There are few occasions that garner such good-willed camaraderie in New York City as the annual marathon, though the Knicks historic win this summer brought people out into the streets in rivaling numbers. This year, on November 1, an estimated 60,000 runners will flood all five boroughs, while an ever larger number of spectators will return to the challenging route for an annual block party.
If you’ve looked around the past few weeks on your morning commute or weekend walks you’ve probably spotted these dedicated runners settling in for the long haul, completing their 15, 18, or 20 mile runs in preparation. Vogue’s own Emily Jones and Teen Vogue’s Alyssa Hardy have been among them.
For us runners at Vogue, finding the right race day fit, or even just the perfect daily gear, can feel overwhelming. Do you prefer sports bras with removable or sewn-in padding? Do you put your phone and gels in your shorts, or do you spring for a belt? Carbon plates or foam? And, can you really run in merino wool? Luckily, we’ve had all year—and plenty of variable weather—to figure it out.
In honor of the upcoming NYC Marathon, check out the essentials that Vogue’s runners can’t live without.
Emily Jones
As someone who suffered the consequences of wearing a bad pair of socks during my first marathon (I won’t go into further details, but let’s just say my toenails have never been the same), finding the perfect pair of socks was at the top of my list when I started training for the New York City marathon. I swear by the Feetures max cushion crew sock!
I still haven’t fully mastered how to keep my hair in check during long runs, but the SNTE Styling Cream has been my saving grace during runs on humid summer nights and in the pouring rain (never forget the nor’easter).
I support the corded headphones comeback, but I felt like they kept getting in my way while running, so I invested in a pair of Shokz headphones and haven’t looked back! They’re great for running in a city as busy as New York (don’t worry, Mom, I can still pay attention to traffic while wearing these) and the battery life is great.
I swear by everything Lululemon, but especially their Fast and Free High-Rise Short. The pockets are amazing for my phone and gels, they don’t ride up or roll down, and they’re just… so comfortable. True Navy is my favorite color, but I want them all!
