Runners love to say that all you need in this sport is to lace up your sneakers and head out the door. While that’s mostly true, there are also so many training tools out there that can make you far more comfortable, hydrated, and chafe-free during your runs. And if you’re racking up the mileage required to train for a marathon, such gear is especially helpful.
When I was prepping for my first 26.2-mile race, I had very little by way of marathon gear aside from my favorite Nike running shoes and a couple of running outfits. But in the process of tackling over a dozen more marathons in the years that followed, I learned there’s some marathon gear that can truly make a difference in how much I actually enjoy running, particularly during long or otherwise tough runs.
“I’m always thinking before the long ru