It’s Tuesday! I’m on Martha’s Vineyard and I haven’t run since Saturday and I’m kind of ok with that. Instead, I’ve ridden on 3 ferries, eaten a ton of seafood, and drunk my weight in beer. Yeah, I have this vacation thing down!
The topic for today’s Tuesdays on the Run is “Running Hacks”. Share your favorites with April, Patty and me. Bonus points if you teach me something I didn’t know about.
1. Deodorant instead of Glide – Glide is a great invention, but I don’t always have it in the house or sometimes forget it when I’m packing for a trip. A good stick deodorant is the next best thing. (Actually, I use it even when I have Glide available. It’s perfect for preventing running bra chafe.)
2. Robes from Goodwill as your throw aways – Everyone talks about picking up used clothing or clearance clothing before a race, but I’ve seen several of my MRTT friends purchase cheap or used robes instead. Most robes will cover you from shoulder to knee and what could be easier to take off??? (Another option is to re-use the space blanket from a previous race…)
(Source: Alexandra at Lexie Loves to Run)
3. Men’s socks as arm warmers – Got a race on a cold morning? Cut the toes off of a pair of men’s socks and use them as arm warmers. I HATE standing around cold before a race and these will totally keep you warm. Since you can find super cheap ones easily, you don’t have to feel guilty when you peel them off and throw them away. (I may have a stash of old socks just waiting for this…)
4. Tights or capris under skirts – I love my Happy Girl skirts, but it can be chilly in Virginia sometimes. I can extend their life by putting a pair of tights or capris under them. This is especially useful when I want to wear a specific pattern and only have it in a skirt. (And I buy some of the shorter skirts that I wouldn’t otherwise wear and put capris under those as well.)
5.Gummy Bears for fuel – I’ve fueled many a long run and a few races with a baggie of gummy bears. I find them easy to eat and easy to digest and a handful in a baggie is just as easy to carry as Gu.
[Tweet “Here are 5 running hacks to try! What are your favorite hacks? #tuesdaysontherun”]
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So awesome! Just be careful you don’t get those Haribo sugar free gummy bears (have you seen the reviews on Amazon about the explosive diarrhea? it’s rofl funny as long as it doesn’t happen to you). Cool prompt – I may link up later today if I have a change to blog after work.
I’ve seen those reviews! And, umm, no I won’t be using sugar free LOL.
We use the cute knee socks from Target as arm warmers and do the same thing! The robe one is new to me. We use trashbags normally, rain or cold.
I use the trash bag trick if it’s wet, but if it’s just cold, I want to be snuggly warm. ;o)
Kid gummies are similar to sports beans. They are similar to the gummy bears, but in fun themes like princesses and my all time favorite Scooby Snacks.
Yum, Scooby snacks! I run because it’s an excuse to eat candy LOL.
The robes are a great idea! I haven’t tried deodorant for chafing and I’ve used snickers on my bike for fuel. Thanks for the linkup
Mmm, snickers! I love snickers!
I’ve never heard the deodorant trick!! Great idea! And you know I”m all about the bathrobe!
I’m pretty sure you are actually in that picture, right?
Great hacks! I’ve done the sock arm warmer thing and have no regrets ditching them along the course! The deodorant trick is great–double duty, really….
I’ve never had running bra chafe since I got generous with the deodorant…
Great tips! I hadn’t thought about the deodorant one!
I used a long-sleeve tshirt from another race as a throw away. The design was bad, the material was awful and the cut was bad. I didn’t feel any kind of sadness when I threw the shirt away in the corrals as we started.
hmm, never even thought about using deodorant instead of body glide! I can’t tell you HOW many times I’ve forgotten my body glide at home before a race!!
Never thought of using deodorant for glide!! I love wearing my skirts over capris! Enjoy the Vineyard! As long as I have lived here on Cape Cod, the only time I’ve been to the islands is for a race on the Vineyard!! I really need to go back for relaxing!!
I love your tips! I’ve recently started seeing people using robes and though it looks weird, it’s a great idea!
These are FANTASTIC ideas! I especially love the robe one!!! Genius!
I am LOVING the bathrobe idea. I keep saying I am going to do this but then I forget! Yes…this is on my list!
I just found out about the mens sock arm warmers and are so doing that for my half this Saturday! It will be cold at the start and I hate standing there shivering to death. Good idea about the cheap bathrobe too! I will remember that one for my half in October as it will most likely be VERY cold at that start. Question though about the robes, so you just dump them or hand them off to someone? I’ve never done that before so I don’t want to do the wrong thing with. Ya know, race etiquette and all that.
I’ve worn my leggings under my running skirt, even though it has a pair of build in shorts in it. It’s chilly a lot in Iowa, but I love my skirt. I think that’s what I’m going to do for both Halfs I have this year.
I love the robe idea! I’ve never seen that one. I usually use one of my husbands old shirts (bonus as it gets him to empty his side of the closet a bit!). I love the old socks as arm warmers – that’s really handy when I know I won’t actually need them during the race itself.
Great tips! I always love hearing new tricks and hacks for everything in life 🙂 I’m also a fan of using a garbage bag at race starts, but I’ll have to give the robe a try next time it’s chilly at the start.
Love the robe idea! All of these are great ideas, actually 🙂
Love the gummy bears tip! I need to try that out!
OH I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE DEODORANT TIP!!
have chafed walking halfs 🙂