Favorite Running Products

Howdy kids.  Today, I'm going to tell you all about my favorite things to throw money at for the sake of running.   And maybe if I'm feeling particularly generous and a little less lazy, I'll include links and prices in case you decide you want to throw money at them too.  De nada.
Shoes
I've always preferred to run in a neutral shoe with a toe box that doesn't mangle my wide feet.  I was a Nike snob throughout high school, but after discovering that MSU isn't allowed to purchase Nikes for their athletes to train in, I went over to Park City Running Company and got a pair of Sauconies. They can both be purchased online and in stores.  I usually got my Nikes from the factory store in Park City because they're discounted quite a bit there, and the Park City team gets a discount at Park City Running Company.  I run between 45-55 miles a week on a combination of trails and pavement, and they work well for both without giving me any issues.
Saucony Kinvara

For a the most recent model, they are about $100, but you can find them for less at outlet stores and discount running websites.

Link to buy here.

Nike Flyknit Lunars

These ones run a little higher, between $100-$150 for the newest models.  I usually get the previously released edition at a Nike outlet store and they run between $50-$80.

Get them here.

Spikes

When it comes time to race, I am Saucony all the way.  I run in the Saucony Kilkenny XC4 and the Saucony Endorphin LD4s.  They're lightweight, comfortable, and they have a wider toe box than most other brands.

Kilkenny XC4

Since the XC5s have been released, these are fairly cheap, ranging from $30-60.

Get them here

Endorphin LD4

Some reviews online critique these for being too thin and tearing easily, but I've had both the LD3 and LD4, and never had a problem with either.  They are the lightest racing shoes I've owned, and they held up well for me.

These are between $80-$100 depending on where you get them.

Buy here.

Socks

I raced in the same pair of socks every time from my second meet of freshman year on.  Unfortunately, they ripped at Nike Cross Regionals and Nike no longer sells the exact same pair, so I'm stuck with other options for now.  For training in, I've found the the Nike OTC compression socks work very well, especially if you are having trouble with shin splints, and their training socks with the compression band around the arch and tab at the back are great for racing.

Compression Socks

Available here

Racing socks

.

Go here if you want to give people your money for socks.

Shorts/Tights

Like I said before, I'm a bit of a Nike snob, so I'm sorry for all of the Nike gear that you're seeing on here.  But I promise it's quality.

Nike 3" Tempo

I own like 10 pairs of these, and I have one pair that I got freshman year that is still just as good now as when I got them.  Get them here.

My favorite spandex are actually volleyball spandex.  They were the ones that we were given as uniform bottoms at Nike Nationals my junior year, and they're the best spandex I've ever owned.  They don't ride up at all, and they're 100% more flattering than the previous uniform shorts I had.

Buy here.

As far as tights go, Under Armour has always treated me well.  Since most of them come with the elastic around the bottom, they tend to protect your ankles from snow better if you're dumb enough to try and trail run in eight inches of fresh powder.  Not that I would know.

Give these nice people your money if you want them.

Tops

I regret to admit that for the most part, though I graduated high school, I didn't graduate the idea that cotton t-shirts are the perfect tops to run in.  I do wear the occasional tech fit shirt, but since I'm on my way to being a poor college student, I can't afford too many.

I can no longer find the jacket that I got last year from Nike, but this one is very similar.  They're light, packable, and water resistant.  It's nice to be able to take a lightweight jacket on fall and spring runs just in case it gets chilly, and I took mine hiking a few times when I wasn't sure if it would rain or not and didn't want to pack a heavier jacket.

But it here.

Under Armour also offers great jackets for running.  The one I got last winter was light enough to go on long runs in without feeling too weighed down or overheated, but it definitely did its job.  

Watch

As I said in a previous post, I am a big Garmin fan.  The Forerunner 620 is worth the money any day.

Get it here. 

Other things that are worth looking into are foam rollers and muscle sticks.  Deep blue muscle rub is also great, but fair warning, your teammates might tell you that you smell like the cleaning solution used in porta potties.

Run Happy

I'm sure most of you are familiar with Brooks and their "Run Happy".  When you go to events such as the Mt. SAC Relays, the Brooks PR invite and smaller meets sponsored by Brooks, it is plastered all over just about every surface possible.  They hand out sunglasses, sweatbands, and rubber bracelets printed with it like free candy.  While I was running in Lake Powell last week, I found myself pondering this idea quite a bit.  As I practically crawled over several miles of rock, thinking that I would meet my doom at the fangs of some rattlesnake or the sting of a scorpion all the way, I caught a glimpse of the Run Happy stamped into a bracelet I got at the Davis Invite.  My feverish brain chuckled.  Run happy indeed, it muttered as sweat rolled into my eyes and I wondered if anyone would come rescue me if I decided to just lie down and take a little nap.  But as I thought about it more and more, it began to make sense to me.  Why would anyone in their right mind do something like this if they didn't really love it?  If running wasn't something that they knew would make them happy in the end, even if training was a little rough sometimes.

View from the top of Satan's Armpit, Lake Powell

Because my mind often tends to wander when I am out for a run alone, I soon after found myself thinking about all of the different catchphrases for running companies and critiquing them all because why not?  Brooks obviously has the best for runners.  Nike's, though it is motivational for some people, definitely does not work for me all the time.  When I'm having a bad run or a rough race, thinking Just Do It just doesn't do it for me.  That just makes my brain and body get in a fight that my body usually ends up winning because my brain simply doesn't have the energy to deal with it.  The best strategy for me in those rough spots is to think about how much I really do love this sport, and how much I want to continue in it.  If I let a bad race or lack of motivation stand in the way of that, I would never have made it past JV running.  In the past, every time I had a bad workout or thought it might be fun to just take one day off and relax, I had to remind myself of my goals to run in college, and hopefully someday run after college.
So, next time you find yourself thinking about just how good a donut sounds, or how you would rather be out having fun than going for another run, remember to run happy and learn to enjoy even the bad runs.

Garmin Review

If we're being one hundred percent honest here, I am a complete and total Garmin snob.  I got one of their earlier models of the Forerunner my sophomore year after one of my coaches made a joke about getting me standing outside with my wrist in the air waiting for it to load with the rest of the varsity girls if I wanted to get faster, and I've loved them ever since.  The watch I used had seen a fair amount of wear and tear before it came to be in my possession, being previously owned by my mom and dad.  It was also unfortunately clunky, and my sister used to refer to it as my prison shackle.  For those reasons, when I went to the Nike Cross Nationals in the winter of my junior year, I leaped at the chance to train with the new Nike sport watch they gave all of the athletes there. 

Though there's no denying that Nike watches are pretty good, it wasn't quite on the same level as my Garmin had been.  It only displays two things at a time, and one of them always has to be distance.  As someone who doesn't like to have the pressure of constantly seeing how far you have left to go on easy days, I missed the Garmin's ability to display only time elapsed (or something else) until paused if that's what you needed.  I also found that the Nike watch wasn't quite as accurate sometimes.  It would stop measuring distance when it got too overcast outside, and often wouldn't load at all if it hadn't been plugged into a computer and updated recently.

So, this summer, I saved up for one of the new Forerunners.  I originally planned to just go with the 220, since it seemed like the best option for my budget and my training needs.  After working for several weeks, I found that I actually had more than enough for the 620, so I decided to splurge.  And it was so worth it.

It features a color display and touchscreen, and it loads faster than any GPS I've had before.  It only takes a few seconds after switching to the sport mode to be completely ready to run.  As long as you connect to the satellites every once in awhile, the time and date stay accurate.  Not only that, but it's much lighter and sleeker than any of the previous models.  

The 620 comes with a few additional bells and whistles.  It has a VO2 max estimator that uses the paces and distances you've recorded with it to tell you what times you should be capable of for other distances or for races.  Obviously it isn't as accurate as a VO2 max test in a lab would be, but paired with a heartrate monitor and after a few runs with it, it seems like it's pretty decent.  Along with that, it can advise you on how long you need to recover before your next run and how efficient your form is. 

So far, this has definitely been the best GPS I've owned.  I would recommend it to anyone who is looking into getting a new watch.  The only downside I've seen to it would be that it has a white band, but I'm pretty sure that would only be a downside to me because I have a bad habit of making messes.

Rate 10/10 would buy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hey there readers.  You are all fabulous, beautiful people.  I'd like to take a moment to thank those of you who are frequent readers and commentators.  I also really appreciate all of you who have been getting in touch with me with your questions and thoughts about this blog and about running.  Since I've been getting several questions recently regarding my training recently, I've decided to throw together a post answering the ones I hear most commonly.
What is your average weekly mileage?
I typically run about 45-50 miles a week once I've had an opportunity to build a base and get back in shape.  On weeks that I have a serious race, I taper down to 35-40 miles.  I'm not sure how much that will change once I am running in Bozeman, but so far training has been similar to what I have been doing with Jim in high school.
What kind of workouts work best for you?
I personally find that longer intervals, tempos and fartleks work better for me than shorter speedwork.  In the past, I found that doing a lot of bulk short work just left me overtrained and unable to race well at the end of my season.
What kind of strength training do you do?
I'm sure this will change once I have access to a real weight room up at school, but for right now and for the last year or so, I have been doing a pretty basic core workout.  Most of my strength training consists of body weight exercises like planks, sit-ups, lunges, box step-ups and supermans.
What are some other details you focus on to improve your running?
Well, sleep is pretty cool I guess.  And eating healthy.  Just the basics that Runner's World tells you about, mostly.  I cut sugar completely out of my diet this last track season, and to be honest, it made me very sad.  But it did help, so I guess that choice is up to you guys.
What kind of sport watch, if any, do you use?
I'm pretty much a Garmin snob.  I ran with a Nike watch for about a year because they gave them to the NXN athletes in 2013, but I found that it wasn't as accurate as the Garmins usually are, so this summer I've been saving up to switch back to either the Forerunner 220 or 620.  The 620 is pretty expensive for a sports watch, but it has all sorts of neat new features that I think would be useful.
What shoes do you train in?
I ran in Nikes all through high school.  I preferred neutral shoes because their Frees are terrible on trail runs and their stability shoes just don't get along with my feet.  Their Flyknit Lunars have been my favorite so far.  I'm switching up a little for college, and will probably train in the Saucony Kinvaras for the rest of college.  Since I race in the Saucony Kilkenny and the Saucony Endorphin LD4, I'm sure their training shoes will suit me just as well.
What did you look for when you chose a college?
I wanted to stay in the mountain region for altitude training, and I wanted a coach who would have the same type of training plan I used in high school.  The team dynamic was also very important to me.  I didn't want to compete for a school where I would have to fight my teammates for everything, and where the girls didn't like each other because it was too competitive.  I was looking for somewhere where they were working together for a common goal.  The dynamic of the town itself was equally important.  I have never really been a fan of big cities or small towns.  Bozeman is very similar to Park City in its size and scenery, so it just made sense to me.

If any of you have questions other than those I've posted here, feel free to ask me via the comments, instagram, or other social media platforms.

Feminism and Running

I mentioned in a previous post that feminism and running were two of my favorite things.  Later on while I was running and a complete stranger decided to wolf whistle at me, the inspiration for this post came to my mind.
People often see feminism as a dirty word that means the belief that women should be given more rights than men, or that women are in some way better than men.  In reality, it is the belief that men and women should have equal rights.  So why do we need feminism and running?
Because men can run shirtless without the fear of someone making obscene comments about their bodies, or calling them skanks, or assuming that they are doing it for the attention.  (Spoiler alert:  We actually do it because running gets pretty toasty sometimes.)
Because we shouldn't have to have the fear of rape in the back of our minds whenever we run alone or after dark.
Because no one should ever believe it is acceptable to yell those types of things at a total stranger.
Because when a woman chooses to run alone, it shouldn't have to be considered unsafe because of the people she might run into.
Most of all, because how would you feel if it was your sister, your child, your cousin, your friend who was out there running alone and being harassed or frightened by people she had never spoken to?

Girls On the Run

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to participate in the Girls on the Run program as a running buddy.  It was a great opportunity, and it made the feminist in me more happy than I can say.  If you haven't ever heard of this program, it is one in which young girls can sign up to run one of their 5k's, then train with the local leaders and other girls in their area for a few months leading up to the race.  It helps these girls to make friends, learn more about staying physically fit, empower themselves, and discover their own abilities.  And they give the kids capes to wear the day of the race, which is probably the best part about it.
Why do I love GOTR so much?  Because it teaches young girls that they can do hard things.  It combines some of my favorite things:  Running and feminism.  Running taught me how to be more confident, how to believe in myself, and how to work hard for the results that I want in life.  It's always been my greatest form of stress relief, problem solving and self-discovery.  It's wonderful to see an organization that helps to teach others how to use running for something positive.
The day of the race itself was incredible.  There were hundreds of girls from all over Utah with family, friends, and their very own running buddies there to cheer them on.  Booths were set up where they could get fierce hairdos, temporary tattoos, and support from the community.  These young ladies had worked hard to prepare for this race, and it was great to see the positive reaction from everyone in their lives.
I hope that all of the girls who ran were able to discover for themselves how wonderful and empowering running can be, and that this program can continue to inspire many more young people in the future.  Keep it up, kids.

Summer Training

To start this post off, I would like to sincerely apologize for the last few weeks I've gone without posting anything.  Between my graduation and the fact that I had to wait for my new laptop to get here after turning in my school computer, I haven't had a chance to get on blogger in awhile.

Back to the point, can we take a moment to talk about summer training?  It's weird how out of shape your body manages to get in the two weeks between your last race of track and your first week of summer training.  The first week back, I honestly felt like I was an overweight clown trying to play the bagpipes while on fire every time I went for a run.  My poor little legs were so confused as to how something that had been so much fun just fourteen days ago was now sweaty, difficult, and incredibly uncomfortable.  (Part of their distress may have been due to the fact that I went off of my sugar-free diet for the two weeks I wasn't running and went totally crazy with the treats.  Sorry, legs.)  The idea of going for a run and being expected to do anything else at all in the same day was absolutely ludicrous.
Fortunately for me and every other distance runner ever, this phase doesn't last that long.  About after two weeks, running isn't nearly so bad, and summer running becomes the best part of the year for you.  My high school team did our runs at 8 a.m. to beat the heat, and our coaches always gave us otter pops as an incentive.  We did team breakfast on Mondays, and often had other team bonding activities after practice because we had way too much spare time on our hands.  Plus, there was always camp to look forward to.
This summer has been pretty different because of my work schedule and my training schedule.  Since I'm doing the workouts that Coach Weese sends me instead of those that Jim or the Park City coaches are doing, I no longer have a team to run with.  I'm very excited to move to Bozeman in August so I can meet all of the girls and run with other people again.  I also run later in the evening after work now, and I definitely pity the people who have to be around me afterwards because when it's 90 degrees out, I have a tendency to sweat like a sinner in church.  My sports bra and shorts tan lines are getting out of control.  People can spot that I'm a distance runner from a mile off.  It's a mess.  But it's totally worth it because cross country is the best.