The new year is time for runners to take things up a gear. December’s silliness is finally over and the marathon is only four months away — in other words, that’s 15 Sundays left to put the miles in before the big day.
To make it to mile 26 you need to get technical, which means finding the perfect pair of race shoes to wear in and upgrading your gear. From high-tech trainers to the latest fitness trackers, this is your London Marathon kit list.
Best foot forward
Shoes are priority number one and this year’s offerings are high-tech. Asics has updated its neutral long-distance running shoe, the Gel-Nimbus 21 (£155, asics.com), with lighter cushioning and shock- absorbing gel, and Saucony’s new long-distance kicks, the Guide ISO 2 (£120, saucony.com), are engineered for runners with mild to severe pronation. Nike’s Air Zoom Pegasus 35 (£105, nike.com) is a speedy all-rounder for road running, while its Shield (£115, nike.com) model is specifically designed for winter training: a reflective, water-repellent shoe for running on dark, wet nights, with a no-tie lacing system so you don’t have to take off your gloves. Pair with Asics Road Neutral Single Tab socks (£8.40, asics.com), which feature anti-chafing fabric and drying technology to protect your feet from rain and sweat.
Leg day
Sweaty Betty’s Zero Gravity Run Leggings (£95, sweatybetty.com) feature compression technology for muscle support and faster recovery, while 2XU has a whole compression range, including a thermal variety (£90, 2xu.com) for those bitter mornings. Under Armour’s ColdGear Reactor Run Graphic Leggings (£65, underarmour.co.uk) are a good winter running layer for men: they have a built-in brief for added support and intelligent insulation to stop you overheating.
Layer up
A breathable long sleeve is essential for cooler morning or evening runs and the hero products are sweat-wicking: Iffley Road’s (£80, iffleyroad.com) features an in-seam pocket for your keys, Soar’s Merino Base (£75, soarrunning.com) is naturally antibacterial to keep you fresh, and Under Armour’s (£34, underarmour.co.uk) is chafe-resistant — crucial when you’re upping the miles.
Race day may bring another heatwave but in the meantime there’s some serious weather to battle: Reebok’s Thermowarm range includes a double-layer crew neck (£62.95, reebok.co.uk) for cold mornings and Iffley Road’s latest collection includes a reflective jacket (£210, iffleyroad.com) that’s fully windproof and waterproof without weighing you down. Invest in a quality sports bra for support — Icebreaker’s Cool-Lite Meld Zone model (£50, uk.icebreaker.com) comes without a side-seam to prevent chafing.
Carry on
Sometimes, the only way to get the miles in is to combine training with your commute: Wiggle’s Montane VIA Snap 4 Hydration Pack (£66, wiggle.co.uk) is tailored for women who run to work, and if you’d rather not carry your kit, FlipBelt (£32, flipbelt.co.uk) stores your phone, keys etc. It fits over clothing so doubles up as a high-vis layer for being seen in the dark.
Meanwhile, FitBit’s latest Ionic smartwatch (£279.99, fitbit.com) features on-screen coaching and stores music so you can leave your phone at home. Download your favourite Spotify playlist and pair with JBL’s Reflect Contour 2 headphones (£89.99, uk.jbl.com) for wire-free sound.With 10 hours of battery life, they’ll last even your longest training run.
