I hate to break it to you, but running is not necessarily a cheap sport.

But you probably know that. Whoever said “all you need is a pair of running shoes” lied. Without a doubt, reports of #allthegear you need have also been greatly exaggerated. I’m here to help you with some of my current and all-time favorites to help you cut through the noise and get recommendations from someone you trust. (Right? We’re there?) *Please know that most of the below links are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission off of any of your purchases, but I would share them anyway!

Shoes

This is an incredibly individualized one—what’s right for me and my gait and my distances might not be right for you and yours. That said, here’s a guide I wrote on how to speak running shoe (it’s a thing) when you go into a running store for a gait analysis, which you should.

Neutral

New Balance Vazee Pace – Though this shouldn’t be the reason you buy them, these are good-looking shoes. But they’re also performance powerhouses—they’re lightweight, neutral shoes that feel so good you’ll forget you’re wearing them. (If you can’t tell, I am obsessed with these shoes.)

Stability

Brooks Adrenaline GTS-18 — It took me a long time, honestly, to come around to Brooks, but these shoes did it. If you’re going to continue on to train for a marathon, or just need more cushioning and stability, these are definitely the shoes for you. They’re also really comfortable, but please note that they are a bit heavier and stiffer.

Maximal

Altra Torin — This is another shoe that I didn’t love at first, but totally grew on me! Maximal shoes may be great if you are very injury-prone—they offer more shock absorption, but be sure not to use the shoe as a crutch, as that may actually lead to more injuries. (In other words, don’t do dumb things just because the shoe is extra cushioned!)

Shorts/Skirts

Brooks Go-To Shorts — These are definitely my go-tos for shorts. I find them incredibly flattering and, more importantly, COMFORTABLE. They have a high waist and the legs have wide openings (for your strong-ass quads.) They come in three different lengths, too—3”, 5”, and 7”.

Lululemon Pace Setter Skirt — Skip over this one if you’re not a girlie girl like I am, but I do love running skirts because I also find them a bit more flattering and comfortable than shorts! Also, I love passing slower guys (coughexescough) while wearing a skirt. I have bought this skirt in all its variations at least 10 times at this point. There’s shorts underneath and plenty of pockets, including one big enough to hold an iPhone 7 or 8 comfortably. (Sorry Android or iPhone Plus people, I can’t vouch for you.)

Tops

Nike Elastika — This is my favorite tank because it’s incredibly light-weight and flowy. It’s also juuuust loose enough to be really flattering if you’re not crazy about your midsection like me.

Sports Bra

I know this can be a tough one, so I will caveat this with the fact that I’m a D-cup who doesn’t like super-restrictive sports bras, so you may want to take these recommendations with a grain of salt!

Lululemon Stash ‘n’ Run Bra — if you’re smaller-chested, you may prefer this more than if you’re larger-chested. It’s not terribly supportive, which I don’t mind, but others might. HOWEVER! The best part about this magical bra is that it has a pocket in the back for you to stash your phone.

Lululemon Enlite Bra — This is kind of the best of both worlds — it is really supportive, but it’s so lightweight that it doesn’t feel overly restrictive. No boob jail here!

Socks

These are so important! A good sock will prevent you from gnarly blisters and blood-filled shoes. (Sorry, it’s true. I learned the hard way.) Two of my faves: Bombas or Feetures.

Sunglasses

For years, I used the cheap sunglasses I got at weddings and events as novelty items. And honestly, they do the job just fine. But if you want a pair of polarized glasses at a great price, Goodr is my favorite! They’re polarized, they don’t move, and they’re an awesome price—$25!

Watch

To be honest, I’ve been using my Apple Watch for the past few years, and it works OK. If you’re looking for a dedicated running watch, though, I know plenty of people who swear by the Garmin Forerunner 235.

Fuel

Keep in mind that if you’re running less than an hour, you don’t need to take in any extra calories. An hour-plus, though, you should take in fuel approximately every 45 minutes. I’ll go much more into fueling in a future email, but here’s some baseline recommendations.

Margarita Shot Bloks — if you’re a really salty sweater or it’s really hot out, I love these for their extra sodium.

Honey Stinger — Let’s be real — lots of these running “fuels” are made with tons of crappy ingredients. I like Honey Stingers a lot because they’re made with better ingredients, so they’re less likely to irritate your stomach. (I am a delicate flower with a weak stomach, and these work really well for me.)

Water Bottle

If you’re running somewhere that doesn’t have water along your route, it’s really helpful to carry your own water. I <3 Nathan bottles because they’re comfortable to hold and easy to drink from.

Foam Roller

If you ignore all of my other recommendations, TAKE THIS ONE. A foam roller is a runner’s best friend in terms of recovery and even warmups. I love the Trigger Point one, as painful as it can be, because it gets deep into your muscles, working out the kinks that cause soreness.