My gear for the 2019 LA Marathon

The LA Marathon is quickly approaching and my training has been pretty rigorous for the first part of the year in preparation for the big day. I’m training twice a day and that means I have piles of dirty workout gear that gets washed often and can start to break down. As a result I needed more durable and functional, yet fashionable gear for the big day. I’ve tried everything from Nike to “no-name brands” from target (actually not bad). Some of my NIKE gear has lasted me for years, where as other brands have only lasted a few wash cycles. So during the build up to the race I wanted to experiment and test out some new gear to find the perfect race day outfit (yeah, I said outfit). One that not only functions well but looks great too!

THE SHOE: For me the most important item are the shoes. Your running shoes should be customized to your body and running style. I highly recommend getting a running evaluation at good running shop prior to purchasing a new shoe. These are free at most running shops. Roadrunners has treadmills inside the store that will film you running and determine if you pronate or supinate. This will help determine the type of shoe you’ll need, either something that offers a lot of support, a free running shoe with little to no support or a neutral shoe that’s just enough support. I prefer a neutral shoe and have been running in Nike for several years. I like the comfort as well as the quality. My 2019 marathon shoe of choice is the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35 Shield Water-Repellent. I was able to find this stylish green color with off white sole. Not only do they perform well but I think these also look really cool. The no tie shoe lace is great, so I never worry about my laces coming undone. This is also a great feature for my triathlon transitions. I train nearly half the year in NYC. That means whether it’s rain, snow or sun, I’m out getting it in and the water-repellent feature is a majorly added bonus for me.

THE SHORTS: You can find some really cool stuff on instagram. My feed was becoming populated with a new training clothing brand that made it look cool to workout. Basically buy these clothes and you’ll have muscles…JK . I don’t care if I look cool but I do like stylish clothes that fit well and yeah, should accentuate your best features. So I decided to try this new band called ASRV and to see if it was all hype. As it turns out, they make some high quality workout clothes. I exercise daily which means I go through a lot of laundry. For me, the clothes need to be comfortable and functional first. Then stylish and lastly durable. This brand hit on all three! I bought some sweats pants, and training shorts with a built in liner. A little description here: Lightweight running shorts with liner. Main body constructed from our TrainLite™ mesh that is extremely lightweight, breathable, and sweat-wicking. Liner constructed from Creora®Powerfit elastane, a proprietary high performance fabric that is super soft, stretchy, and sweat-wicking. I can now go full commando and still have the support, great!, less laundry. I’ve been wearing the shorts and sweatpants both in the gym. On runs I’ve worn the shorts and they have been very comfortable. The feel and functionality are great and they’ve held up very nicely in the wash. I also look pretty cool with them on…so I decided to buy a few more pairs and some tank tops as well. Tattoos not included…

THE TOP: This can vary based on the weather conditions for your run. Since I’ll be running the LA Marathon, it will most likely be between 60-70 degrees and sunny. So I’ll opt for a light weight tank top. My choice this year is another brand I’m familiar with because I use their gear for my IRONMAN events. 2XU makes great workout clothing. I use their compression tights for recovery, long runs and for cold weather runs while training in NYC during the winter. I like this new tank top XVENT SINGLET, The XVENT Long Singlet delivers ventilation and breathability to keep you cool while you run. Suited to both indoor activity and trans-seasonal outdoor training, XVENT apparel is loaded with technical features and benefits. Three-way cooling is delivered with Xylitol to draw heat away from the skin's surface, IR blocking to reflect the sun's rays and cross-section polyester yarns to aid moisture evaporation. I like a simple plain black or white color. It very comfortable, provides some protection from the sun and stays fairly dry on my really long runs.

THE SUNGLASSES: I always run with sunglasses and sunscreen. I’m big on protecting my skin and eyes from the sun. When your outside training as often as I am, I feel it’s really important to protect your skin. I’ve gone through many different pairs. I’ve tried running with my RayBands and you just don’t want to have any extra weight on your face, nor do you want to have to be constantly adjusting your frames. I did a lot of research and just new I did not want to go with OAKLEY because they look too futuristic and the can be overpriced in my opinion. I settled on NIKE of all brands and went with the NIKE BANDIT sunglasses. These are very comfortable and stylish. You can actually wear these as your everyday glasses if so inclined. These have anti-fog ventilation holes, floating nose pad helps optimize airflow and absorb impact and Nike MAX Optics provide precise clarity from all angles. I love these glasses! I use them while running, hunting and riding my bike. They’re very light weight, durable and don’t bounce around on your face. I can wear them for hours without any discomfort.

The Watch: I’ll be using my apple watch to track everything during the race. It holds the battery life well enough to get me through a Half Ironman so this marathon wont be an issue. It’s light weight, tracks my heart rate accurately and can play music or a podcast if needed. I will not be listening to either during the race but often do when training. I have the Apple Watch Series 3, aluminum case with the sport strap (allows for it to perfectly fit my wrist). It does have some really good workout tracking functions, such as yoga, cycling, swimming and of course running with built in GPS feature. So far this has been a great watch, very durable and accurate. I’ve used it swimming, cycling, yoga and even wear into the sauna at 190 degrees and it stays on!

I have always had the philosophy that you get what you pay for. Some of these are a little pricing but they are of high quality and will last me through several years of training and racing. My advice is to try and find gear that works best for you. Remember, fit, functionality, quality and of course style. Comfort is very import when competing for long periods of time. If your shoes are crap, not broken in or old you’re gonna feel it and it will hurt! Having some good shorts and shirts will keep you cool and prevent any chaffing or other discomfort. Proper sunglasses will help keep you focused and lastly a good watch will keep you on pace and help monitor your progress to the finish line. That’s it, keep it simple and the real work is up to you. Go get it! and as David Goggins would say, “Stay Hard!”