Hope you all are doing well! I took a break from running for a bit, but ever since watching the amazing athletes on the Olympics I have been feeling really inspired to run again. I signed up for a few races coming up: The San Francisco Run 10 Feed 10, and the Run Wine Country Healdsburg Half Marathon. I also have my eye on a few Destination Races including the Santa Barbara Half and the Los Cabos Half next year. I love finding races that give me an excuse to travel.
I started training last week and it feels good to be back! I’ve been running 4-5 miles a day pretty consistently, then a longer run on the weekend. Last weekend I went for 8 miles, and this weekend I hope to go for 9 or 10. I dont really go by a strict schedule like I used to, but I would be if I was running a full marathon. I just try to get in as many runs as possible, before or after work during the week and a longer distance on the weekend.
As I am training now, and have over the years I have found the best gear which has really helped to make my runs way easier and WAY more comfortable! It’s really unbelievable what a good pair of socks and shoes can do! It’s really important to me to avoid injury, sore knees, ankles and blisters and each of the gear below has helped me tremendously. 
- Lululemon Swiftly tech long sleeve crew 2. Feetures Elite Max Socks 3. GU Energy Gel 4. Lululemon Run Speed Short 5. Cellucor C4 Pre Workout 6. Nike Air Zoom Pegasus running shoes 7. Lululemon Dash and Splash hat 8. Nike Power Speed Running pants
The first on my list is a good pair of running shoes. I have tried so many shoes and Nike Air Zoom Pegasus are my favorite by far. I have pretty narrow, flat feet and these hug my feet in all the right places. I would suggest you try these! You can also visit your local Nike Store and they will do a foot analysis and have you hop on a treadmill to test each pair. I have a few other Nike’s, Adidas and Suacony but my Nike Pegasus have been my go to for long distance. I haven’t had any knee or ankle pain since changing to these shoes. (Also, the style above also comes in about 10 other cute colors!)
The next most important thing on my list is a good pair of socks. Blisters are not pretty, but extremely common for runners. I’ve also tried many different brands but feetures socks are the BEST EVER. My toes are still looking pretty and feel great after a long distance!
My favorite running long sleeve is this one from Lululemon. It’s usually pretty cold here in San Francisco, so a long sleeve is almost always what I throw on. I would also wear these Lululemon shorts everyday if I could. They are so comfortable and fit so well. I have yet to find any other shorts that fit like these. If you have any other shorts recommendations please let me know! If I opt for pants, these Nike Speed pants are the best! They are light weight, comfortable and the stripes are reflective, perfect for night runs.
Last thing I want to mention is Cellucor’s C4 pre-workout and GU energy gel. I use this pre workout before the gym, but I just started using it before my runs and boy does it get my on my feet! I could always use an extra kick. Also GU energy gel is a must for long runs and during races. I always carry a few with me to take at the starting line and then around mile 8 or so. This salted carmel flavor is my favorite!
I didnt list above, but this Garmin Forerunner GPS watch is another favorite of mine! It’s extremely accurate, easy to use and battery power lasts a long time. I was at 15% and went almost 10 miles before it died. In my opinion, this watch is definitely worth the price!
I hope this helps if you are starting out or if you are an experienced runner! Please share your recommendations in the comments, I would love to hear from you! I will keep you guys posted on how the training and races go! I’ll be posting all on my Instagram and Snapchat as well. Thanks for reading- love you all!
