Battle Tested and Approved

A lot of half-marathon/marathon training sites recommend making no changes to your race day attire. Everything you plan to wear on race day should be "race tested" prior to the big day. The last thing you want is to be worrying about wardrobe malfunctions while facing down some hefty mileage. I have my tried and true pants and shirts, however, I wanted to treat myself to something new- and my tried and true clothes are getting a little baggy, causing some unpleasant issues while running (like mooning people). So I got some new gear and did the Playmakers Autumn Classic 8K last weekend while decked out in the gear to make sure it would hold up during some distance. While 5 miles is not too much distance, I figured it was a good trial run. Then, the weather started...

It rained the ENTIRE RACE. I'm talking start to finish, there was rain. It didn't stop until I got home 2 hours later (that included drive time, finish line food eating, etc. My race time was only 57 minutes). Let's just say that the weather + the distance provided for a good gear testing ground.

Here's a review of the gear I tested- and will now be wearing in 20 days...

* Shoes: I bought a pair of New Balance Minimalists a few weeks back, after being told that my left foot pigentoes (points in) when I run. The Minimalists help adjust the gait, but provide minimal support to the foot/leg area. It's like running barefoot- it makes running FUN for me. It reminds me of when I'd try and run as a kid- though now, I can keep going. Here's the Runner's World review of the shoe:

 "The lightest shoe in this guide, the Minimus feels like a sock with an outsole. The synthetic mesh upper wraps the arch well, but opens up to provide a little breathing room through the toes. But it's not as wide as the other minimal shoes in this guide. The shape and fabric earned high marks from wear-testers for comfort. Only efficient should log a lot of miles in these shoes."

That last sentence should have been a key for me-- My legs ache after running 5+ miles in these shoes. Apparently the minimalist type shoes work more of your leg muscles, especially in the lower leg, since the shoe lacks basic structure. I keep running in them because I love the shoe, because I want to be "efficient," and because my Nike's get tighter the further I run. I'll deal with the lower leg pain the day or so after the race just be in comfy shoes during the run.

Since I'm cheap, I went with last year's model of shoe. Because I'm cheap AND not very girly, I went with a men's design pattern. I was assured by Playmaker's staff that there was no real difference between men's and women's shoes in this brand, so I would be fine. Plus, black goes with pretty much everything.

What I didn't anticipate was the smell. OH MY GOSH, my shoes smell like a wild animal nested and died in there. There were claims by New Balance that these shoes were odor resistant, but many runners disagree- they are the worst smelling shoe ever. And I wear socks with the shoes!! There are a couple of different ways to wash the shoe- you can soak it in a baking soda/water mix, use a sock filled with kitty litter and stick the sock in the shoe, and (though not recommended by New Balance) you can wash the shoes in cold water in a non-agitating washing machine-- complete with detergent and OxyClean. Any way you go, the shoes have to air dry and it's recommended that you shove paper into the shoe so the shoe keeps it form.

* Socks: I've just used plan old white socks from Target. It was recommended that I try a pair of SmartWool running socks with the Minimalists, as the socks will wick away moisture, help with the swelling, and not blister the feet. I caved and bought a pair (though really, $14 for a pair of socks!?).  Again, I went with men's gear because I didn't want pink or purple. If I'm spending that kind of cash on socks, they better be green and white. The socks held up, despite the rain and porous nature of the shoes! Color me impressed, SmartWool! Now if we could just lower the price a bit...

* Pants: I had to buy new ones. I searched high and low for a pair of 3/4 length capri running pants with pockets- that were reasonably priced (I'm looking at you, Fila!). Apparently that's too much to ask for.  I opted for a pair of Champion compression running pants that stop just short of the ankle. No pockets. The pants do the job- they fit, don't ride up anywhere evil, they hold it all in- but it's like stuffing a sausage back into its casing. Just not pretty. I joked with the man of the house that he was going to have to help me get out of the pants because I was so jam packed into them. He told me to deal with it and roll around the floor if it helped me. Supportive my ass...! (Just kidding, sweetie)

Yes, this is the obnoxious pattern I got (peace signs)

* Fanny Pack/Belt type apparatus: If you've read my travel blog at all, you would know about my dislike for fanny packs. While running, I need to have access to my iPod, energy chews (more on that later), and my ID in case I get stopped at Border Patrol. I saw a mini-run belt at Playmakers, and the lady at the register suggested that I try the SPIBelt. It looks like a mini pouch of fabric that won't hold anything. Surprisingly, it holds EVERYTHING I need it to- last weekend for the run, it held my iPod, car key, and ID- with room to spare. It was cheap (cheaper than online), works great, and despite my initial belief, fit me just fine. And I can easily hide it, so I don't look like an elderly tourist on a cruise ship. It'd be nice if it was waterproof though, but that's a small thing to ask for.

* T-shirt: notice I said "t-shirt" because the idea of running in long sleeves at a long distance is icky to me. I mean, I can do it, but I know I'll sweat and be uncomfortable. I bought a new (clearance) Nike dry-wick shirt with a v-neck (I can't run in non-v neck shirts- drives me nuts). The shirt is long enough to cover the SPIBelt, but short enough to not be a night gown. And its fitted. The shirt is cute- I didn't notice until I brought it home that, when you put the shirt on, it says "Get it Done/Be Amazing"- but you can only really see it if you're looking down at the shirt from the wearer's perspective. Aww, thanks Nike for the vote of confidence! The only downside is that the sleeves are a little short, in that I can't use the end of the sleeve to wipe sweat off of my face. Oh well.

*Over-the-Shoulder-Boulder-Holders (sorry guys): Never underestimate the power of a good sports bra. I've always went cheap- Old Navy, Target, even Mejier. It's just going to get sweaty and nasty anyway. But investing in a good sports bra is as important as investing in a good pair of shoes. The stability and non-jigglyness of a good bra is key and makes me want to run more. I went with recommendations from my trainer and from Playmaker's staff and went with the Moving Comfort brand. You can pick your activity intensity, wire/no wire, full coverage- the options were nearly endless. I picked up two of these bad boys - both on clearance- and I want more. Granted, they were still $33 each at the clearance rate, but again- totally worth the investment.

I can't get the picture to flip for the life of me- but you get the point!

*Head/Sweat Band: I thought about going all 1980's NBA player and getting a big ol' sweatband, but I found something a little classier- SweatyBands. These little pieces of magic hold the hair back from the face without moving. It absorbs some sweat, but at some point it's just too saturated. But it's not just about the sweat for us long-hair beauties. We need the hair to stay away from the face while working out. SweatyBands are designed to be no-slip, and they are true to their word. I bought 3- the one in the picture is the one I wore at the last race, but I may change it to the black/pink polka dot one on race day. Either way, I will have a SweatyBand on that day- and I guess there will be some for sale at the race expo prior to the race, too. Maybe a Detroit-themed one...?

The only thing left I need to get is a good pair of headphones. I like my iPhone earbuds as they have a good sound quality and the volume can be operated from outside of the phone, however, the left earbud just won't stay put sometimes. That being said, I may run part of the race with only one earbud in, as the race organizers recommend not wearing headphones at all. Silly coordinators, music keeps me on pace!

On a side note- I have officially signed up for my SECOND half-marathon-- I'm doing the Lansing Half in May 2014. This is in prep for the ultimate goal of the full marathon next October. I'm feeling confident, but fully know that this is nuts.