Whether you’re heading on vacay or out for a run – packing is a skill not easily mastered. We asked seasoned runners who have gone the distance (like, every distance) for their ‘take-it or leave-it’ run gear.

10 things to bring on your run

1. house key
Two things that suck: being robbed and getting locked out. Bring your house key.

2. money (cash or credit)
Good for emergency fluids (or recovery drinks), transit (hey, there’s nothing wrong with running as far as you can one-way and bussing it back) or making a SOS call (contrary to popular belief payphones still exist).

3. identification
You should never go anywhere without ID and your run is no exception.

4. ipod (optional)
iPhone, iTouch, iShuffle, i-can’t-remember-the-latest-gadget – whatever your tech heart desires, tunes add a little extra spring in our step and that’s music to our ears.

5. spf lip balm
Lip balm (with SPF) not only soothes lips (which can dry out after long periods of heavy breathing) but also protects your kisser from the sun. Bonus: It can also double as emergency Bodyglide for those “sticky” situations.

6. bandaids
Good for unexpected chaffing emergencies and spontaneous blisters.

7. fuel belt filled with electrolytes
Hydration is key.

8. gels
Our running guru Tess recommends one for every 45 minutes (plus one extra for good measure).

9. some dry socks (those of you blessed with a sunny climate, skip to number 10). 
We’ve been caught in one too many rainstorms to head out on a 42K run without at least an extra pair of socks. Dry feet are happy feet and happy feet mean strong finishes. ps. we have the perfect pocket to store them in!

10. bodyglide
Keep things going smoothly with a little extra help from our dear friend Bodyglide. You’ve already got 30K on your mind, you don’t need to be worrying about chaffing too.

So much stuff and no place to store it?  Check out the Stuff Your Bra Tank. 

Dear Light Up Cycling Line,

I heart you big time. Here are the top 6 reasons why (that’s right, I couldn’t stop at 5):

reflective taping

1. It may be obvious, but the reflective taping on the back is awesome. On my white jersey, you can’t even see the taping until light hits it. The shorts have it right down the back, which is exactly where you need it the most for maximum visibility. This is such a great safety feature, especially in the summer, when it’s too hot to do a long ride in the middle of the day. You still need to feel like you’re wearing next to nothing in the warm evenings, but you have the reflectivity you need.

circle mesh

2. The Circle Mesh Back on the Jersey. The ENTIRE back (and a bit of the front) is circle mesh. It’s anti-stink, moisture wicking, and basically air-conditions the whole shirt. This is pretty rad because it makes this the most lightweight jersey I own, which also makes it my favourite.

back pockets

3. The Back Pockets. This jersey has two deep pockets in the back that fit EVERYTHING. I’m talking pump, spare tubes, sandwich (PB&J), gels, phone for emergencies, and there’s still room for more. The secret is the super stretchy circle mesh which can accommodate almost anything you’d want to put in there. The shorts have a secure back pocket, which is perfect for my ID and anything that I need to keep safe.

power luxtreme

4. Power Luxtreme. The shorts, and the front of the jersey are made of inherently wicking, lightweight power luxtreme. This is so key for hot summer days, as it keeps me drier than other materials, and feels amazing against my skin.

angled sleeves

5. Angled Sleeves. These are perhaps the sexiest sleeves I’ve seen on a bike jersey. They are shorter and angled, so that when I’m leaned forward on my road bike, I avoid the dreaded Farmer’s tan. Trivial, I know, but come on, it’s like the icing on the technical features cake.

Britt in the Light Up Jersey, avoiding Farmer's tan!

padding (aka the 'chamois')

6. The Chamois. It is so hard to find a cycling short with a chamois (pronounced "sham-ee") that doesn’t look like a diaper. This one is perfect because it’s discreet, but still makes my training rides super comfortable! Now I can chill post ride at my fave coffee shop or local pub and not feel self conscious.

you asked

Hi! I run for fun but have recently decided to enter a half marathon race (also for fun, just longer distance fun!). I have three months to train. Any suggestions on how to get to a half marathon from my current 20/25 miles a week? Jenny

a runner responds

Look at your race date, and write yourself out a schedule. I recommend picking up a copy of Jeff Galloway’s “Half Marathon: You Can Do it”. You will have to run a minimum of 3 days a week, one run being a long run. The other 2 or 3 runs should consist of shorter, more intense runs with a focus on speed and/or hills. Increase your long run distance by no more than 10% each week. Any more and you will put yourself at risk for injury. Three months is definitely enough time to train based on your current fitness level, but a smart and consistent program is critical for success.

Ainslie

you asked

My sister and I are both rowers but are looking into a triathlon in the fall (the Mermaid Tri in Santa Cruz). Any tips on triathlons for people who haven’t done one before? The race is in September so we’ve got lots of time to prep. - Libby

a runner responds

Libby,
Good for you and your sister! What a great way to test your mettle as athletes. Triathlons, while they may sound intimidating, are actually really fun and are a great goal for any fitness enthusiast. Here’s a simple yet effective training approach: practice each discipline at least once per week. If you have a particular weakness or are frightened by one of the triathlon legs (eg. swimming), practice that element an extra time per week, and seek extra help like a coach or even an experienced friend. On top of this, it is critical for you to practice “brick” workouts, where you do one discipline followed immediately by the other, eg. swim/bike, or bike/run. These brick workouts should be your longer workouts and you will be surprised how awful they feel the first few times around. This is why you should practice doing them!

As with any program geared towards a final race goal, your workouts, particularly your brick workouts, should be increased in duration by about 10% each week. For your shorter, single discipline workouts, let your focus be speed and form. A great book that I highly recommend for first timers is “Triathlon 101”, by John M. Mora. It gives specific workouts and programs, as well as sound nutrition advice.

My last suggestion is to get out into your community and join a local tri club! They will have scheduled club runs, rides, and swims for people of all levels in the group, and they can be a great way to gain more knowledge and experience in the tri world. Good luck to you both on your first tri!! Have a blast!

Ainslie

What are you putting in your pockets for marathon day?

you asked

Do you have any tips about training for a half marathon?
Should I bring my own energy gels? and how many should I take if I’m planning on finishing around 2h:30m? - Nadia

a runner responds

Nadia,
Find yourself a good half marathon program, like this one, http://www.marathonrookie.com/half-marathon-training.html.

Definitely bring your own gels if that’s what you like to eat during your runs. A simple formula which works for many runners is to consume one gel every half hour (taken with water). If you use this technique, that would require 4 gels. One tip that I also recommend is to also take in a gel 30-45 minutes prior to your race start. This would mean you should get to the race start with 5 gels in your pocket. Of course, this gel/30 min technique should be practiced during your long runs, as to ensure no surprises on race day. Good luck girl!

Ainslie

Ainslie is the first run expert featured in our Ask a Runner series. Check out her website to get to know her better: http://triplethreattraining.ca/

Upcoming run posts from Ainslie:

- What kind of shoes to wear – May 27
- How to stay motivated – May 28

Let me introduce you to function: the secret pocket. This multifunctional feature is more than meets the eye. In your secret pocket, you can store:

1. $5 for that post-workout soy latte
2. Your house key (which is no longer tied to your shoelace where it could potentially come off mid-run leaving you locked out and late for work!)
3. The scrap piece of paper with your new impossible-to-remember gym locker combo.
4. Gel packs for that Sunday long run (sigh, I also heart that the new Run Ultra Short II has not one but two hidden pockets to stash all my long run needs!)
5. The business card of that cute trainer at the gym.
6. When you forget the size of your fave Groove Pants (since you tore out the tear-out tag for an anti scratch, distraction-free practice) your size is secretly printed right inside!

7. When your sister tries to steal your crops and pawn them off as her own, you can coyly point to the name tag printed on the inside!
8. Tosca's awesome new ab routine from this month’s Oxygen mag folds neatly inside.
9. Doubles as a built-in iPod holder (no more tucking it in your bra!)

And the final reason why we heart hidden pockets… (insert drum roll here).

10. Cell phone carrier pocket for a handsfree (bounce free) security system during night runs.

What do you stash in your hidden pockets?

I was inspired to blog about the many conversations I keep overhearing between my boyfriend and his friends. I can’t even count how many times I’ve heard someone say “that’s lululemon?!” when talking about something Justin is wearing. Sometimes I have to bite my tongue, as I want to go off about how “we make more than black stretchy pants!” (though we are pretty good at that, too!).

After working for lululemon for almost two years now, my wardrobe is understandably about 80% luon. To many people’s surprise, my boyfriend’s closet is comparably stocked with lululemon, though you wouldn’t guess so at first glance.

I think the best thing about our men’s line is its versatility. Justin is no pro-athlete, but he is extremely active and our men’s product meets all of his needs.

I asked Justin what his favourite features of his lululemon pieces are, and have shared some images of these features in action below:

I. “Pockets! I love all of the pockets in my clothing… coin pockets are key so you don’t have to empty your pockets every time you’re active.”

II.“I like that I can throw on lululemon in the morning and know that I’m set for the rest of the day… no matter how it unfolds.”

III. “Durability. I need things that are easy to wash and can take some wear."

So guys, next time your girlfriend/wife is dragging you into your local store, rather than finding the closest reading material, take a wander through our men’s section – you may be surprised at what you find! Or check out our men’s section online: http://shop.lululemon.com/men/pl/c/700.html

How much do you really know about the lululemon clothing you love?

Look at the pictures below and try to identify which feature is shown! Answers, in order, are at the bottom of this post.

1. (Very top image) Emergency hair tie. Unruly hair? Use the zipper pull from your jacket. It doubles as a hair tie!

2. Silverescent. Look closely… this feature is the fabric! Silverescent uses X-static silver yarn to make the clothing smell like new after washing, no matter how hard you work out in it!

3. Groove pant waistband pocket. Check the waistband of your favorite pair of Groove pants for a pocket that is perfect for a cell phone, gym card, or key!

4. Hidden pocket on Women's Race Tech. Look at the inside of the back of your Race Tech top for a handy hidden pocket!

5. Removable cups. If you don’t need any extra help up top, you can remove the cups from any tank!

6. Headphone cord pull-through. Need a place to stow that iPod without the cords getting in the way? Pop your iPod in here and never get tangled again.

Want to learn more about our features and benefits? Check out our education section here: http://www.lululemon.com/education/info/features