5 Things I Take On Every Trail Run
Hoka One One Challengers as seen above Sedona, Arizona
Hoka One Ones – These are my current trail running shoes and I am obsessed. I have the Hoka Challengers and swear by them. They give my ankles support, I can navigate technical trails and the grip keeps me feeling stable. I’ve put roughly 350 miles on them so far and they haven’t broken down yet. For me this is a huge win since my previous pair – Altra lone peaks with the zero drop, broke down so fast my head spun around. I know this was said to be because they are vegan, but logically, when you’re logging a lot of miles per month and are wanting to be smart with your savings, you don’t want a pair that are going to break down every 2-3 months – those $140-$180 add up fast!
Girl wearing Nathan Sports Firebreak 7L pack
2. Nathan Sports Pack – Getting a running pack was the best investment (besides my shoes) that I have made. I used to run with my smallish day pack and got by, but once I upped my game and got a pack designed for trail running, I was MUCH happier. Getting a trail running pack means you’re carrying less weight, your bladder fits perfectly along with additional storage space for layers, gloves, flashlight, book…whatever you think you need when you hit the trails. You have small spots for trekking poles, pockets on pockets for hydration sources and fuel (along with car keys!) Having all of these things at your fingertips right at the front of your packet on your chest is a big plus that I didn’t have with a day pack.
Squirrel’s Nut Butter salve for chafing
image credit: trailmag.co.za
do you have thunder thighs like me? Meet your new best friend. SNB will SAVE your body from chafing. I use their vegan product on my inner thighs and the undersides of my *left arm, yes, just the left, because chafing is weird like that. Their vegan blend is candelilla wax based instead of beeswax based, but they offer that as well. This doesn’t get gross after a few miles, has a nice scent and so far, I’ve only had to apply once or twice even during marathon runs! Just remember, this stuff does get melty when it’s super hot out, so try to keep it out of the sun especially if you’re bringing it with you in your pack or it make leak!
4. Spring Energy Gels –
There are so many fueling options for the trail and I’ve honestly tried…most of them. From Gu gels to bloks and baby food packets, trail mix and protein bars – they all have their time and place. Not that long ago I started seeing Spring Energy all over people’s social media. People were raving about the quality; how natural they taste and how great the ingredient lists are…. I caved and made my first order. Well, now I get it. These gels don’t taste chemical-y, they give me great energy boosts without a crash, and I have yet to “bonk” while using them.
Girl using Spring Energy recover gel
5. Buff – if you haven’t gotten a buff yet let this be the sign that today is the day! Buffs are the best because they are SO versatile. I use mine when it is extremely hot to block sweat or protect my face and during cold weather to block wind chill and cover my ears and nose when it gets chilly. I pretty much always have one on me and don’t know what I did before I invested in one of these guys.
Two trail runners after trail race
Two trail runners after completing Aravaipa Running’s December trail race: McDowell Mountain Frenzy at the McDowell Mountain Regional park
Honorable mentions: headlamp because you never know where adventures will take you and you should always be prepared! Hydration tablets because electrolytes will be your bestie, especially here in the desert. Some kind of GPS tracking (strava's Beacon feature, watches like Garmin and Suunto, AllTrails Pro, RouteScout, etc) because getting lost once you’ve been hauling your body around is not ideal!