Not too long ago I mentioned that I had registered for the Bluenose Half Marathon. I ran this race last year, and really enjoyed the course, so I registered as a motivator to get out and ramp up my running again.
At the end of summer I had a nasty running injury. After several x-rays and being checked out by an orthopeadic surgeon who specializes in running-related injuries, I found out that I have pes cavus (my arches do not look as extreme as the wiki photo). What does this mean? Well. For me it means that I often experience metatarsal pain after running, no matter how much stretching or post-running care I attempt. Initially I thought it was a shoe issue, but my surgeon told me that no matter which shoes I purchase or which gimmicks I try out, I will just need to find ways of managing the pain and impact if I want to continue running. Now that my foot no longer throbs and I’ve registered for the half, I’m trying to get my butt in gear and get ready for the race. What better inspiration than to share my favourite running items?!
From top to bottom, left to right:
Lululemon Wunder Under Crops – These are my all time favourite workout pants. They keep everything feeling secure and have a gusset, which is CRITICAL when purchasing any tight-fitting pant.
Nike Free Run+ 2.0 – This particular style of the Nike Free Run is my favourite and has since been discontinued. None of the newer versions have fit quite as well, so I’m guilt of having ordered several pairs off eBay. Typically, I fit into a size 5 shoe, which in our city is near impossible to find in a woman’s shoe. Most sneaker retailers in our area offer size 6 as the smallest size, and kids shoes won’t cut it for long distance running. I find the size 6 in this style of shoe to fit me particularly well. I never feel like they’re too loose, and they’re extremely lightweight and flexible.
Lululemon Power Y Tank – There are few things I purchase from Lululemon, but they make a pretty good (and affordable) workout tank top. I have a few different styles, but the Power Y is my all-time favourite. It doesn’t ride up into my armpits, and the shelf bra offers enough support for my purposes.
GapFit Breathe Long Sleeve – This is a fantastic lightweight long sleeve that I love wearing on my runs. It isn’t too heavy and it’s breathable, so sweating doesn’t get uncomfortable. I often toss this over my tank top when I’m on the way to the gym, or will wear it at the beginning of a race if it’s a bit chilly to start.
Nike+ Running App – I’ve only recently begun to use this app, but I’ve been enjoying it so far. I like that it starts within seconds and I don’t have to wait as long for my GPS to configure. The battery life is dependent on my iPhone, so if I leave with a full charge, I can run the app and listen to my music for at least 3 solid hours before it craps out on me. And, it’s FREE! It has a lot of settings that you can configure based on your preferences, and even has a social media hookup if you want to report your results/progress or in the event that you need some social media cheerleaders.
Garmin Forerunner 10 – This is a great little garmin that is fairly affordable and has done me well for many of my long runs. Unfortunately, I think it’s going to be phased out by the Nike+ Running app, but we’ll see – I’ll report back in a few months. I love this device for the run/walk feature, but the battery drains quite fast, and I always worry that it’s going to die before the end of my run. I really do love my forerunner 10, but another negative is that it takes FOREVER to configure my GPS location. I’m not sure if anyone else has this problem, but I more or less need to stand still for 10 minutes on my doorstep to get it to make any progress. Once it’s set though, we’re good to go!
Any readers out there who are also runners? Have you dealt with injuries? Have any advice to share? Which products are you loving?
