Confessions of a Wanna-be-Runner: I’m Here for the Gear

After my friend Briana invited me to do the Las Vegas Rock N Roll Marathon ½ of a ½, I confirmed what I already knew:  I’m not a runner, and I have no experience or background with running.  But suddenly, after experiencing the race culture and the satisfaction that comes with crossing the finish line (yes, behind many others, and feeling sore and slightly defeated about my ability), and especially after getting my first race medal (because who isn’t in it for the bling), I discovered that I wanted to be a part of it, and I wanted to see whether this not-a-runner could transform into a runner.

But the real reason I developed a mild crush on running (still have not fallen in love with running): The Gear!

I’m sure some of you real runners hit the road without fancy gadgets and without the latest running accessories, but all the bling just adds joy to my experience.

Anatomy of a Wanna-be-Runner

The Girl:

The Gear:

Brooks Glycerin II

I was told by many in the running community that finding the right shoes for me was key.  So I went to Snail's Pace in Mission Viejo for a proper fitting.  After being videotaped and trying on several pairs of shoes, I went with the Brooks Glycerin II, and in addition to loving the color, I love the fit!

Polar Heart Rate Monitor

As a fitness fanatic, I always wear my polar heart rate monitor and watch when I exercise, to monitor my heart rate and calorie burn.  

Running Sleeves

Because we were running at night in Vegas, but I didn't want to wear a jacket, I wore these instead, and fell in love with them.  Running sleeves are a great option when you are wearing short sleeves and need a bit of additional warmth on the arms.  They also double as an elbow compression sleeve in a pinch when your weight lifting starts to give you slight tennis elbow! 

Compression Socks

To say I was sore after completing the 1/2 of  1/2 would be a wild understatement.  I know the biggest reason for my hip to ankle pain (inclusive of all parts in between) was my lack of training, but I decided that a good pair of Compression Socks couldn't hurt, so I got these from Pro Compression.

Flip Belt

Of course I need a place to store items like my phone and my house key, and the FlipBelt was the perfect solution.  And it holds my snacks and emergency items during longer runs.  The iPhone slips into one of the 2 front or 2 rear pockets easier without the case, but with a little tugging it will go fit with the case on as well. 

Add Some Sparkle!

And no outfit would be complete without a sparkly headband from Sparkly Soul.  I'm all about the bling.  We had the chance to meet the fabulous ladies from Sparkly Soul at the Las Vegas race expo, and they were delightful.






The Prize:

But way more exciting than the gear and the race culture is the ultimate prize at the end of a race: The Race Metal!  The first metal is the gateway drug to ongoing running!