I'm super excited to be co-sponsoring the Runners Tell All link-up with Beka from Sunshine to the Square Inch and Amanda from The Lady Okie this month! I hope you have a post about your favorite running gear and products ready so you can join in all the fun today! And did I mention there is a giveaway, too?!?! Be sure to read to the bottom for more info about how you could win!
As you may have noticed from the title of this post, I'm a Nike girl. I didn't start out that way. In fact, I avoided the Nike products mostly because I thought they were overpriced honestly. The turning point came in the form of a gift. My very new boyfriend at the time wasn't too sure what to get this birthday crazed girl that was training for her first half marathon. He wisely decided to treat me to a trip to Jack Rabbit - a local NYC running store - that does specialized fittings for running shoes. As it turns out, a pair of white and red Nike shoes were the perfect fit that day. For the past four years, I haven't gotten tired of him (check out our engagement story here) or the Nike running shoes. I now run strictly in the Nike Structure. I love them...and as long as I switch them out roughly every nine or so months depending on how much I am running, they work well for me.
I'm not super picky about what I'm wearing as long as I am not too hot or too cold. I tend to reuse races shirts most often, but it is rare I go without my best running find ever - my Nike running capri pants. They are perfect for pretty much any type of run - indoor or outdoor (even when it's a bit chilly). I didn't wear them for the NYC Half this past weekend, but I did wear them for the NYC Marathon back in November. I truly can't express how much I love these pants! I found them on a sale rack and snagged them up mostly because they had a zipper pocket on the waistband in the back. I needed something to hold my keys during long training runs and these looked like they would work. I have gotten my money's worth times a million. And as it turns out, the zipper pocket is also big enough for a pouch of gu. Perfect!
During these lingering weeks of winter, I have been thrilled to have my dry fit NFL branded Nike hat and my new Nike gloves. My little brother got the gloves for me at Christmas. I've been surprised how much I liked breaking them in over the past couple of months. They are a tad bit too long for my small hands, but the only real disadvantage there is the difficulty it causes if I try to use my phone. They have an awesome little key pouch that has come in very handy.
I'm not too picky on undergarments, but I have found a couple of solid pieces that I refuse to race without these days. I really like the Swiftwick socks for long runs and races. They keep my typically sweaty feet dry and comfy. On the other hand, sports bras have been the bane of my existence for pretty much all of time. I finally found one that works, but I still think there has to be something better out there for those of us that need a little extra support up top. The brand I have been using is Moving Comfort. Any suggestions for me would be very welcome though!!
These last two products are non-negotiable. At least the Body Glide. I simply will not work out period without a good coating of this stuff. It is phenomenal. I really should buy stock in it. The other product is a new find for me, but I am really liking it. The Clif Shot Bloks don't seem to upset my stomach like the gu or gels usually do, and the taste isn't bad either. These two are definitely my favorites when it comes to powering up before and during a run.
What type of running gear and products do you live to use? Any suggestions for something new I should try?
Andrea :)
To fit with this month's Runners Tell All theme, we are giving away a $30 gift card to Lululemon. The winner will receive the gift card via email. The giveaway is open internationally because Lululemon has locations worldwide. Good luck to all!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks for sponsoring! I haven't tried the Shot Blocks, but my dad loves them. I have a pair of Nike gloves I love, but I can't find them lately :( I hope I didn't lose them. I actually have a Nike gift card I've been waiting to use, so this is perfect!
ReplyDeleteI have a soft spot for Nike gear! Specially their shoes! :)
ReplyDeleteSale racks are the BEST, right?!! I love those gloves too, what an ideal place for a key pocket.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Nike girl too! Sometimes I feel like a mega dork and/or walking ad being dressed head to toe in their products, but they just work for me. I was just looking at those gloves the other day - how well does the touch screen pad thing work? Trying to decide if it's worth getting a new pair or if I should just stick to the ones I have (which I have to take of to use my phone).
ReplyDeletehey cohost :)
ReplyDeleteI only got GOOD running gloves this past winter - on sale at a race expo - and I didn't even know how much of a difference they'd make when I bought them but WOW am I glad I did! I'd been using crappy cheap gloves, the kind you buy for like $10 for a pack of 4, but these make me (and my hands) so much happier! it's the little things :)
I can't stand the GU, so I'll have to try the Shot Bloks. And, I'm pretty low maintenance when it comes to running gear. Just give me some nike shorts and a cut-off tee!
ReplyDeleteHello! I'm visiting from The Lady Okie's link up :o)
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that the Nike products I have, I love. My favorite is my Nike dri-fit hat. It's like a baseball hat in design, but made from their dri-fit material. I use it all summer long! It keeps the sun off my face and my pony tail off my neck. Plus, it doesn't make my head hot. Love it!
I need to find socks that will keep my feet from blistering, so I'm glad you suggested some!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sponsoring this awesome link-up!
My boyfriend got running gloves for Christmas and I spent a long time teasing him - until he offered to let me go on a run with them! They're life changing!
ReplyDeleteI love all your trainers, it's like a dream! That body glide stuff sound interesting, definitely something to look into. This is why the runners link up is such a good idea, i'm learning things all the time!
ReplyDeletexx
I am a Nike girl too. And just like you I thought it was all a hype until I bought some Nike stuff.
ReplyDeleteAhhh yes, I LOVE Nike stuff too! Love your Nike shoe collection. I always love the look of their shoes the best but they just don't work for my feet - well not the cool ones anyway :)
ReplyDeleteI love to go to my local running store when I need new shoes too! The workers always seem to know what they are talking about and they always hook me up with the most comfortable running shoes specific for my feet. As far as sports bras go, I really like the Studio Sports Bra from Victoria's Secret. It's expensive, but it gives a lot of support. Thanks for sponsoring the link-up!
ReplyDeleteI love going to local running stores for shoes too! The workers always seem to know what they are talking about, and they always hook me up with the most comfortable shoes for my feet. As for sports bras, I like the Studio Sports Bra from Victoria's Secret. It's expensive, but it gives a lot of support. :) Thanks for sponsoring the link-up!
ReplyDeleteHi there! Thanks so much for sponsoring this month's tell all! I am a Nike girl as well - at least when it comes to gear/gadgets! I use the SportWatch instead of a Garmin to keep track of my mileage and the FuelBand to make sure I keep moving during the day!
ReplyDeleteFunny thing about the glide, I'm not sure if it's really true or not but I was buying it from my local running store and one of the staff told me that the women's and men's is pretty much the SAME thing, but they package the women's with a pink cap to say it's "women's" and then price it higher (plus, it's SMALLER!) Ever since then, I've been buying the regular sized ones - I guess supposedly the "men's" since it's not pink and I haven't noticed any difference and I can continue to run happily in shorts with a few more pennies in my pocket!
You are a Nike girl through and through! When I started running I had a pair of 'cute Nike tennis shoes'. They were not running shoes by any means and I started having knee issues from them. I went to a running store and he looked at my shoes and said "please tell me you aren't running in those". ha ha!
ReplyDeleteHowever, I didn't know Nike made shoes with good support like the ones you show here. I might have to check those out. They look somewhat 'minimalistic'. I have started running in my New Balance minimalist shoes and it has helped build up lots of leg muscles that I normally didn't use.
Thanks so much for co-hosting with us and for sharing all of your awesome gear.
I haven't gotten to the point where I need to use gels or gu, but as I am training for a half marathon, I'm sure that day is not too far off! I'll have to look into the Clif Shot Bloks soon.
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