GEAR UP!

I suppose the first thing I'll mention is what gear I'm currently using.

Starting from the top of my head, I am wearing the Columbia "Thermarator" hat with Omni Heat. I purchased this hat on a trip to South Bend last winter to watch Notre Dame play BYU. The inside is reflective and is reminiscent of a baked potato. I've rocked this hat all winter (and spring because you know...NY is cold) and it's great. It keeps my ears and head warm. As a bonus it's a snug fit giving me added confidence in my earbuds staying in. You can see me sporting it in my "about me" picture...*Note: Review of the Moose Hat Courtney is wearing to follow*

Lets talk about those earbuds...For years all I wore were over the ear full headphones. Until Yurbuds changed my life. On a whim I purchased a pair of "Yurbuds Inspire" in an airport on my way to a conference in Las Vegas last spring. The rubbery material grips the inside of my ear and hardly ever budges. The sound quality is good not great. I own two pairs now.

I'm not sure if it's a big guy thing but I wear a compression or fitted base layer under my tech wick t-shirts. Nike Pro Combat is my base of choice right now. They're snug but not constricting. I rotate a few tech shirts. My favorite are the Under Armor Catalyst heat gear loose. I purchased two from my alma mater SUNY Potsdam (one black and one maroon GO BEARS!). I also have added in a Captain America Under Armor Alter Ego shirt as motivation for the Disney Avengers Half Marathon next November. If anyone has any washing tip for wicking material please share. The come out of the wash clean but seem to lose their freshness early on during a workout. 

Under Armor socks and Under Armor under...wear...complete my base layer. I typically wear a pair of nike loose fitting shorts as the short shorts look is only acceptable on smaller runners than myself. I recommend not making the mistake I just made googling "men short running shorts"...yikes.

 

Finally, my favorite new piece of gear are my Brooks Transcend running shoes. This fall and winter I have been battling several injuries. Mostly, the issues have been with my feet. I was diagnosed with posterior tibial tendinitis, which has since subsided. The latest has been aches and pains in the opposite foot. I have tried a variety of inserts and shoes with mild success until the Transcend entered my life. The Transcend are very soft and plush, giving a 200lb plus guy like myself added cushion. My only complaint are the colors offered. I purchased the white and blue since my only other option was an orangey, salmonish, pink? The white is growing on me though. I'll keep you updated on how they react to my training. 

Right out of the box the silicone red and black case seems like it's too big for the iphone 5, but the phone fits nicely. The phone can be taken in and out with ease compared to other cases I've tried. There is a red honeycomb layer that appears to add more support to the back side of the phone. The corners are also loaded up with more silicon to protect the device if dropped. It almost feels as if it would bounce if dropped. There is no screen protection which makes the phone easier to take in and out, but worries me if dropped face down.

The handle on the back does help me grip the case while running. Although I thought my hand would slide farther behind the case to cradle it my palm. Instead it lands right between my knuckles and first finger joints. The volume buttons on the side of the phone were easy enough to use while in the case. However, due to the additional padding on the top the power button was a little tricky to find.

All things considered, it is one of the nicer running specific cases I have used. It's so unobtrusive that I'll probably leave it on my phone even when I'm not running. Just like their headphones Yurbuds delivers again with another nice running accessory.