Marathon Training

At first glance, marathon training clothing may seem like a pretty simple task. After all, all you really need to complete a marathon and succeed is a decent pair of shoes, right? Not exactly. As many seasoned marathoners could tell you, wearing the wrong marathon training clothing can make or break your long runs and races. You need to plan for the weather in your area, and depending on what the weather conditions are going to be like, there is certain marathon training clothing you will need to be able to stay comfortable while running in order to do your very best. Marathoning is mostly in the mind, contrary to what you may believe. Yes, your body needs to be in shape, but it is also mostly a mental game, a challenge to yourself to keep going. If you are suffering from some kind of distraction like a shirt that is too stifling hot or a pair of shorts that are chafing your skin, then there is no doubt but that your performance will suffer and it may mean the difference between successfully completing the marathon or not for some people.

One of the most important characteristics you can buy for marathon training clothing is clothing that is made for running, that breathes, and that wicks away moisture. You do not want to run in anything made out of cotton. So that means that synthetic materials are your friends. But you also want what you wear to breath. That rain jacket may have looked like a good idea from your apartment, but once you get out on the trails you will realize that you are trapped in a rubber suit that is making you sweat buckets. Ideally, running gear should be able to breathe when you are sweating, but yet block out the wind and keep you dry even when it is cold and you are wet. This is why cotton is such a no-no: it will stay wet and it will keep you wet. It will chafe at your skin and it will make you colder if it is next to your skin and it is a cold winter day. It will also weigh you down, because the clothing gets wet and then the moisture just stays there.