Back in 2023, I told you that I joined a running support group from Nike, and it was the first time since having children that I’d consistently jogged. Since then, I’ve had moments where I was super dedicated, and times when I fell flat. But this year, I’ve been focused. I started 2025 integrating running at least once or twice a week (along with strength training and Peloton), and eventually, that number increased to a steady three-day commitment, in addition to two days of other modalities. The universe must have heard about my efforts (aka, read my previous stories about running), because by July, I was given the opportunity to sign up for the TCS New York City Marathon. I trained for more than three months so I wouldn’t embarrass myself on the big day. And on Sunday, November 2, 2025, I put my training to good use and completed the NYC Marathon. It was my very first. It was not a walk in the park by any means (I cramped up the last few miles from dehydration and had to walk a bit), but my body held up and I ran some of the most consistent, best times in all of my training. It was one of my greatest accomplishments.
I wouldn’t have been able to do it without discipline. I spent many a morning, sometimes 4:30 a.m., sometimes 5, 5:15 a.m., running the quiet Brooklyn streets. I would choose these hours so I could get back home in time to help my sons get ready for daycare and school, and to get myself together before I had to go to work. I also wouldn’t have been able to do it without the right gear. From energy gels to keep my feet moving to running belts to secure my essentials, and recovery products to help me bounce back faster, investing in these items made all the difference—and got me over the finish line after 26.2 miles.
If you’re interested in doing a 5k, half-marathon or a full marathon, you’ll need to know how to refuel while you’re on the go. There are a lot of items on the market for that, chews, bars, gels, and I was a fan of Huma Chia Energy Gels. The flavors are pretty good (I’ve had some disgusting ones from other brands), they’re gentle on the stomach and have Chia seeds for steady energy release. I took one every 40 to 50 minutes during long run training.
Available at Amazon
Quiet as it’s kept, audiobooks are the best form of entertainment to utilize when running. They keep you distracted more than music as you visualize the story playing out in your head. Before you know it, you’ll be too busy being enthralled with the thriller or romance novel you started, and you won’t realize how many miles have ticked away. Enjoy every chapter with the right earbuds. These, from Beats, are made for performance, have heart-rate monitoring sensors, and fit securely around the ear as you move. An added bonus, they come in some fun colors to complement your training fits.
Available at Walmart
I’m not sure where you’d like to jog, but I did some of my most important training on the park trail. I’d previously stuck to the city streets, but the trails exposed me to inclines and hills, which ended up being incredibly important to my training: the actual course for the NYC Marathon was filled with constant hills. The right shoes got me through those inclines on before dawn runs, and that’s the Nike Zegama trail running sneakers. They are light and have a great amount of cushioning without being over the top, which was integral to offering stability as I began to put more weight on my ankles during those long runs.
Available at Nike
There are some really great watches on the market for training. One of the latest additions to my arsenal is the Pixel Watch 4, which I would recommend in the 41mm size rather than the larger option. I love the round flat face and how bright everything is on the screen. In addition, you get personalized fitness insights, and it is impressive for swimming (it literally spits out the water when you’re finished with your time in the pool, which is very cool). As for running, just a heads-up: I realized you’ll get a lot of notifications on this watch, which can be a bit distracting (but were helpful on marathon day to keep up with loved ones cheering me on!). Also, it’s a watch that should be charged nightly. Despite 40 hours of battery life, plenty of notifications can drain it. The good news is, it charges an incredible amount in a very short time. I threw it on the charger one morning as I got ready for work, and it was dead. Twenty minutes later, it was at 80 percent.
Available at Google
Buy this! My knees and ankles often took a beating after long runs on NYC concrete and this gadget, offering heat and vibration therapy, gave me so much relief for my knee pain. It heats up well and stays on for long, massaging tired knees so you can hit the road again sooner than later. You can try a single massager or cop the pair to take care of both knees at once.
Available at Hydragun
I’ve worn running belts and fanny packs in the past, and a huge issue was that they would bounce. That is not helpful. The new wave of running accessories has curbed that, but you don’t have to pay an out-of-hand amount for one. Over at Amazon, I picked up this Aikendo option and wore it on every run I’ve done. It’s kept my phone, my gel(s) of choice, and my house keys secure. It held me down during the marathon, when I filled it up with more things than ever before: my phone, my license and debit card, two gels and a few chews, electrolyte salt tablets for hydration, and Tylenol for a pesky Achilles strain. Still no bounce! Wash it when you need to and get back to running.
Available at Amazon
On the marathon course, Biofreeze was everywhere. People were pulling off to the side to have sore muscles and strains tended to with sprays and roll-ons before returning to finish the next mile. I got to experience the power of this brand’s offerings ahead of the race, and was impressed by the roll-on. It offered some comfort to a strain in my calf, and since finishing the marathon, it has offered temporary relief to tired muscles in my thighs. Boy are they tired! The cooling menthol is penetrative, and the hands-free application is a winner in a world of “Can you help me put this on?” products. I would also recommend the Pain Relief Gel, the Dry Stick for training, and the Large Pain Relief Patches for areas that need a little something more for a little bit longer.
Available at Walmart