worry.
Additionally, the socks and sports bras
I wear are at least three years old and holding up nicely. Again, no
reason to buy the name brand or spend extravagant amounts of money on
these items, they are standard necessities but will not make or break
a workout.
I was able to accumulate all of these
items because I did not purchase them all at once. I budgeted, saved,
and researched before completing any sale and made sure that I truly
was in need of these items. Working out is my hobby, my greatest by
far, and this is where I choose to spend my money. Obviously, my
choices would be a lot different if I prioritized vacations,
coffee/alcohol, meals out, etc. Training and participating in these
athletic events are what help me get through the day-to-day crap of
living as a poor volunteer/student in America and I always look
forward to the next workout.
I am able to pay for the events I
participate in because I research, write out my goals, and figure out
what makes sense with my budget and time. I am lucky enough that my
friends and family support my decision to regularly participate in
such events. For my birthday, my boyfriend paid the registration fee
for my April half marathon. And the marathon was paid for using any
money I received from family for my birthday.
I am lucky to be able to enjoy myself
and be comfortable when I work out, I remind myself every day. But
it’s not always luck….sometimes it’s just about being smart and
making good decisions. After all, I started running for the
simplicity of it, all you need is your legs and a pair of shoes to
get started. And
some people will argue that you can get by on less!
