This is the running gear that I could not live without

We all have our list of favorite things that help make running easier. My list has changed over the years, going back to the days when I would run with a **gasp "radio" strapped to my arm and a modified backpack. Today's gear is miles ahead of the gear that I used in the past and it really helps with everything from running prep, running experience, to after run recovery. Read below to find out the items that improve my running experience.

Shokz Openrun Pro

These are without a doubt, one of my favorite pieces of gear, and they are something I use every day. Whether it is on my short commute to work, a walk to the gym, or a long run, the Shokz openrun pro's are my go to headphones. An audiophile will be the first to tell you that the sound quality is not the same as in ear or over the ear headphones and I wouldn't disagree with that. But, is the audio good enough? Heck yeah, it is not some terrible tinny sounding audio, the audio is more than adequate and in fact despite the fact I have several other options for headphones, these are th only ones I use. The best part is that you can still hear the outside world which means you can still remain aware of your surroundings. If you are running with in-ear headphones, the Shockz Open Run Pro** is a good option to plug yourself back into the outside world while still listening to your music and podcasts.

Nathan Zipster Running belt

I was heading home from work one day and I saw a local sporting goods store was closing. The store was mostly cleaned out but there were a few of these running belts left on the shelf. Since I already have a great vest in the Salomon agile 2 **, I was not sure I needed this but I gave it a try anyway. What I didn't expect was how much I would come to appreciate this simple little item. How and when do I use it? Most of the time when I leave the house, I prefer not to carry keys as I don't like to hear them (we lock with two keys) jiggling in my pockets and most of my shorts don't have pockets anyway. Instead, I go to the tried and true method of tying the keys to my shoe laces which we all know is a PITA. The Nathan Zipster** solved this problem, as it has two zippered pocket(one on each side) and two fold over flap pockets (overlay flaps). I can place one key in each pocket and trust that I won't lose either. The fold over flaps stretch quite a bit and can securely hold a large phone or a soft pouch water flask. On longer runs, I often carry my phone withe me as well as a half filled soft flask and I barely notice they are there. The biggest benefit of this belt is that there is ZERO bounce. This is huge to me, since in the past I have found most waist belts are too stretchy and bounce all over the place no matter how tight you make them.

Salomon agile 2

For most of the spring I was doing my long runs without water. In the past, I was bringing a credit card and buying a snickers and a sports drink mid run. This would not only interrupt my run, but it was also not environmentally friendly as I like to avoid single use plastics. I had been seeing more and more vests lately and decided it was time for me to give a vest a try. There were many options out there, but the most important factors for me were:

• Little to know movement while running
• A breathable vest, including the back (no bladders on my back)
• A zippered pocket for valuables
• Enough storage for 3 hours of nutrition

Eventually I found a vest that met all of my critical needs in the Salomon agile 2 **. I was really excited to take this out for it's first test run and I filled the included soft flasks to the tope and wet out for a run. The beginning was a disaster! Everything was flopping everywhere and the water flasks were practically in my face the whole run and were super noisy. Eventually as the flasks emptied the entire dynamic changed but I realized I had to fix something. I went home and looked and things closer and realized a few things.

1. I needed to adjust the vest properly. There were a few options for configuring the straps (this is a universal vest) and after a bit of adjustment I was able to secure it lower and closer to my body. I also realized that I needed to tighten the straps more than I thought, and I even took the extra step of tying an extra loop in the straps to keep them from slipping.
2. I realized that while it can work to fill the flasks to the top, filling them to 75-80% made a huge difference in how the vest performs.
3. Lastly, when filling the flasks below full capacity, bleed out the extra air so they don't slosh around everywhere.

Since making these adjustments, I have really enjoyed the Salomon agile 2 set ** and it is definitely something that helps me to keep hydrated and fueled on my longer runs (over 1:40) . I also can use the individual flasks with my Nathan Zipster** when running mid-range runs that require some water.

Heavily cushioned Shoes and Supershoes (Saucony)

I have been running in Saucony Kinvara's for as long as I can remember. This most likely goes back to the when I read Born to Run and I wanted a minimalist running shoe. I have used the Kinvara's for everything from speed work, to trail runs, to full marathons. I had tested the early versions of the Saucony Triumphs and Saucony Rides a bit but had never stepped into the world of a heavily cushioned shoes until this year. After completing my Ironman 70.3 event it was time to step up my running distance for the Berlin Marathon training, but my legs were still tired due to a poorly executed recovery plan. After reading so much about the new foams available, I figured that I could take advantage of these new shoes to help speed up recovery and reduce the risk of foot pain. I was also intrigued by the carbon plated running shoes and their support for running efficiency. Being that I was already a huge fan of Saucony, I jumped right in and bought the Saucony Endorphin shift 3s**. The cushioning was noticeable on my first run and I was a bit worried that they were zapping my speed. But after checking, my pace was a little better than it was in my rides. This could of course have been due to a bit of new shoe zealousness, or just improving fitness, but the key was that they were not any slower. I was't particularly sold after the first run but eventually I looked forward to the days on which I would use the Shifts during my training block, appreciating the comfort they provided. I eventually added a pair of Saucony Endorphin Pro 3's for my longer runs and my marathon shoe. These were equally, if not more impressive, and I was sold. I went on to complete my training block without missing a day and PR'd with my first sub 3 marathon at 53 years old.

Garmin 945

I have been using Garmin watches for years and I love to see the changes that come with each new iteration. The early watches gave me the ability to actually track my runs digitally and measure my progress. Eventually my "sport" watch became my everyday watch. Next the addition of music and payments. Now, the Garmin forerunner 945** is my critical health device that tracks important metrics and tells me my overall well being. The best thing is the incredible battery life of the watch in that it lasts several days, even when I am training heavily. The Garmin connect app is fantastic and all features are free (unlike some other competing brands). Garmin has now released the newest version of this watch, the Garmin Forerunner 965**, but I will wait to upgrade when the battery on this watch no longer performs up to capacity(it has been great for three years).

What gear could you not live without?

I am always looking for new recommendations, so please let me know the items that you find invaluable by sharing in the comments below.

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