Fall 2011 running gear for marathoners (and everyone else)

Adidas Women's Climacool Ride, $90 at shopadidas.com

 Adidas Adizero Feather, Men's, $100 at shopadidas.com

Adidas Marathon 10 Grete Short, women’s, $28 at shopadidas.com

Adidas Techfit Tank, $23 at shopadidas.com

ASICS GEL-Blur33, $85.00 at asicsamerica.com

I've been running in ASICS since I got serious about jogging in college. (Nimbus, in case you're curious.) I've always wanted to try out a light weight racing shoe from their line and was psyched to try the Blur33. It's a dream—all of the functionality and performance of a training shoe, but with the speed demon-esque benefits of being lighter. For shorter races like 10Ks and 5Ks, I've found my new go-to.—LP

Brooks Men's HVAC Synergy Short, $44 at brooksrunning.com

Brooks Men's Infini Tight, $70 at brooksrunnning.com

Brook's Nightlife Jacket II, $100 at brooksrunning.com

This Brooks jacket is like your friend’s dad the Air Force Colonel, absolutely no-nonsense, get-things-done and last a long time doing it. The Nightlife II will wake you up like a splash of cold water, it’s that bright, and will make sure those lazy drivers on those hazy mornings take notice of you. Strong, light—a solid choice for the serious runner with safety concerns. Don’t talk back to this jacket.

Mens Brooks Silver Bullet Wind Pant, $120 at brooksrunning.com

Brooks UAdapt Glove, $30 at brooksrunning.com

Brooks Nightlife Hat, $24 at brooksrunning.com

Brooks Infiniti Hybrid WindShirt, women's, $80 at brooksrunning.com

Brooks women's LSD Light Jacket II, $75 at brooksrunning.com

It's as light as a feather, but is a powerful tool: This guy keeps you comfortable on drizzly, windy or cool days. And—major bonus—it folds up into its own pocket so it's the ideal travel piece to stash in your luggage. It's coming with me on any trip I take.—LP

Brooks Nightlife Podium HalfZip, $55 at brooksrunning.com

Brooks Versatile EZ Racer Back, $26 at brooksrunning.com

Mizuno Aero Breath Thermo Wind Top, $89.99 at mizunousa.com

Mizuno Rider Tee, women's, $37.99 at mizunousa.com

NBx  Icefil® Short Sleeve, $37.99 at shopnewbalance.com

The NBx line keeps up its rep for hi-tech with Icefil, in short and long sleeves, that are anti-microbial, wicking and even block infared and UV rays. The boxier look complements the NBx shorts naturally. 

New Balance NBx 5” Short, $44.95 at shopnewbalance.com

New Balance’s hi-tech running threads have a laundry list of great features, but I tell you what matters to me: They’re anti-microbial, they have a zip pocket in the back for my jogging keys and they’re a medium length square cut for those days when you’re feeling a bit more modest.—JD

New Balance Women's 890, $99.99 at shopnewbalance.com

New Balance says the 890 weighs 9.7ounces, or as much as 19 sticks of gum. After taking these for a jog, I believe it. Airy, light and grippy (thanks to a diamond-shaped on the outsole), these are ideal for a spin down the lake path.—LP

Nike Men’s LunarGlide+3, $99 at Niketown (669 N Michigan Ave, 312-642-6363, niketown.com)

Years ago, Nike’s famed ultralight Waffle Racer was my go-to racing shoe, but when I thought about it, I hadn’t run on a Nike recently—maybe I started thinking of Nike as a lifestyle brand and forgot they made shoes, I don’t know. But catching up with Nike was like stepping into the future.  Blasting through a 2.5 mile workout in the newest Nike LunarGlide+3 felt like a dream about jogging—almost unreal. The electric and intense colors the shoe comes in may mean that you will see these on and off the trail—but the LunarGlide+3 really wants to be run on. As with no other shoe I strapped into this week, the men’s LunarGlide+3 (extremely light up top, like a web around your foot with a medium soft cushion) seem to give a lot back to my stride in an energy returning bounce. The key word there is bounce. That said, the shoe doesn’t feel like an everyday shoe, but rather the one you wear when you need speed in workout or are doing a shorter race. These babies are special. 

Nike Victory Definition Bra, $42 at Niketown (669 N Michigan Ave, 312-642-6363, niketown.com)

Puma Men's Run Tee, $38 at puma.com

I can’t emphasize this enough: Looking good and feeling comfortable will have making less excuses for not getting out there and running more. In the case of the Puma threads, wearing them is a real incentive to run. The Puma Run Tee is the running shirt you look forward to putting on—it feels good, it looks good, it reminds you that you're (reasonably) fit. It lies handsomely across the body like a quality fabric of the future but feels feather light. It will have you catching eyes every time your workout takes you screaming through the parks and trails. In short, this one is a must.—JD

Puma Men's Lightweight Jacket, $85 at puma.com

If you were digging the pattern on the Warm-up above, you'll get more of it with this badass runner's jacket, which looks and feels like it wouldn't be out of place on a spacestation. The only downside here? It almost feels wrong to get sweat on this thing.—JD

 

Puma Warmup Hoodie, $65 at puma.com

Obsessed. Obsessed! To the point that I don't just wear it running, but also out for errands, bumming around the house....pretty much everywhere. Aside from being super-cutie, it also has long cuffs with thumb holes and an angled neck zip to allow for some air circulation after you've warmed up on a cool day. Even my hubs, who rarely notices my clothing, commented on the "cool hoodie" I'd been wearing around. 

Puma Graphic Long Running Tights, $60 at puma.com

These are the perfect lightweight, transition tight as cooler fall temps settle in. Since I've spent the past 10 winters running in plain black tights, the grey background and abstract smattering of pink and blue and white shapes definitely put a spring in my step. One caveat: The waist is a little low, so if you like more coverage in your running tights, you might find yourself yanking these up from time to time.