Spring races on the East Coast, probably any coast for that matter, are tough in regards to planning your attire. The exact temperature can be variable & you never know how the wind will play into your race day. Do you go with tights or capri pants & risk possibly over-heating? Or choose the shorts & just deal with being chilly at the start? And then there is the upper body. Long sleeves or arm sleeves? Tank top or short sleeves? Jog bra, anyone? Gloves to keep or gloves to toss? Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!
Today while trying to plan ahead & get my Shamrock Half Marathon race day outfit together, I was caught off guard by the UPS man making a delivery. He had the pleasure of seeing me in one of my options, calf sleeves & al! I doubt he cared, or maybe, even noticed. Hehe!
I know the race is still 10 days out, but I am a planner; a character trait that I shall never deny! One thing I know for certain, for me personally, is that I will be wearing shorts & a tank top. I don’t tend to be cold once I get going, but others who do, might decide to wear a bit more clothing. Or some folks, even less material! Whatever you decide to wear, make sure you are comfortable trudging many miles in your particular gear. Also, don’t be afraid to make a stop at your local thrift store to pick up a sweatshirt or tear-away pants to wear until just before the gun!
When I toe the line in Virginia Beach next weekend, I plan to wear the outfit picture below {pending I don’t make any last minute changes… I am a woman after all!}. I thought this would be a fun & informative post to portray some of The Running Blonde’s favorite running brands. Disclaimer: I am not sponsored, nor supported by any of these brands.
Top: Lululemon Ebb to Street Tank – a “soft, sweat-wicking tank was designed to feel like a second skin”. It has a light support bra built in, but I still prefer to wear a separate sports bra {see below}. I have it in the heathered clear mint color. Super cute & comfy!
Bottom: Oiselle Flyte Shorts – “comfortably compressive, super wicking, antimicrobial & made to stay put”. Super comfy shorts, which only minimally ride up {don’t forget your Body Glide!}. FYI, they have a “long” style also, for those who prefer to show a little less leg. I have them in the black color. Only negative, no pockets for my fuel!
Bra: Moving Comfort Juno sports bra – “racerback powerhouse has it all—the ultimate in support, shape, & customizable fit”. This really is the BEST sports bra I’ve ever worn! It works well for busty ladies, as well as those who weren’t blessed with very much. The adjustable Velcro straps are awesome for when the bra stretches out, months into wearing it {& no, they don’t lose their Velcro “stick”}. Bonus for nursing mothers, great for breastfeeding!
Gloves: Under Armour Storm Brave the Run Gloves – a very nice pair of running gloves. I have my negatives on them – finger “touch” strips for your smart phone really don’t work well & the built in pocket is in a poor location as it is un-useable due to my Garmin watch in that spot of my wrist. Regardless, they do the job of keeping my hands warm on cold days!
Socks: Injinji Mid-Weight No-Show Socks – if you’ve never tried toe socks, YOU SHOULD! I looooooveee them! I cannot rave enough about how awesome they are. I have known a couple of people to disagree, but overall, most people I recommend them too, they adore them as well. They come in light-weight also, if that’s your thing.
Sleeves: Zensah Compression Leg Sleeves – there is much debate as to IF compression is beneficial to runners. I don’t care much about that debate, because for me, they absolutely DO help with leg soreness after races. But that’s another post for another day. I have them in black & tie dye neon pink—I plan to wear my black ones on race day.
Hair: Sweaty Band in Shamrock Print – a race day wardrobe would be incomplete without my obligatory Sweaty Band! This specific print is not available any longer {or so my friend said last year} & is slightly stretched out, but I still love it nonetheless! These bands are great at keeping my hair back & out of my face, so I can focus on flying down the road!
What do you plan to wear for your upcoming race? Will I see you at Shamrock?!
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