Six Running Things I Love, Zero Sponsorships

Running buddy to running buddy, can I tell you about some of my favorite gear just because I can?

THERE’S NOTHING INHERENTLY WRONG WITH BRAND RELATIONSHIPS

Let me start by saying I am not slamming sponsorships, affiliate links, etc. in and of themselves. I use affiliate links at times myself, and have also made content in exchange for free product on occasion. However, I will tell you that even as a comparatively small creator, I get a lot of emails from brands suggesting we work together. And while the promise of free stuff can be tempting, I let most of them pass me by. If I haven’t used a product before, how can I be sure I can recommend it? Rather than wrestle with ethics, I prefer to skip every potential dilemma entirely.

Instead, I like to start off reviewing products completely unaffiliated. This is ultimately a boon to all reviews, sponsored or no. Firstly, it establishes a baseline – what do my reviews sound like? What do I value? What metrics do I tend to reference? Which products do I choose to assess and why?

Further, in those rare cases when I do review a sponsored product, I want you to know that the brand relationship is rooted in something real. Previously published reviews communicate that.

I would also encourage you to take a little scroll through my Instagram feed. Look at what I wear and use on my runs. You’ll see that I didn’t just review that Zelvot vest; it’s now a staple in my photos. I don’t simply shill for Constantly Varied Gear; I regularly run in their athletic wear. And I really do use the below products – the evidence is all over my feed. Well, maybe not the tea. You’ll have to trust me on that one. 😅

All of this to say: there are no sponsorships or affiliated links attached to any of the below products in this post. I am including them here because I find they work for me, and I think they might work for you too. So let’s start with

MY FAVORITE RUNNING GEL: UNTAPPED

I have tried any number of gels, chews, and real foods on the run, and my conclusion is this: I have trouble eating when running. Only a few miles in, I already feel like I’m choking it down, regardless of what “it” is.

Serendipitously, the sports nutrition company Untapped became the on-course energy gel sponsor of the Marine Corps Marathon. They offered a cheap sample pack, so I figured what the heck – might as well try to pick up what MCM’s gonna be putting down, you know?

And I’m glad I did, because here is what I love about Untapped energy gels: they perform like a solid or but go down like a liquid. I find it so much easier to slurp a syrup than deal with anything thicker or more textured. Don’t even mention chewing, I beg you!

Caveat: flavors are a mixed bag. The good news is I don’t think any are bad; rather, they’re subject to personal preference. Call me crazy, but I find the coffee flavor a bit too intense – although it is caffeinated if that’s something you’re into. Once I saw someone post to Instagram that they HATED salted citrus. It’s certainly a unique flavor, but I don’t mind it.

My end-all be-all flavor, however, is salted cinnamon spice. I LIVE for salted cinnamon spice. It tastes like a Pepperidge Farm gingerbread cookie in the best way. Alternate with some salted cocoa; that one’s solid too.

MY FAVORITE RUNNING SUNSCREEN: E.L.F. SUNTOUCHABLE INVISIBLE SUNSCREEN SPF 35

Finding a good sunscreen for your face is tricky under the best of circumstances. As a runner it can be a downright nightmare. Many sunscreens come in lotion form, which can mix with sweat and drip into your eyes on the trail. Find something with a workable consistency? There’s a good chance it won’t play nice with my acne-prone skin.

Thus I have searched for a holy grail sunscreen that WOULD stick to my face but WOULDN’T break me out. Impossible, you say? Tell that to the E.L.F. Suntouchable Invisible Sunscreen SPF 35!

You might be thinking: E.L.F. Suntouchable Invisible Sunscreen SPF 35? That’s quite a mouthful. Did you really need to type out all that?

I sure did, because you want this precise product, not their Suntouchable Whoa Glow SPF 30. The Whoa Glow does impart a lovely radiance, yes. Unfortunately, it is a runny lotion, and also it breaks me out. I’m using the rest of my bottle on my chest and when it runs out I won’t reorder.

The Invisible Sunscreen, on the other hand, is a silicone-base clear gel primer consistency that lays down a layer over top of the skin. It can’t necessarily save you from sweat, but it does not MIX with your sweat. No more sunscreen-sweat cocktail from hell dripping in your eyes! I absolutely swear by it and use it on all my race trips. I even bring a mini one to runDisney races so I can reapply when hanging out in the post-race area.

Now, obviously skin care is extremely personal. Not everyone reacts to the same product the same way. But if nothing on the ingredients list gives you pause, I urge you to give it a shot. Above all, don’t skip the sunscreen!

MY FAVORITE KINESIO TAPE & DUPE: KT TAPE & OK TAPE

KT Tape, I’m sure, needs no introduction. While it is hardly the only kinesio competitor on the market, it is easily the most ubiquitous. You can get it in just about any pharmacy nowadays. I’ve reviewed KT Tape products on several occasions, but as a rule I stick to KT Tape Pro.

Now, KT Tape isn’t expensive, as such, but neither is it cheap. You know what IS cheap? OK Tape, a kinesio tape dupe I’ve been using for years. I don’t claim it’s exactly the same; rather, I keep it on hand for specific purposes. For races or when an area needs support, I stick to KT Tape.

Yet there are times when I’m not sure I need the tape, in which case I wrestle with this question: should I waste a KT Tape strip on an application that might be unnecessary? It’s hard to know the answer. On the other hand, with OK Tape, I don’t bother to ask it. Why not slap some on, just in case? It costs like a third of the real stuff and works fine!

OK Tape is also great for anti-chafing and blister uses. Also doubles as fashion tape in a pinch!

MY FAVORITE RUNNING HAT: SPRINTS OG

Okay, okay, I’ll be the first to admit it: Sprints running hats are comparatively kind of expensive, clocking in close to forty bucks. I probably wouldn’t have even bought one if I hadn’t been at an out of town race expo. I decided I needed a hat; I did not have a hat; therefore I bought a hat. Specifically, a Sprints OG hat.

Turns out, I loooved that hat. So lightweight and comfortable! I literally wore it for ten hours straight, putting it on before I left for the 2024 Marine Corps Marathon and not taking it off until I got home. Barely even noticed it. The velcro closure makes the fit super adjustable. Plus there’s a sweatband built into the brim and they come in all sorts of cute colors and prints!

Bonus: the fabric is soft enough that you can scratch a scalp itch through it. At least the OG model is; I haven’t tried the others. Maybe one of these days? Anyway, I think Sprints hats are worth the money.

MY FAVORITE RUNNING SUNGLASSES: GOODR

Ooh, a runner who loves Goodr sunglasses. Groundbreaking. I mean, I think a lot of the pros speak for themselves. Goodr sunglasses are lightweight, bounce- and fog-resistant, reasonably affordable, and come in many colors, prints, and shapes. It’s no wonder they’re so common among the running set.

I do want to bring your attention to a couple cons, however, because while I do love Goodrs I don’t think every model is created equal. Some of that is not Goodr’s fault – not all frames fit all faces, and some do not fit me as well as I’d like. I highly recommend trying in person before you buy. Jump up and down. Run a few steps. Make sure they stay on to your liking during activity. I’ve been burned before.

(In case you think your face shape might be similar to mine, the Pop Gs, Glam Gs, Moon Gs, and Mach Gs work great for me! The Amp Gs are a little loose and the Astro Gs fall right off my face.)

Additionally, let’s talk about the mirrored lenses. In my experience, they scratch over time – even if you aren’t particularly hard on them. I know this because Pat and I both have the same pair of mirrored aviators. The mirroring on my pair is all scratched up. The mirroring on Pat’s pair is less scratched, but it’s still wearing off. Ditto for my yellow pair, which I haven’t used nearly as much.

I’m not sure what that’s about, but I plan to only buy non-mirrored lenses from here on in. At $40 a pair I want something that will last.

MY FAVORITE FOR EARLY BEDTIME: CELESTIAL SEASONINGS SLEEPYTIME MELATONIN TEA

I love sleeping! Unfortunately, I am extremely bad at falling asleep. Even on a normal night, my thoughts have a habit of chasing each other around my brain for what feels like eons. Before a long run? The pressure to fall asleep quickly is hardly helpful. Before a race? Forget about it. Doesn’t help that in many cases you’re going to bed as much as a couple hours before you would under normal circumstances.

I know people use all kinds of methods to knock themselves out quickly. My worry is that if I use anything too effective, I’ll sleep through my alarm. What I need is something only just strong enough to help me nod off – and Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Melatonin tea does the job.

Like any supplement, melatonin is going to affect everyone differently. For me, it’s not like a sleeping pill; it doesn’t put me to sleep. Rather it helps ease me toward sleepiness, making it easier to at least doze. That being said, I would suggest you try it a couple times before you drink it on the eve of something important. You wouldn’t want to – oh, I don’t know, just spitballing here – sleep through your alarm. 🤪

YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY

Get it? Mileage??? Thanks; I’ll be here all… ways because this is my blog. My opinions are inescapable around here and so are my jokes!

In between the jokes, though, I hope you found one or two things you’d like to try. I love them all with great sincerity. Whether or not you will love them is a separate question. If you try one, please let me know how it goes! And if you have any of your own running holy grails to share, please do spill the proverbial tea via the communication channel of your choice – comment, DM, carrier pigeon, etc.

Looking for more product reviews? Find them here.

Don’t forget, you can follow FRoA on Threads @fairestrunofall and on Instagram @fairestrunofall. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave a comment or email fairestrunofall@gmail.com. See ya real soon!