Training for your Disney Marathon – Options Options Options

When you’re starting out running, all you really need is a good pair of shoes and a place to run.  And, while I highly recommended going to a local running store and having shoes fitted by the pros, that’s the only thing that I think necessary to run.

But, once you start gaining distance, gear becomes more important.   It’s easy to be overwhelmed when figuring out what to get – there are countless options for shoes, hydration belts, race belts, nutrition, watches, etc…

So, where should you start?  I started by asking opinions of fellow runners, then heading to my local running store to see my options.  I started off with a 2 bottle hydration belt, only to realize that for the majority of my longer runs, I could easily drink more than 2 bottles worth.  I’ve also seen many runners with slightly bottles with hand straps to carry, instead of carrying the bottles around your middle.

What about watches?  Are they necessary?  There are 2 types that I’m familiar with – heart rate monitors and GPS enabled watches.  Obviously, the GPS watches cost a bit more, but when looking into them, you can also have a heart rate  monitor as well, so it can be an all-encompassing option.  Or, you can do as my husband does and find a cell phone app that can track your distance/route  and save the money.  I personally splurged on a GPS watch after my cell phone crashed one too many times.

How about nutrition?  As I mentioned, it is important to replenish calories lost after about an hour of running.  Sports drinks (or similar) come in to play as well as food.  Yes, food.  During full marathons, I’ve heard of people eating sandwiches or full nutrition bars.  I tried several different options on my training runs, including bites of nutrition bars, gels, blocks, etc… and settled with a chocolate GU that tasted as close to frosting as you can imagine (and was one of the only things I could stomach).

Other gear: I found my own personal preferences on clothes, ear buds, socks (yes, even socks are important in endurance running), shoes, and headbands.  Most of them came from discount stores, where it is easy to find work out clothing for much less than they can cost in brand name/department stores.

There is a plethora of options, just know that you won’t need everything all at once, but can start a collection as you build distance.

Happy running!

Jenn resides with her husband, 1 year old son, and 2 bratty dogs in a suburb of Washington, D.C. She also hosts her own blog, the Disney Babies Blog (http://disneybabiesblog.blogspot.com) , where she shares her experiences, tips, and ramblings about traveling the parks with a baby. In her non-Disney life, Jenn is often found running, practicing yoga, or playing the clarinet in the military.

Photo courtesy of Ruth Lim

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