Regina:
Layering is always good.
On top: t-shirt, sweatshirt and windbreaker/raincoat.
Below: I like convertible pants, ones from Sportif seem styled well and fairly light-weight (although a woman, I tend to wear men's pants), these are slacks that have zippers in the legs so that as it gets warm, they can be changed to shorts. (Make sure there is a hem (?) underneath the zipper so you don't get zipperburn on your legs over the long distances.)
Spare socks: Also I carry a spare pair of socks to change about half way.
Christina:
Shoes: Whatever you prefer. Pay attention to how the soles of your shoes wear of. Ask somebody else if you walk properly in them.
Wicking shirt: If you are serious about this sport buy one of those shirts that remove the sweat from your body and pass it on into the next layer of clothes.
Wear soft stuff, small and few stitches.
Dress in accordance to speed and weather conditions.
Don't walk around with a huge rucksack with rescue-material you will never need. Travel light.
Maureen:
Warm Climate Suggestions
Dress in layers and use Cool Max, polypropylene, etc. to the extent you can afford it.
I would wear bike shorts (Protection against chaffing) - with a longer shirt (covers the belly and buttocks), sleeveless or short sleeve over it - polypro or Cool Max most important on the shirt.
Packs: I would use and carry with me in a small waist pack - runners lube or body glide or vaseline as a last resort - if neither of the other products is available to lubricate the insides of my arms to keep them from chaffing.
Hat and sunglasses to protect from sun and heat.
Gloves: I would carry lightweight gloves (polypro if possible,some synthetic otherwise - Target has lots - look for sales 99 cents is a good sale price.
Jackets: A Tyvec or similar lightweight jacket rolled up in my fanny pack or if the race has a cool early morning start - I would wear them to begin and remove as necessary.
Most important - and if budget can afford only one wicking polypro item - I would make it socks.
Trials: You must try the whole outfit including fanny/waist pack out on long training walk or several long training walks before the actual marathon - to make sure nothing rubs or irritates in any way.
Bargains: By the way T.J. Max and Marshalls often have wicking - polypro or cool max etc- at less costly prices that the running/sporting goods stores. On clearance racks at Sports Authority, I have found polypro shirts for between $2.50 and $7.00 - but at the time I was dropping by there at least once a week and combing the clearance racks - mens and womens.
Shorts: If women's bike shorts are a problem - I did my first half marathon in Miami in 80 degree heat at 250lbs wearing men's extra large bike shorts. Since then I've lost 90lbs and graduated to a marathon - I'm in training for my second one now.
Cold Climate Suggestions
If doing a marathon in cold, the formula is the same layers - but long sleeves.
Lubricating not so crucial, although I still use runners lube around the rim of my sports bra and heart monitor band to avoid chaffing but not on arms since I'm in long sleeves.
Tops: I suggest a lightweight polarfeece shirt with long sleeves so you can tie around your waist when you heat up. I wore one in the NY Marathon in 1996 and it came in handy. These shirts however are usually expensive - look for sales and don't get one that's real bulky - too awkward and doesn't tie well and the cheaper ones are bulkier. If that's not in the budget I would get a second Cool Max shirt and wear it over the first one when cold - maybe a men's polypro undershirt in a good color - so it's bigger and fits over other clothes. Avoid cotton if at all possible.
Make sure you feel good about yourself in your marathon clothes. It important to feel good inside and out on Marathon Day.
Sybilla:
Outerwear: Start out with an old sweatshirt that is candidate for a rummage sale. When you warm up, just discard it.
Pockets: I just walk in shorts with pockets and a tee shirt. I find pockets and a fanny pack hold most of the junk I need.
Blisters: The double layer socks that I bought at the marathon are wonderful--they really do prevent blisters. And Compeed--a free sample was in one of the marathon packs one time--is wonderful for those blisters that do show up. It's a type of bandaid, and seems to be hard to find.
Next Page: More Advice from More Marathon Walkers
Related
What to Wear on Marathon Day
Training to Walk a Marathon
Fueling on Long Distance Walks
