I have tried a lot of different things over my 30 years of running. A lot of items that I have loved and others that flopped hard. I am really critical with the things I buy. They have to well-worth the cost, actually make a difference in my running, and feel like it is a product I would honestly recommend to a good friend.
Some of the items below are well worth their value and others are not. I tell you the pros and cons of them and let you know if it is something I think is worth spending your money on or better to pass for something else.
Creatine
I am super skeptical of supplements, but I am a firm believer in creatine. I started taking creatine three summers ago, and I don’t think it is a coincidence that during that time I have been able to reset all of my PRs. Now, this is not a magic pill, I had to do a lot of hard work as well. I also had to fuel well, sleep plenty, strength train, and my coach really had to dial in my workouts. But I do think creatine played a role in helping me reach a new level of fitness. I have only ever tried the Previnex Muscle Health PLUS (which is actually more than creatine) as my creatine supplement. I tried one container of it, and it worked so well that I kept using it. I also don’t feel bloated on it and haven’t gained any weight, which are common questions I get asked.
Super Shoes
I have really struggled to find a pair of super shoes or light weight carbon plated shoes I love for race day. I’ve tried multiple different brands including: Saucony, Nike, Adidas, Puma, and New Balance, but sadly each one has caused a slightly different problem for me. BUT with all that said, I still think they are worth it, and I will continue to use them. If you are looking to train or race in a light weight shoe with a carbon fiber plate that helps propel you forward, I think super shoes are worth it to try out. I notice I recover faster when I use them for workouts, and I can gain that extra edge on race day due to its properties.
Ketones
I tried ketones (specifically the Ketone IQ brand) a few times last summer, and at first I thought it was helping, but then after a few more experimental tries, I didn’t think it was making that much of a difference for the cost of each bottle, so I stopped. It is supposed to help with focus and mental clarity when you’re running, which I don’t struggle with. (If anything, I need to check-out a bit more on my workouts and not be so obsessed about every split. Ha!) So since that was something I wasn’t needing help with, I stopped taking them.
Lagoon Pillow
If there is one thing on this list you should splurge on, make it a Lagoon pillow. It’s true when all the podcasters, professional athletes, and influencers all say these are life-changing pillows. I cannot sleep without mine, and I even take it when I travel. It came to Boston with me, I pack it when staying at a hotel, and if I stay overnight at my sister’s. If I have a mediocre mattress to sleep on but have my Lagoon pillow, I sleep great. But if I switch that up and have an amazing mattress but a terrible pillow, I will not sleep well. I have the Otter right now, which feels like the Goldilocks pillow–not too soft and not too firm. I used to use the Fox, but it was a little too firm, so that’s on our guest bed now.
Greens Supplements
I am not a big fan of greens supplements. I have tried several different brands, and while some of them actually pretty taste decent, I would rather get my vegetable servings and nutrients from actually vegetables. (Plus, then I get all of the fiber as well from whole foods.) I take a multivitamin to fill in the gaps in my diet, so I didn’t really see a reason to keep taking a green supplement.
Oura Ring
I tried out the Oura Ring for a few months, and I did enjoy seeing the stats. It gave me an in-depth look at how I was sleeping, my steps throughout the day, my HRV, and it tracked my cycle as well. However, I wasn’t using the data in really any meaningful way, so I stopped the subscription. One main intention of the ring is that you use the data to help determine how hard or easy to go in your workout that day based upon the data it has collected. I just default to my coach’s plan, as I know my body best and know if I need to adjust a workout in any way. I will sometimes still wear the ring as it does give you a few scores–specifically an activity level score and a sleep score.
Treadmill
This is a big gadget, but I absolutely love having my treadmill at home. As a mom and winter runner, it comes in clutch so many times. I’ve had to use it while solo-parenting and my kids are sleeping, getting workouts in when it is snowy and icy out, and when it is lightening outside. I have the Peloton Tread, and I have been very happy with it overall. I don’t have the subscription, so I just do a manual ‘Just Run’ run each time I use it.
With that said, I did go the first six years of motherhood (plus all of my running years before that), without a treadmill at home, so it is possible to make it work. When Cullen and Bjorn were babies, I would take them to the childcare at the gym or have a friend watch them while I ran.
Bicarb
I had been hearing so much about bicarb that I decided to finally give it a try this winter. I wanted to like it and be a believer, but I did not have great workouts on it. Instead, it just left me super thirsty as it has 4000 mg of sodium in the amount I took in. I do want to try it again since I still have a couple more packets left in the box I ordered, but I do have my skepticism out. Despite my experience, I have heard great things about bicarb and helping with performance.
Compression Boots
I just recently got a pair of compression boots, so this is a new tool for my recovery. Full disclosure the brand did gift them to me, but I would still recommend them. I definitely notice the swelling in my legs and feet go down after using them. Even Craig enjoys using them, so they have gotten a lot of good use. I will say, if you have a limited amount of money to spend on a running-related item, I’d probably steer you in the direction of something else. But maybe that’s because I have gone most of my running career without this gadget and done just fine.
Running GPS Watch
It’s hard for me to imagine running without a running watch and collecting the stats from my run. (I definitely still do it from time-to-time.) I love having all the details from the run to look back on, and the accuracy of the data is so helpful. I could go without uploading it all to Strava, but I am on there if you want to follow me. I think that even if you run two to three times a week, it is worth it to have a running-specific watch. The biggest competitor is the Apple Watch, and while it seems like they have improved the accuracy over the years, it doesn’t beat a watch from COROS or Garmin, which are the two most popular brands. I’ve had both brands, and you can’t go wrong with either one.
Spibelt
I know there are mixed reviews on the Spibelt, but I love mine. I do have the original belt, which I think works the best for me. I usually just store my phone in it, and I wear it pretty high on my waist around my belly button. When I do those things, this belt does not bounce, and is so discreet I completely forget I am wearing it.
Shokz Headphones
Truthfully, I rarely listen to anything while I run. I’ve never gotten in the habit, but sometimes when I am lacking some motivation to go out for my run, I’ll pick a podcast to listen to. Most runners know that the Shokz headphones don’t go into your ears but instead sit outside your ear and use bone conductivity for you to hear whatever is playing. I like the fact these headphones are very comfortable to wear, and the sound quality is very good. The one drawback is that I can’t hear my podcast or music when a car is driving by. I would still recommend them though–just with the caveat, which may be a break-it for someone who primarily runs along busy roads.
Nathan Handheld Water Bottle
I have sung the praises for this water bottle and will continue to do so. I hate carrying anything in my hands, but if I have to carry something, it will be this collapsible water bottle. It also had a large pocket for carrying gels, and a bite-top nozzle that makes it very easy to sip on the go. The strap will loosen on it’s own as I am running, which is kind of annoying, but I also don’t feel bothered enough by it to stop using it.
That concludes my list of popular running items, gadgets, and supplements, and my honest take on them. Let me know if I have missed any items you want a review on, and I will add it to the list if I have tried them out. I will also take constructive counter arguments for any of these items as I know not everything is/is not for everyone.
