The half isn’t a sufferfest like a full marathon, but it’s long enough that you need to train to do it well. Here are six pieces of gear that will get you ready to toe the starting line with confidence.
Skratch Labs Exercise Hydration Mix with Matcha Green Tea + Lemons
Most half marathons have plenty of hydration stations; you don’t necessarily have to carry your own water. A handheld will weigh you down on race day, so I suggest training without one. Instead, I like to pound a liter of water mixed with 30 minutes before a workout. The electrolytes help fend off dehydration, and the natural caffeine from the matcha green tea gives me a nice kick with no hard letdown.
Farm to Feet Roanoke Low Run Ultralight
A good pair of moisture-wicking socks is essential to fighting blisters as you up your mileage. It’s also remarkable how quickly you can burn through cheap cotton socks when you start logging double-digit training runs. We’ve been running in the since April and love their durability. Plus, the vented instep noticeably cooled our feet on blazing-hot midday runs.
The North Face Better Than Naked Long Haul Running Shorts
Greater mileage necessitates greater support for your undercarriage. These were built with input from TNF’s pro ultrarunners. We were thankful for the super-supportive liner even on runs less ambitious than a 50K. The liner goes far enough down your leg that it will prevent thigh chafing—something that plagues many runners as they bump up their milage.
Body Glide Anti-Chafe Balm
Trust me: One $15 anti-chafe balm goes a long way. A single stick can last months event for a hardcore ultrarunner, and it’s a good precaution on shorter runs. Throw some on your nipples before each run lasting 30 minutes or more.
Patagonia Men’s Capilene 1 Silkweight Graphic Tee
A cotton shirt won’t cut it as you ramp up your training. Ease into high-performance synthetic running shirts with something that has a cool logo, like this . The shirt looks cool but still has the lightning-fast moisture-wicking capabilities of its techier cousins, and it will help reduce chafing and sweat buildup.
GoMacro Sweet Revival Bar
You’ll run better if you start with some calories in your stomach. Load up on good energy from 100-calorie bars like . Its simple ingredients—sesame seeds, sesame butter, and dates—didn’t upset my stomach during runs.