The list 2018: CLOTHES

Hi y'all

December is almost here and that means party time and giftshopping for all kinds of gift related encounters this beautiful glittery icy cold and dark winter month has to offer. As you crawl under a blanket trying to figure out what to get that long distance female (oriented) runner on your list, don't fret..I'm here to help you out. I know I have done this before and I'll probably do one every year, just because new stuff keeps coming in every year and the latest and greatest should make it to this list. Unlike other years I will bring you this year's list in separate blog posts over the upcuming weeks. Expect me to feature: clothes, gear, gadgets, reads, (pre) race day food and recovery.

Here we go:

1. Let's start at the very beginning: underwear. Advice number one: do NOT shop bra's for a woman. And ladies learn this: shop your bra at a good store when your ladies are not average. Read between the lines here... in case you didn't get the hint yet: never shop for a bra online unless you have had that one before and you are sure it is still the right one for you. My all time favorite one that has never failed me? SCHOCK ABSORBER ULTIMATE RUN 
2. Bottoms: Never wear cotton. Rule number one in running: DO NOT EVER WEAR COTTON. It stays wet and wet means cold and cold is bad. So....wear the seamless, stretchy kind for running. You can get them in all sorts of shapes and nowadays you can get them for fairly good prices. The cheaper they get the less likely they are to keep your bottom dry. Why is that important? Because chafing...that's why. 
3. Socks: Trail (yes this is a joke!) and error. I have two kinds I keep getting back to. One is for winter and the other is for summer. The winter ones are made by Falke, they don't come cheap but they are really good. Keep your feet warm and dry. FALKE SOCKS. The summer kind are the cheapest ones I can get at Decathlon, my go-to store for many things when it comes to running. My summer socks are the KALENJI EKIDEN SOCKS 
4. Tights. Right...I am a Dutch tall girl with fluctuating ass size and very very very long legs. Buying tights for winter is bitch! They either are too big for my butt or end up somewhere midway on my calfs. So each year I try to get my hands on a good pair usually ending up with tights that are a little too short or a little too big. This year however I got really lucky and found just the right wintertights. They're long enough to confortably end up on the bottom of my anckles and exactly the right size for my butt.ROGELLI EXTRA LONG WINTER TIGHTS, than in spring and fall I usually buy a 3/4 tight at decathlon and for summer I wear short tights but not the boxer kind...mine are a bit longer because I don't like running around in underwear. If you're new to running or a muggle trying to figure out what to get your wizard/witch (aka runner) you might wonder what the difference is between winter tights and regular tights. It is the lining. Wintertights are lined usually with fleece to keep your legs from freezing off or your skin from getting a cold-burn....this is a thing!! Why anyone would run in long regular tights in temperatures around 10 celcius is beyond me. Just wear 3/4 thin tights and speed up. You'll get warm soon enough!
5. Tops: when it comes to tops and running in the Netherlands there's only one thing I can say: LAYER UP! Summer time is racer back top time, spring is t-shirt time, fall is racer back top and long sleeve time and winter? Top, long-sleeve, body warmer ..... what ever you do...make sure you can either ditch or add a layer. There's nothing worse than either burning up or freezing over. My favorites? 

• summer: this DOMYOS RACERBACK TOP
• Fall & Spring: any good tech t-shirt will do but since I am a proud member of hogwarts running club's Slytherin house... HRC SLYTHERIN HOUSE SHIRT
• Winter: Any good long sleeve shirt tech-shirt that doesn't creep up and just hangs anround my hips, has sleeves long enough to end up half way around my hands and doesn't constrict my movement in any way. Hooded ones I like the best since I can cover my head when I'm done running to keep my body heat up until I reach my after-run clothes. Sometimes you have to walk back to the starting point from the finish line. In cold winter conditions this can cool you down so much it will take for ever to warm up again.My best options are Mizuno and Nike.

When it comes to jackets and such: I hardly ever wear them during a run but I sure as hell have one either on me (around my waist) or waiting for me at the finish so I can put one on right after a run. Now I am seriously picky when it comes to jackets. In winter when I have to cycle or walk back home after a race or training I want a 3M jacket so I am very visible in the dark. And I want my jacket to breathe out but not in. You can actually test this. How? Suck air in through the fabric (from the inside part of the jacket) and blow it back out. If it is difficult to breath air in and easy to breath out than it's a good one. If there's a change to switch to comfy jogging pants that's what I'll do too. Actually the best advice ever is to get out of your sweaty run clothes ASAP and switch to dry comfortable clothing right after a run. More on this when I'll do the recovery list. 

For now dear shoppers, gifters, newbie runners and all of you that just read my first list....remember: Any runner loves run stuff. I have never met a runner that didn't need socks, a good top, tights or any of the items listed above. It is, however up to you to make sure you find out the right size and style.

ALSO....

All of it is my list and I'm a long distance runner with some weight fluctuations within healthy BMI range, in fairly good shape with a love for the girly stuff. Another good thing to tell y'all upfront is that I am NOT getting paid for this, I don't get samples to try out and I am not reviewing any product for any company. This list is just my ultimate list for CLOTHES. 

That's it for now, keep it unreal and make it happen

No limits, no regrets!

Until we read again, as always

Love, Marlies