SubscribeLong distance training is hard. You have to build your way up to long distances. While you are building up to the marathon or other long distance, you need to practice with your equipment, pace and nutrition. Today, I will cover equipment.
Equipment: You can read about equipment all day long and spend another day trying different things on. Reviews are great. Trying things on is even better. You won’t know if the equipment will really work until you try it out for a long run. It is amazing how much stuff works for 13 miles but causes problems at 20 miles. I will start at the bottom.
Shoes generally work well for 20 miles if they work for 13 miles. Minimalist shoes can cause a problem because they have little padding and alter your stride.
Socks can work well for 13 miles then fall apart at longer distances. They can cause blisters, bunch up and be plain old uncomfortable. A blister at mile 18 can be quite painful for the next 8 miles.
Running shorts can ride up, bunch up, chafe and cause rashes. Spandex shorts pretty much eliminate all problems from shorts but can be uncomfortable for men and they have a weird feel when you sweat a lot. There is also a lack of pockets to put stuff. If running shorts become a problem, a little Body Glide or Vaseline can go a long way. There are alternative creams but I don’t know their names.
Belts are a great thing. I love to hang a bib from mine on race day. I use different belts for different occasions. Belts are personal too. My running style dictates a bottle that is held on a slant across my back. My son uses a belt with a bottle held straight up. He also uses a fuel belt. Other people like to strap things onto their hands.
Shirts can be great for up to 15 miles but cause chafing under the arms and bloody nipples on men. It is also a good idea to pull your shirt up a little bit above your belt. The belt will pull the shirt tight causing problems.
Sports bras are important for women. I don’t know personally but wife sure lets me know about it. A poorly fitting sports bra could cause serious chaffing. My wife had a strap burn that lasted more than a month and the mark remained for a year. A loose fitting sports bra can cause painful bouncing problems.
Sun glasses reduce glare in the eyes and help keep your face relaxed while you run on a bright, sunny day. A squinted up face cause tenseness in the whole body.
A running hat keeps the glare out of your eyes, keeps the sun off your face and helps steer the sweat away from your eyes.
No matter what you wear, stay comfortable.
