Well, fall is upon us here in Alaska. Sigh. . . .August isn’t even over, but that’s the way it goes.
I’ve already started to pull out my long sleeve running shirts and tights on occasion. Most of you are still probably running in summer temps, but you may be at least be ready to buy fall running clothes! Right?! Well, are my top fall picks, and I am also including the shoes I wore for my marathon (that I LOVED!), a brimmed hat for rainy weather, and the perfect jacket for rainy weather.
10 Must-Haves for Fall
lululemon Swiftly Long Sleeve
The lululemon Swiftly long sleeves are my most-worn long sleeves in the fall time. They aren’t too thick, do an amazing job of wicking moisture away, plus the sleeves are nice and long as well as the body-length. I have three of them, and they are the first ones I pull from my drawer after doing laundry. The shirt is designed to be more form-fitting, so if you want a looser fit, be sure to size up.
New Balance Rebel v2
These are the shoes I wore for my marathon this past weekend, and I LOVED them. I haven’t ventured to the carbon-fiber plated shoes yet (not sure I ever will), but these felt like a carbon-fiber plated shoe with their very soft but responsive cushioning and incredibly lightweight design. They can be used for faster training days as well as longer races, so if you are running a half marathon or marathon this fall, I’d highly recommend checking out the New Balance Rebel. (And do it quickly because they are selling out in certain sizes!)
Oiselle Flow Long Sleeve
Watch windows. . . .what more can I say?! I am always having to put my watch over my long sleeve shirt in the fall and winter in order to keep my wrist warm, but this Oiselle Flow Long Sleeve eliminates that problem. Both sleeves have a cut-out opening at the wrist, so your watch is visible with the shirt pulled down to your hand or even over your hand as it also has thumb-holes. I purchased this long sleeve last spring and got to wear it many times before summer came, and I am a big fan. It is definitely on the thinner/air-y side, but I really like that for transitioning from summer to fall.
lululemon Fast and Free Tights
I have yet to find anything that beats the lululemon Fast and Free Tights for running–an incredible fit, no slipping down when I run, and multiple pockets for stashing things. I really like these for the fall time because they are on the thinner side (but they do not compromise quality!), and they have a barely-there feel to them so you can still run fast without feeling restricted.
Nathan Handheld Bottle
If you are in half marathon or marathon training and need to carry water with you, I used this Nathan Handheld Bottle during my marathon and loved it! It is really lightweight, has a strap to wrap around your hand to hold it secure, and a small pocket for an energy gel. I also liked that you bite down on the nozzle to get water out rather than having to squirt water into your mouth.
lululemon Fast and Free Windbreaker
This lululemon Fast and Free Windbreaker fits like a dream, and is perfect for fall running with it’s windproof material. The material is stretchy and not restrictive when swinging your arms, which also means it won’t make that annoying ‘swishing’ noise. I have worn it multiple times in the spring time and during a couple of drizzly summer runs, and it performed so well. The price point is a little on the higher side, but I’m a firm believer in you get what you pay for.
Noxgear Tracer360 Lighted Vest
As fall approaches, the daylight disappears and pretty soon I will be back to running in the darkness for the next six months. I’ve had several different lighted gear items, but this Noxgear 360 Lighted Vest is the best I’ve found for being seen on all sides of you. It is incredibly lightweight, easy to use, and very comfortable to wear. (I completely forget I am wearing it.) I see it is on major sale right now, so I’d grab one soon!
New Balance Heat Grid Hoodie
The other two long sleeves I highlighted are on the thinner side and perfect for temps in the 40s/50s, but if you need something a little warmer, the New Balance Heat Grid Hoodie is perfect with its fleece lining on the inside. There are also mittens + a cuff to put over your hands to keep them warm–think of them as a built-in mitten! I have this shirt in an older style (no zippered pocket), and I have worn it more times than I can count.
lululemon Fast and Free Run Hat
Here in Alaska, many of our fall days are rainy, which results in no crunchy leaves. . . .how sad is that?! This means I am wearing a brimmed hat many of the days I am running. This lululemon Fast and Free Run Hat is my go-to hat for those days. It is lightweight, has really good sweat-wicking materials, and is a women’s fit, so it fits my head well.
Oiselle Reflective Vim Jacket
Once the temperatures dip into the 30s/low 40s, I start to pull out my lightweight jackets. The Oiselle Vim Jacket is one I’ve had for several years, and I love it. It is lightweight, helps to cut the wind just enough to keep me warm without overheating, and has reflective areas to be seen in the dark.
I did do an easy 20 minute shake-out run 4 days post-marathon this morning, and while I felt good and all of my soreness is gone, my legs were like, “okay, that’s enough,” by the end of that very short run. Ha! I’ve always said that it takes me about a month to recover after a marathon before I can go back to hitting tempo and interval splits again. I will continue to give my body time to absorb all this fitness, and I know it will benefit me down the road!
