As a follow up to yesterday’s post I’m back with more information about running gear and accessories. Today I’ll be focusing more on the accessories that may be recommended but not necessary. It’s up to you to decide what you feel like you need to have and what you can do without.
The one item I would recommend for sure is a Road ID or similar product. I wear my Road ID every single time I am out running. It ensures that if anything happens someone will know who to call. You can also include your birth year and any known allergies, as well as a quote (if you wish).
You should probably also invest in some body glide, although Vaseline can work as well. As you start running longer distances there may be some chafing.
As you start to train for a particular distance or have a goal time in mind, you may want to use a watch to help measure how long you are out running for. You don’t necessarily need an expensive GPS watch, but just a basic watch like this one or you could also use a timer on your phone. You can use MapMyRun before or after you run to find out how far your run is.
If you do bring your phone, you will probably want to figure out a way to carry it. For many years I wore an arm band. I never really liked it but it was my best option a the time. Here is an example.
Over the past year or two I switched to using belts instead. My favorite is the FlipBelt. These are nice because you barely feel them around you waist and they fit other things besides your phone.
As you start running longer training runs, you may need to have water available. Maybe you are training in an area where you have access to water and then you may not need to worry about this. I like to bring water if I am running more than 9-10 miles. During races, there is usually water on the course, so you only need to bring it if you want to have it all the time. I have brought my own water when I am running a long race on a hot day. One option to carry water is a Camelback handheld.
Some runners also like to wear sunglasses if they are running during daylight hours. I bought a pair at an expo and they are just ok, but they are good enough for now. There is a giveaway going on right now over at Hungry Runner Girl for Oakley sunglasses. I don’t know if I would buy them on my own, but if its important for you to have good sunglasses then it’s something to consider.
And finally, for those of you that can’t run without music, you will want headphones that don’t fall out of your ears. I spoke about the reasons why you shouldn’t use headphones while you run here, but there was a time (not too long ago) when I used them. I found Phillips headphones were the best price and didn’t fall out when I was running. They don’t last forever, but I usually got them to last about 6 months.
So that’s it for today, but on Friday I am going to do one final post with some other accessories related to injury prevention and fueling.
How do you carry your phone if you run with it?
Do you wear sunglasses while you run? Where are they from?
I always carry my phone in the back pocket of my shorts, and always make sure I have a pocket that it will fit in. The belt looks like a better idea though since then I could wear any shorts. I don’t wear sunglasses but if I run in the sun or during a race I always wear that same orange visor that’s in all my pictures. I really need a new one at this point!
I can never find pockets for my shorts that are big enough to fit my phone! I occasionally wear hats when it rains, but I never thought to wear a visor! I don’t really like my sunglasses but maybe if I invested in a better pair I wouldn’t mind as much. Then again I don’t trust myself to take good care of them…
I use an armband to carry my phone, but it’s not my favorite option either. It gets uncomfortable on longer runs. I like that belt. I’ll have to look into it!
Yea, I got sick of the armband and now I don’t think I could ever go back! I feel like it makes me uneven or something!
Bodyglide literally is a savior. I feel like you should put it everywhere that there is a seam. Whether or not you think it will matter, because trust me, if it can rub, it will rub.
Agreed! On certain days- like when it rains or if I have a really long run in the heat- I do put it everywhere with a seam. I have a “travel sized” one that I have brought with me on runs but its one of those things that you never need it until you don’t have it…so I really need to bring it all the time!
Great post – and definitely agree on the RoadID!
I use a belt that fits my phone and can also accommodate a car key, hotel and one fuel. (and that is about it).
Totally agree on the Camelbak – I have a 25oz bottle, which is weighty when full (feel it in your arms!), but is insulated to keep water cold(er), and is great for longer runs. When you start to get even longer … backpack time! I have a Camelbak hydration vest. Wish I got the one with more storage … but couldn’t pass up the deal I got on this one!
Also HIGHLY recommend sunglasses for daylight runs – and make sure they are polarized so they will protect your eyes. The ones I got last summer were only $12 and work great. And like Michele noted using a visor-style cover is great – I have a running hat my brother gave me. A bit small for my noggin, but it works 🙂
Only addition – for the guys, band-aids. Because chafing sucks. 🙂
I also have a camelbak backpack- which I love for my longer runs! I am planning to mention that on Friday with the other “fueling” stuff. Oh and yes band-aids! Eek that stuff grosses me out:)
I travel a lot for work so I am always running in unfamiliar places so I always make sure to wear my ID bracelet. I always have my GPS too. It’s nice to know your distance after a run.
That’s really good that you always wear your Road ID. I always yell at my husband whenever I catch him go out running without it:) I just think its such an easier thing to slap on your wrist and you don’t even know its there.
I also like knowing my distance but I have been experimenting with leaving the garmin at home…its kind of nice to not worry about it once in a while!
I usually take my phone out of its case and put it in a ziplock baggy and put it in a small zippered pocket in my skirt. I wear a pair of Oakley sunglasses to run in.
That’s a really good idea to use the ziplock bag! I always try to do that when it rains even if I have my phone in a belt because it will still get soaked…thats happened before:(
I always carry my phone if I’m running alone, but usually not if I’m running with a group or friend. And if I do carry it, I put it in an arm sleeve.
I remember when I first started running, for the first few months, I somehow survived without bodyglide. Now I need it for EVERY run. Crazy!
Haha body glide is one of those things that every runner should learn about once you hit a certain distance/time out running. The worst is that you always learn your lesson the hard way when it comes to chafing!
I don’t carry my phone with me but I do have a fitletic belt that I wear if I absolutely have to. I love my roadID and I think I’ll love it even more now that I’m running in cities. Everyone keeps talking about sunglasses- I need to try them!
I wish I didn’t run with my phone but I’m always like “what if….” and then I figure I should just bring it. Luckily I haven’t needed it before but it drives me crazy when my husband goes out running without it and I have no idea how long he is going for. I always wonder when I should start to worry.
I think I would like running sunglasses alot more if I had a good pair, but I just don’t trust myself enough to invest in nice ones:)
Great suggestions! I’ve always been curious about the belt!
You know what they NEED to make though?! Some time of alert sleek watch so that if you are in trouble you can press some little button and it will call someone of your choice.
I ‘m just sick of carrying my phone when I run–it’s not small! I carry it my hand or stick it in my bra (we all do it). I do it just for safety sake…and I’m ready for something else.
That is a great idea for the watch! You could make alot of money off of that idea:) They do have a Road ID app for your phone that will let someone track where you are running and will send them an alert if you are in the same spot for a long time.
I agree about being sick of bringing the phone though. I am with you- I only bring it for safety.
I really need to get a road ID….just waiting till we move so I can put our permanent address on it/new phone numbers. I use an armband for my phone, but I don’t like it very much because it slips a lot and gets soaked with sweat which I worry about my phone sitting in. I’ve been putting it in plastic bags, but that’s a pain in the butt too haha
I don’t think I could go back to an armband now that I’ve been using a belt! I wish I didn’t have to bring my phone at all, but I just feel safer with it. I put it in plastic bags when it rains because no belt will protect it from the rain!
Body Glide is my life saver! I just have a pair of sunglasses that I found at a sports store, off the rack. They work okay, sometimes they fog up, but I’m way too clumsy with things to buy a more expensive pair haha.
Oh me too!! I think I would like running in sunglasses much more if I had a good pair but I know I will either break them or lose them! That is why I don’t have expensive sunglasses for not running either!
I also really need a road id! I carry my phone and license with me on longer runs in my SPI Belt, which I love. I also agree with having a water bottle! In the summer I always have one with me. I have a small Nathan one that I like, and another bigger one that I got for cheap on TheClymb.com. I always feel better after a run when I hydrated well during it!
I love how easy it is to put the Road ID on before every run! I just always put my garmin on one wrist and road ID on the other. As much as it can be annoying to carry water, I agree that its definitely nice to have it on summer runs!