Race Day Ready! The Marathon Training Essentials One Vogue Editor Swears By

On long weekend runs, I found myself reaching for fitted tank tops in lieu of T-shirts, which I felt were quite distracting (and in the summer heat, rather clingy and not as sweat-wicking). I like this one a lot, as it layers well over a sports bra, but can be also be on its own for recovery and stretch classes.

I’m not much of a bike shorts person, but I discovered these over the summer and wore them consistently. The waist isn’t too high or low; the legs don’t ride up a ton while you’re moving, and the dark fabric is relatively forgiving in the heat. I have them in black as well.

Lightweight yet super cushioned, the 1080s are a classic. I just got to try the latest model, the v14, and have been loving it. It’s super supportive—I ran 10 miles in them last weekend. A few runs in, I can already feel the shoe molding to my foot shape.

When I ran 16 miles with Karla Martinez, head of content of Vogue Mexico and Latin America, who also running the NYC Marathon this year, I noticed she had this very ergonomic-looking water bottle strapped to the top of her hand. Intrigued, I bought a similar one before my own 20-mile run. This exact one came recommended to me by my coworker and Vogue Shopping senior market editor Madeline Fass, whose boyfriend is also training for the marathon. I wanted something handheld instead of a waist belt or vest pack as it feels a little more innocuous, and the vessel itself conforms to the amount of liquid inside. Better still, the zip pocket has room for gel packs and/or energy chews.

What hasn’t been said about the Lululemon Align leggings? Not everyone enjoys running in these as they’re not compressive and lack pockets, but since I seek neither of those features from my leggings, these are it for me.

A fleece-lined layer for chillier days when a jacket is too warm but a T-shirt won’t protect against the wind. I have an older version of this quarter-zip in red.

Falling bra straps can throw me off my pace, which is why I prefer bra styles with a criss-cross back versus a more traditional bra fit. This high-performance style from On is no-fuss in the best way.

I couldn’t get into those ultra-thin waist belts, but I like this mini version of Lululemon’s Everywhere bag. It fits just enough—and Karla has one, too!

A simple black short with a small zippered back pocket for when all I need is to stash my keys and nothing else.

My absolute favorite workout shirt. So soft and roomy, I sometimes sleep in it, too.

I don’t think I’ll be needing this on race day, but I already know this will be the most hardworking layer in my run kit this fall and winter; so far it’s saved me from an August downpour. It doesn’t have a super close fit, which makes it ideal for layering, but I don’t really need to wear much underneath—it builds and retains heat optimally. (The pit zips, not exactly sexy-sounding but honestly my favorite feature, no doubt help with that.) And it’s impressively windproof.

Weather-dependent on race day, I might consider this top as my primary layer; I already know this will be go-to underneath the Arc’Teryx shell on super cold days. It’s lightweight, sweat-wicking, and temperature-regulating—I wore it in grey all last winter.

Another long-standing favorite, the Cloudmonster’s are in my current daily rotation—they have nice cushioning and a solid rebound. The color schemes are also 10/10.

Just some everyday running socks—no blisters, no complaints.

I was never big on tracking my runs before this, but I really wanted to know my pace and log my miles to make sure I was keeping up with my training schedule. My boyfriend wears a Garmin, and he’s kindly been letting me borrow his for the last few months. (Ah, the sacrifices we make for love!)

The first question I asked people when I started training was: Which energy chews or gels do you like? New Balance coach, Mark Coogan, told a group of editors in a virtual session that food intake on the day of the marathon is all very personal, so I’ve been experimenting to avoid any big-day surprises. Perhaps because I am not used to consuming calories in gel form, I found the Honey Stinger energy chews to sit best with me. They give a nice boost without a sudden crash, and I pace myself by only eating half a bag every 6 to 9 miles—if I feel like I need to that day.

These will be my race day shoes! I haven’t worn them yet but I’ll be breaking them in these last two weeks before the race. They have a thin carbon fiber plate which is supposed to help with energy return, i.e. make you run faster.

Another Karla Martinez recommendation! I picked up these Feetures socks from my local run shop in two styles—one ultra light and another slightly cushioned (the “Elite”) for my final miles and race day.

I like to roll out tired feet and calves on these recovery balls, which have different ridges and come in three sizes to target different muscles and pressure points.

When I don’t have time for a studio class, I’ll do a shorter yoga or stretch session at home. I’ve been using my Alo mat for years.

I’ve been borrowing my boyfriend’s Goodr’s on sunnier runs, but I’ve been eyeing these sunglasses from District Vision as I’ve heard great things. Very sleek—and probably worth it, if like me, you don’t enjoy running in hats.

I wish I was better at foam rolling, as it’s meant to “help activate muscles before a workout and promote muscle recovery after physical activity”; key to preventing injuries (a few of which I have unfortunately sustained and been working through.)

Nutritionist and founder of JSHealth Vitamins told Vogue previously that magnesium “is a wonderful way to prepare the body for rest and the regeneration processes that take place at night.” I’ve taken magnesium in various forms—powder, capsules, gels over the last few years—but find this concentrated version to work best for me. I’ll add it to water and have it the night after a long run, and will feel far less sore the next morning than when I don’t.

I drink electrolytes sparingly, but these were very helpful in the summer to prevent dehydration when I was running in 90 degree-weather. I get picky about flavor but like the “tri-berry” most as it tastes the least artificial to me.