New running related products I love

I’ve been trying out some new running related products lately and wanted to share the things I have really come to like!

I used to wear shoes with very little support, like these lovely sandals.

With flat feet plus an injury, my unsupportive shoes have been collecting dust since August. I wore my running shoes everywhere. Even around the house because my house shoes had no support either. I have found some great casual sandals that really support the arch of my foot by Spenco.

I ordered these on Zappos (love). They are kind of pricey for what are essentially flip-flops ($49), but they are really comfy and my foot feels well supported in them. I’ve been wearing these everywhere, and I feel that they help cut down on the recovery after a runs.

So I wondered if I should try the actual Spenco insoles since I liked the sandals so much. There are a lot of insoles out there. I read lots of reviews on the different Spenco types and decided on trying the Total Support Original.

I actually picked these up from Champs. And bonus, Champs offers a lifetime warranty. So if/when the insoles become worn out, they will replace them free of charge. You just have to hang onto the box and the receipt. No problem for this pack rat. I think the difference between these and the Dr. Scholl’s insoles they replaced is that Spenco’s are more flexible, better suited for an athlete’s foot. The ride is a lot more comfortable, yet my arch and heel are still well supported.

Lastly, I’m loving Click protein. This product has been around a while, but I’ve never really looked into it. I thought about it while taking a torturous luxurious ice bath after my last long run. I wanted some hot tea, but I knew I should take in some protein. I didn’t want to drink a cup of hot tea and then down a protein shake, yet I didn’t want to choose between hot tea and protein! Then I remembered this stuff. It combines protein with CAFFIENE! I have been all about my coffee lately. It’s very tasty, and filling. I have the mocha flavor. I’ve been mixing it in my shaker then pouring it over ice for an iced coffee-like drink treat! And I did not know this, but caffeine supposedly aids in athlete recovery.

So I mentioned I was able to get in a long run last week, 8 miles. It was definitely a better experience than the prior run, but still a lot of walking and a super slow pace (16:30 average). The race time limit is 3 hours 30 minutes (15:00 pace). Hmm, good luck to me trying to pull that off. Just over two weeks to race day!