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What is your favorite piece of non-essential running gear? (self.running)

submitted ago by twincitiesrunner

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With the exception of the basics like shoes/shorts/shirt what do you feel is your favorite piece of gear?

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[–]ILL-FIGHT-YOU 9 points10 points ago

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A mouth guard. I box so running with my mouth guard in makes breathing in the ring easier.

[–]steve_yo 6 points7 points ago

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GPS watch for me.

[–]corbrizzle 1 point2 points ago

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If you already own a smartphone, there are FREE apps that do the saaaaame thing (e.g. Runkeeper)

[–]psynautic 0 points1 point ago

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my android is my answer. music + runkeeper is so nice to have!

[–]survive 0 points1 point ago

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Same thing? Close enough. As convenient to carry? Not in my opinion.

The phone has to be carried in some sort of pouch, which aside from just being generally annoying, makes it more difficult to access than just lifting up my wrist. The watch also gives you more options for quick access to workout details, responds even to sweaty fingers, and is weather resistant. I carried my Droid for a few months and it is worse for the wear. I don't tell people not to do it, but I help them consider the caveats. For people that run with a phone anyway it is clearly a good option.

[–]throwing_paint 0 points1 point ago

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this sounds great, how expensive are they?

[–]steve_yo 2 points3 points ago

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garmin 305 is about $130 on amazon. best bang for the buck.

[–]DallasRPI 0 points1 point ago

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Ditto, if I forget my watch or it dies there is a good chance I bail on the run. Love my 305

[–]bornagainatheist 0 points1 point ago

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If you don't need/want a pulse-monitor get the 205, which is the exact same watch.

[–]soupdawg 6 points7 points ago

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My iPhone

[–]Asalzwed 4 points5 points ago

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Arm warmers. Hands down.

[–]serge_mamian 1 point2 points ago

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I have to admit, I have never tried those, but I kind of don't get the point of wearing arm warmers and a singlet. Why not just wear a long sleeve shirt?

[–]irunforhummus 0 points1 point ago

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If I'm racing, I often want to stay warm at the start but as the race goes on the weather usually warms. I prefer the ability to take the sleeves off but keep the singlet, rather than having to try and keep long sleeves pushed up my arms or take the shirt off completely.

[–]serge_mamian 1 point2 points ago

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Wait, don't you know the "socks-on-hands" method?

[–]Asalzwed 0 points1 point ago

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Well, mainly the flexibility they provide. A long sleeve shirt you can roll up the sleeves if you get warm or take the whole thing off (then where do you put it?) With the warmers, you can roll them to be many different lengths because they are so tight. If I get really warm I can roll them down into wrist band size.

Also, I have poor circulation and I believe the compression aspect of them really helps me out.

[–]seydar 0 points1 point ago

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I use some nice loosely knit wool gloves. Sometimes they make all the difference you need.

[–]bloort 4 points5 points ago

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Heart Rate Monitor. I used to run without it and it is like driving without a tachometer/gas gauge/speedometer. Busted ass when I felt great only to languish later. Now, Steady Eddie the mile eater.

[–]zombiegirl2010 0 points1 point ago

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I can't wait until I can afford one! I realize the necessity of one.

[–]CMYKyle 2 points3 points ago

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Maybe essential to me: a hat.

My head sweats like crazy, and if I don't have a hat on to soak up the sweat I can't see after a few miles.

[–]IWantPie 0 points1 point ago

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I was about to say gloves, but I take that back. Bandana for sure. Keep the sweat out of my eyes and the sun off my head!

It has the added bonus of making me feel like a badass biker. Of course the effect is promptly ruined by the rest of my appearance. =)

[–]zombiegirl2010 0 points1 point ago

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Same here. I have the same problem...my head is pouring sweat within a mile.

[–]MUFCtimothyp 2 points3 points ago

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Glasses unless it is dark out. Even if they don't have a dark tint I feel that they help hide the pain.

[–]LegoForte 2 points3 points ago

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GPS, GPS, GPS. In my case, an Android phone with Runkeeper, but the point is that it gives me some tangible record of how far and how fast I went, and that's been critical in terms of getting up the motivation to start running and keep running.

[–]sra6418 1 point2 points ago

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I love running with Runkeeper on my Android! I always enjoy checking out the map and stats on my computer when I get home.

[–]Artyomic 2 points3 points ago

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Ipod.

[–]EyeAdler 1 point2 points ago

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Jolly ranchers. Keeps my mouth from drying out.

[–]Droid017 3 points4 points ago

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shoes.

[–]seydar 0 points1 point ago

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Vaseline.

[–]smckenzie23 0 points1 point ago

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Shoes? Garmin?

[–]chelc 0 points1 point ago

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1) Garmin 2) Gum

[–]Erdrick 0 points1 point ago

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I don't use non-essential running gear. The only exception is headphones and Droid when I'm forced to run on a treadmill. Otherwise, it's clothes, shoes, and the open road.

[–]Arve 0 points1 point ago

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305

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