I am not going to include all my running gear, just the ones that I use for every single run.
Vibrams Five Fingers Bikila LS: I am not quite sure how I started minimal running. When I first bought them I had a BMI of 30, and usually anything north of a 27 means barefoot is out of the question. I pressed on and had less joint pain than I had ever experienced before. It also corrected my heel striking which I didn't notice until I switched. Another thing that people never talk about is how much better your balance gets. My yoga instructor is in awe of how good my balance is. I think I can say that I used to be straight tripping (in comparison). I am not saying this is going to be a panacea for everyone, but it was maybe something like that for me. Except they aren't cute, don't try to pretend they are cute.
Runner's World has a thing or two to say about this, mostly in favor
Moving comfort Running bra: I can't give a fair recommendation about this because this is the only name brand running bra that I've ever owned. All my running bras before this were those no name ones you find at the walmart and the swapmeet. At that point I thought that running bras were meant to be worn over regular bras to squeeze your boobs together so they jiggle less. It was a degree of freedom thing. The regular bras limited vertical movement and the running bras limited horizontal movement. It was a real problem because as someone who is on the bustly side, boob movement during a run translated into actual measurable pain. (maybe it was psychologically induced as well because I could cry myself to sleep thinking about my nipples jiggling around my knees.)
Anyway Runners World had an article on running bras and how the fit and comfort makes it up there with shoes in running equipment importance. When I tried on the Runner's World recommendation, the moving comfort running bra at RoadRunner sports, I felt excellent. I felt like I could actually run They stayed in place like a statue's boobs if statues could run. I've only ever worn Moving Comfort Bras since, so Its really not fair for me to compare. I am so picky I won't even buy anything but the Fiona style
Runners World happens to recommend this as "a minimal bra for the DD+ crowd".
Phillips Neckband Headphones: I think I could honestly recommend these guys. I have gone through a large number of headphones during my running career. I didn't go through these headphones the way people go through sunglasses, either, I wore those suckers out. My ear sweat is copious enough to make a pair of iPhone earbuds to shrivel and die. Not to mention they just slip out when your ears grow slightly saturated from painjuice. The loss of sound due to sweat occurs slowly over time but slipping out and being stepped on is a quick death. And is it just me or does the frequent slipping and replacing of earbuds actually hurt? This isn't just the iPhone earbuds either, its any of those sportbuds they sell. If only they made those earclippy thingys for women, because at the size they are now they would slip out more frequently then the free floating iPhone earbuds.
So enough complaining about earbuds. The Phillips neckband headphones don't slip out and the sound quality is amazing. There is a small amount of ambient sound blocking, but thats a good thing when you are doing things like running near a loud road or trying to relax in a house of people you don't know. I've had them for a few months now, and they have shown no deterioration due to sweat. Despite the high cost, I think the value is excellent.
I looked on the website to see what the real names of these guys were and it said "neckband headphones". Thats a funny name. I guess a rose is a rose... etc.
A cheap beat sweater. I think my dad found this sweater at a bus stop. I love it because its gross and cheap and I don't feel bad about soaking it in sweat. It came with thumb holes in the sleeves, surely made by some angsty teenager. If you are way cooler than me you'd go for this lululemon version.
A smartphone. I passed out while I was running once. I take my phone with me when I run because it lets me play pandora and/or an informational podcast. I had it at the right time once and now its a safety thing.
Vibrams Five Fingers Bikila LS: I am not quite sure how I started minimal running. When I first bought them I had a BMI of 30, and usually anything north of a 27 means barefoot is out of the question. I pressed on and had less joint pain than I had ever experienced before. It also corrected my heel striking which I didn't notice until I switched. Another thing that people never talk about is how much better your balance gets. My yoga instructor is in awe of how good my balance is. I think I can say that I used to be straight tripping (in comparison). I am not saying this is going to be a panacea for everyone, but it was maybe something like that for me. Except they aren't cute, don't try to pretend they are cute.
Runner's World has a thing or two to say about this, mostly in favor
Moving comfort Running bra: I can't give a fair recommendation about this because this is the only name brand running bra that I've ever owned. All my running bras before this were those no name ones you find at the walmart and the swapmeet. At that point I thought that running bras were meant to be worn over regular bras to squeeze your boobs together so they jiggle less. It was a degree of freedom thing. The regular bras limited vertical movement and the running bras limited horizontal movement. It was a real problem because as someone who is on the bustly side, boob movement during a run translated into actual measurable pain. (maybe it was psychologically induced as well because I could cry myself to sleep thinking about my nipples jiggling around my knees.)
Anyway Runners World had an article on running bras and how the fit and comfort makes it up there with shoes in running equipment importance. When I tried on the Runner's World recommendation, the moving comfort running bra at RoadRunner sports, I felt excellent. I felt like I could actually run They stayed in place like a statue's boobs if statues could run. I've only ever worn Moving Comfort Bras since, so Its really not fair for me to compare. I am so picky I won't even buy anything but the Fiona style
Runners World happens to recommend this as "a minimal bra for the DD+ crowd".
Phillips Neckband Headphones: I think I could honestly recommend these guys. I have gone through a large number of headphones during my running career. I didn't go through these headphones the way people go through sunglasses, either, I wore those suckers out. My ear sweat is copious enough to make a pair of iPhone earbuds to shrivel and die. Not to mention they just slip out when your ears grow slightly saturated from painjuice. The loss of sound due to sweat occurs slowly over time but slipping out and being stepped on is a quick death. And is it just me or does the frequent slipping and replacing of earbuds actually hurt? This isn't just the iPhone earbuds either, its any of those sportbuds they sell. If only they made those earclippy thingys for women, because at the size they are now they would slip out more frequently then the free floating iPhone earbuds.
So enough complaining about earbuds. The Phillips neckband headphones don't slip out and the sound quality is amazing. There is a small amount of ambient sound blocking, but thats a good thing when you are doing things like running near a loud road or trying to relax in a house of people you don't know. I've had them for a few months now, and they have shown no deterioration due to sweat. Despite the high cost, I think the value is excellent.
I looked on the website to see what the real names of these guys were and it said "neckband headphones". Thats a funny name. I guess a rose is a rose... etc.
A cheap beat sweater. I think my dad found this sweater at a bus stop. I love it because its gross and cheap and I don't feel bad about soaking it in sweat. It came with thumb holes in the sleeves, surely made by some angsty teenager. If you are way cooler than me you'd go for this lululemon version.
A smartphone. I passed out while I was running once. I take my phone with me when I run because it lets me play pandora and/or an informational podcast. I had it at the right time once and now its a safety thing.