Running essentials you’ll love

I’ve been asked a few times lately what equipment you need to be a runner, and the answer is not very much. A good pair of shoes and a sports bra are important (I like Brooks Glycerin and Berlei), but apart from that you can head out your front door and just start. And there are those that run bare foot that would argue about the shoes.

Personally, I’m a massive fan of getting properly fitted by someone who knows what they’re doing, so I head along to All Podiatry at Indooroopilly (bonus: the FRANKiE4 concept store is also there, so I can kill two birds with one stone).

But then on top of the absolute essentials, I’ve come to love a few other things that help make my running more comfortable, more fun and more motivating. Here are my favourites:

Garmin Forerunner 625

Garmins are awesome if you like being able to keep track of your runs and compare your performance and beat your old times. There are heaps of different devices you can get from Garmin and I am in no way qualified to tell you which one will suit your needs, but I will tell you this: my Garmin records all my runs and syncs to my phone and computer. I can program runs from my computer and my Garmin will tell me when to change my pace, my current pace, how far I’ve run and a whole lot of other stats – all at a glance to my wrist. And I can share my progress with running friends on Strava, which hooks straight into Garmin Connect. Brilliant!

Skirtsports running skirt

I am madly in love with Skirtsports because they are a cute little breezy skirt that come in a variety of prints, lengths and styles, but underneath they have super comfy shorts with deep pockets, where I can easily fit my phone, energy gels, and keys – and they have never fallen out or even budged, even on three hour long runs. Excellent!

Injinji socks

I used to get constant blisters from my toes rubbing against each other on my longer runs until I started wearing Injinji socks. With their individual toes, they keep everything separate and dry, so no more blisters. And sure, they look weird, but they’re thin and light, and I would never run without them now.

Champagne Cartel running singlet

Natch! I have the full range, of course, but my favourite is probably ‘No pain, no champagne’. They always raise a smile from fellow runners, they’re a nice reminder that there are fun times ahead, and they’re also an excellent light, and sweat-wicking top that keeps you cool and fabulous. You can grab yours from our Champagne Cartel shop.

Operation Move

I don’t know where I’d be without the supportive coaching of Coach Zoey and the incredible supportive posse of women that make up Operation Move. Zoey has helped me to achieve things I never thought in a million years I could do, and that awesome posse is there to cheer on my wins, commiserate the dodgy days, and provide support along the way. Love them so hard!

Do you have any running essentials?