We are continuing our celebration of Sisterhood Running Month with our “How To” series! You can catch Part 1 of the series on running here! We all have certain things we swear by when it comes to running(and trying to run, in my case). A lot of it is just trial and error, finding what works for YOU. Keep in mind, what works for one person, may not necessarily be the best for another! I do tend to rely heavily on others’ opinions and reviews when it comes to my workout gear, however. We decided to bring you a list of favorites from our very own Team Shrinking Jeans!
Running Clothes::
- I love the BornFit Elyse jacket, so much. I have it in Tuscan Teal and I wear it running and also just whenever. I also am a huge fan of the Betty tee from BornFit, and have it in black AND blue.
- You can never go wrong with sweatbands. Knee-high striped socks are also a plus.
- Mel loves Junonia’s Quikwik Collection and Land’s End Plus-Size Activewear.
- Christie is a total Zoot fan and loves to wear shorts over her Zoot compression tri-shorts and dons a Zoot one-piece tri-suit during her triathlons!
- Running skirts. Tiffany loves her skirts by Nike and BornFit!
- Headwear. Lisa likes her TNT hat and Tiffany says a sweat-catching/absorbing visor is a must!
Running Shoes::
- Shoes are very important and can absolutely make or break your running. Read more about choosing the right shoes here.
- New Balance is the official shoe sponsor of Team Shrinking Jeans and I must say I love my 740 running shoes, while Christy prefers the 760s!
Sports Bras::
- I have tried many, many brands of sports bras and my number one favorite is the Moving Comfort Maia bra! It offers tons of support, yet avoids the uni-boob look!
- Mel’s favorite workout bra is made by Enell. Lots of support for those of us who are a bit on the busty side!
Gotta Have Running Gadgets::
- I think we are all in agreement that MP3 players and iPods are a must!!
- I handed over my iPod classic that treated me well for so many years to my hubby when I won an iPod Touch. But you know what? I prefer the Classic. I stole it back from Justin for my long run this past weekend.
- A heart rate monitor. We love Polar and Timex.
- GPS watch. So handy to have when you are running outside on unmapped courses! Many of us on Team Shrinking Jeans use the Garmin brand and couldn’t imagine leaving home without it.
Stay Hydrated When You Run::
- If you are going to be running over an hour, a hydration belt is a great investment. Several of us use the Fuel Belt brand. I saw this TNT-designed belt and had to have it! I love it!
- Good ole’ chocolate milk as a post-run recovery drink.
- I love my CLICK Espresso Protein Drink. It comes in Mocha and Vanilla Latte varieties and it tastes delicious! Contains approximately 15g of protein per serving!
Fuel for Runners:
- Clif Shot Bloks. Quick and easy to pop during longer runs. They come in a variety of flavors such as Cran-Raz, Strawberry, and Margarita!
- GU. You may have to try several flavors before you find the right one for you. There are some varieties that I can’t handle, but I love the Chocolate Outrage, as does Christie. Tiffany prefers Vanilla Bean.
- Luna Sport Moons energy chews.
- Mypolex Lite in Peanut Butter Crisp.
Miscellaneous Running Must-haves::
- Sunglasses are a must. I can only wear the Serengeti brand. Christie’s fave? The Ironman brand which you can buy at your local drugstore.
- A foam roller. Great for rolling out those achy, sore muscles. It hurts. But it’s a good hurt.
- Sore muscles? Try Traumeel cream or Biofreeze.
- Bodyglide. This is pretty unanimously loved on our team. Running causes chafing. Bodyglide adds a protective layer over your skin. Put it anywhere and everywhere.
- If you forget Bodyglide, Heather says to use Boudreaux’s Butt paste. Look in your diaper bag or the baby aisle at the store.
- Sunblock. Protect your skin, even on cloudy days.
- Have young kids? Christy pushes her toddler around the Texas hillside in the BOB Revolution jogging stroller.
- Road ID. Identification tags for athletes, because you just never know what may happen.
I am working on getting a printable version of our list up, and stay tuned for an awesome giveaway featuring some of these products later today!
What are some of your favorite/must-have running products?
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Melissa is the Co-Founder the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans and the Shrinking Kitchen. She has been married to a wonderful man forever and is mother to six amazing children (18,15, 11, 11 and 3 and 1!). Melissa has reached her goal weight, and is now trying to find ways to fit fitness into her crazy busy schedule. She loves kickboxing and hates running, even though she has completed 4 half-marathons. When Melissa isn’t helping her little girl battle her brain tumors (Love for Jazmine Joy), she loves to travel, laugh, tend to her chickens, and dream of sunshine and mountains.
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