Me and The Boys: A Few Of My Favorite (Running) Things

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May 23, 2013

A Few Of My Favorite (Running) Things

Let me start by saying that I have never been in any way compensated by any of these brands, nor have I received their products for the purpose of reviewing them. They're just things I've come across that have worked really well for me, and I thought I'd share, as I know how much we runners love our gear, and I've always thought the best way to find gear that works is to talk to people who have actually used it!

First up - alternatives to the (for me) dreaded Fuel Belt. I tried a Fuel Belt when I was training for my first marathon, and I hated it. It felt too tight, yet even though it felt tight, it still slid around and rode up and just wouldn't stay put. I also didn't find it very easy to get the bottles in and out when I needed a drink, and the bottles also seemed to leak quite a bit. Overall not a success story. I know lots of people use them and love them, but it didn't work for me.

So I switched to a handheld. For a few years, I've been using a 20 oz. Amphipod handheld, and it's served me very well. On really long runs I do have to stop and refill it, but it's easy enough to stash a few dollars (also room for a key or a couple gels) in the pocket on the strap so that I can duck into a convenience store for a bottle of water (or Gatorade).

I've never found it to be uncomfortable to carry - it fits very nicely in my hand, and is adjustable, which allows me to make it bigger to accomodate the thick gloves I have to wear on some of my winter runs! It is somewhat heavy feeling when it's full and you first start out, but once you get a mile or two into your run, you adjust to that feeling, and I've never felt like it's throwing my stride off or affecting my form in any way.

As happy as I've been with the Amphipod, I recently picked up a Nathan Quickdraw Plus at a race expo - the option to carry my phone right along with my water sounds pretty good, and I'm definitely going to try this out on my long runs this summer. I wonder if the added weight from the phone is going to be a drawback, but I'm willing to give it a try.

Which is a good segue into different ways to carry your phone on a run. I used to carry my phone only occasionally (on really long runs, or if I was out very early in the morning), but since being diagnosed with exercise-induced anaphylaxis, I carry it EVERY time I run. And in addition to bringing my phone, I also need to carry an epi-pen whenever I run, too.

I'm not thrilled about having to carry either of these items - I would much rather 'travel light,' and bring next to nothing when I set out for a run - but it's a medical necessity, and there have been several times where I've had to make use of both items, so there's no getting around it.

This reality led me to a search for the best armband out there, and as far as I'm concerned, the Armpocket is it. It's the most water-resistant armband I've ever seen (that was a big requirement, since I can't just leave my phone at home if it's raining). It's extremely comfortable - has a nice layer of padding that makes it really sit nicely on your arm without feeling like it's digging in to your skin. And the velcro that holds the strap on is very strong, and doesn't need constant adusting. Other armbands I've tried seem to loosen as I run, and it's a huge pain to have to adjust that when you're literally on the run.

It is kind of big, but I don't really see that as a negative, because it means that you can slide your phone in even with a case on. I use an Otterbox case (with a 3-year-old who's constantly playing with my phone, that's a necessity), and my phone in the case fits in the Armpocket with room to spare.

There are small pockets inside, too, and you can slide in some cash, or an ID, or other small items. I don't usually listen to music when I run anymore, but I do listen while cross-training at the gym, and there is, of course, a spot to thread your headphone cord through for when you need your tunes. And you can operate the phone's touchscreen while it's in the pocket - a definite plus!

The Armpocket was working great for my phone, but I was still dealing with the issue of carrying around my enormous epi-pen. There wasn't really anything (besides a FuelBelt or SPI belt) that it would fit into, and I didn't want to have to carry it in my hand, so I fashioned my own carrier out of an old wrist pocket, and pinned that to the back of my shorts every time I ran. It wasn't elegant, and it wasn't terribly convenient, but it worked, and it was my only option - until I went to the Philadelphia marathon expo and discovered the FlipBelt.

I was still hesitant about having something around my waist, but when I tried it on, I knew I had finally found a belt that wouldn't drive me bonkers.

It was snug, but not tight, and it didn't dig into my waist or slide around - and it could fit my epi-pen, and my phone, and gels, and money, and an ID. So much room to carry things, and so comfortable - it seemed to good to be true.

The true test, of course, was running with it, and it passed that test for sure. It didn't ride up, it didn't bounce, and it held everything I needed to carry very comfortably. I did find it better to take my phone out of the case before putting it in (felt a little too heavy with the case on), but that's a minor issue. The FlipBelt is definitely a winner as far as I'm concerned, and I've recommended it to many other runners since getting mine.

The FlipBelt was the perfect solution for the enormous, standard-size epi-pen, but when I saw an ad in a magazine for the new - and much, much smaller - Auvi-Q epi-pen, I called my dr. immediately so I could get one.

Since it's so small, I've actually been able to fit it into the pocket of some of my shorts, but I do have a few pairs of shorts and running skirts that have no pockets, and I had seen another product that I had wanted to try previously but hadn't, because it wouldn't have fit the larger epi-pen.

The smaller one, though, fit that other product - the RooSport - perfectly. I love this concept, because it eliminates the 'belt' aspect and allows you to basically have an additional large pocket attached to your shorts, by way of a couple of very strong magnets - really ingenious design!

The pocket is completely secure, and very comfortable to run with. I can barely even tell it's there. It doesn't bounce at all, and I usually wear mine in the back, but it's easy enough to slide it around to the front if I need to. I generally only carry my epi-pen and maybe a gel or two in there, but it's plenty big enough for a phone, also, and a key or any other small items. And they also just came out with a new, larger version, so if you need to carry even more, you'll be covered!

I love all these products, and I can't say one is better than the other - they all have distinct advantages, and they all work equally well, and I use each of them at various times. Sometimes I'll put everything in my FlipBelt. Sometimes I'll put my epi-pen in my Roo Sport and my phone in my Armpocket. Sometimes I'll put my epi-pen in my pocket, and use the FlipBelt or Roo Sport for my phone. It all works, and I LOVE having so many options!

One other thing that I purchases right after my EIA diagnosis was a RoadID. This was one of those things I always said I was going to get, but somehow had never gotten around to actually purchasing. But now that it was very possible (and, actually, somewhat likely) that I'd be in the position of having a medical emergency while out on the road, I knew it was time to finally place that order.

I decided to go with the shoe pouch, because I also carry Benadryl with me when I run - that's my first line of defense if I have an allergic reaction - and since the shoe pouch remains on my running shoes at all times, I know that any time I'm out running, I will at least have that with me. I also usually put my car key in here, too. It shuts tight with velcro, so everything is secure, and if you wanted to, you could fit one gel in there, too.

The photo they have on their website of the shoe pouch makes it look much larger than it is, so I took my own (very blurry) picture. It's really not that big, and I honestly don't feel it at all. It's never once bothered me, and I've been using it for quite a while. And since the ID is attached to the pocket, which is attached to my running shoe, I know I won't ever be out running without it.

When it comes to running clothes, I have to admit, I'm mostly a Target and Marshall's shopper. I think a lot of the Champion brand stuff they have at Target is great, and Marshall's always has a lot of great brand-name workout clothes for far less money, and I'm never one to turn down a good bargain.

But I also want clothes that are comfortable, functional, and that look nice. And when I am willing to pay full price, I keep finding myself going back to Moving Comfort. I now own 5 of their Alexis sport bras, and when I need to replace them, I'll likely buy 5 more of the exact same model. Comfortable, functional, and cute - what more could you want?

The link above only shows it in white, but they come in a bunch of fun, colorful patterns - I just ordered a purple striped one, to go with my new favorite Moving Comfort shorts, which were only available at my local running store in purple and blue, but which I will also be ordering in black.

I love the 4-inch length of these shorts (I know short shorts aren't for everyone, but I like to have a couple pairs this length), and I love how extremely comfortable the waistband is - it doesn't dig in, but it's very snug. They are a low-rise style, so if that's not your thing, don't bother with them. I happen to love a lower-rise waist, so I was happy to see that's how they fit.

The other thing I love is that these shorts did not ride up at all while I ran - not so much as a single millimeter. But they didn't feel too tight around my legs, either. And when combined with my new purple Alexis sports bra, I'm going to have a cute summer running outfit!

One final shout-out when it comes to clothes - a couple years ago, I discovered a company called Oiselle, and ordered a pair of their Roga shorts. And after wearing them a few times, I promptly ordered another pair! These shorts are fabulous! Comfortable waistband, nice pocket, and so incredibly lightweight, they feel comfortable even on the hottest days. They feel like traditional 'running shorts,' but they look SO much nicer - not all poufy and unflattering.

And the best part - I have never once experienced anything even close to chafing with my Roga shorts on, which is why they've become my marathon shorts. I wore them when I ran Gansett, and I wore them at Boston this year - and I also wore them on many of my 20-milers getting ready for both races.

It also happens to be a great small, women-owned company, with fabulous customer service, and lots of other really nice running clothes - if you haven't checked them out, you should.

So there you have it - a bunch of stuff I love. Would love to hear about your favorite things, too - because as far as I'm concerned, one can never have too much running gear!

Posted at 09:02 PM in Mommy Stuff, Running | Permalink