Essential Kit To Help You Tackle The New York Marathon – Forbes

The New York marathon is only a couple of weeks away. And while you’re probably not aiming for a sub 2-hour time like the great man Eliud Kipchoge, you should be all-set for the race, training-wise, if you are signed up to compete.

However, now’s the time to start thinking – and test-running (quite literally) – your race day kit. Shoes, compression socks, energy gels, GPS watches, heart rate monitors, camel packs… the kit list is seemingly endless, and pretty darn daunting.

Lucky for you I’ve got an expert on hand to choose his top kit picks. Tom Wheatley is the editor of sports lifestyle site Get Sweat Go; here’s what he chose as his 5 essential marathon must-haves.

Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2

The Pegasus line has always been a top pick for runners. The Turbo 2 is just as impressive as its predecessor, which blew previous Pegasus models out of the water.

They pack in a combination of two of Nike’s proprietary foams in the midsole – ZoomX, the lightweight, bouncy foam used in the Vaporfly; and React, foam which increases the durability.

The Pegasus Turbo also has an revamped upper, which is lighter and more breathable than on the original.

Wear them in, in advance – never wear new shoes on race day.

AfterShokz Aeropex

These open-ear, bone-conduction, headphones are a cult favorite in the running world. The latest Aeropex, at just 26g, are 12 percent lighter than previous models and 30 percent smaller, making them a much more comfortable fit.

They also address a couple of the biggest bugbears with bone conduction; they’re much less leaky and the bass is massively improved.

You’ll get 8 hours of battery life and they’re also IP67 rated – so they’ll survive even a very long, very wet marathon.

On High Socks

Just as important as your shoes, is your choice of running socks. The last thing you want on race day is blisters. Tom recommends High Socks, which he says provide a combination of style and substance.

They boast temperature-moderating tech, mesh sections to keep your feet cool and sweat-wicking fabric that is super quick drying.

The pattern around the arch also triggers sensory receptors to prime your feet during a run.

Under Armour Speedpocket

Storage is an important factor for any long distance runner – there’s plenty of stuff you’ll actually need to carry around with you on race day. Side pockets are obviously a no-no.

Enter UA’s Speedpocket shorts that have an expandable pocket built into the waistband. This can take a card and your smartphone and hold them tight so they don’t move around during a run.

There’s also a small zipped pocket on the back. The fabric has four-way stretch properties and is designed to resist odours.

Rawvelo gels

Rawvelo’s gels combine organic fruit juices, coconut sugar and natural brown rice syrup to create a mix that’s free from any artificial ingredients, preservatives, colorings or flavorings.

They also contain no refined or synthesised sugars and are vegan friendly.

Each gel – there are various flavors to choose from, pack 20g carbs with a consistency that’s far more liquid than other traditional gloopy gels.