Fall Running Gear

The start of September is always exciting for me.  The leaves on the cottonwoods are starting to show signs of changing color, and some leaves are even dropping.  But the word “September” just has a magical ring to it that sounds deliciously inviting, lively, with a whisper of things to come.

 I’m still wearing shorts when I run in the morning, but no more tank tops for this runner girl.  It’s tech t-shirts or even a light long-sleeve now on my 6 AM runs.  The sky is just starting to pink up when I head out, and the temp is somewhere around 55-60 degrees (Fahrenheit, of course).  This is perfect running weather.

 All this cool weather makes me want to check out my gear and see if I need to replace anything from last year, or see what I need to add to my collection.  This is a short list of some of my favorites, currently in the “Lara” fall running collection.

 SmartWool hat and gloves -SmartWool is one of my favorite brands, hands down.  I own one “beanie” hat and one pair of winter gloves that are made of this amazing, wicking, WARM fabric.  The beauty of SmartWool is that no matter how much I sweat when I run, the fabric is soft, stays breathable and feels relatively dry on my skin.  Thus, a “Smart” wool fabric.  Here’s a little about their fabric from the website.  Also, I can’t help but LOVE the little SmartWool figure on all my stuff.  Kind of like having a friend along for the ride. 

 Go-Lite pullover- Go-Lite is a relatively new company in Boulder, CO that does cool things like adopting The Timberland Company’s Code of Conduct, practice innovation and sustainable technology, is a member of the Conservation Alliance, and is even releasing their first Corporate Social Responsibility Report at the end of this year (2009).  They have cool warehouse sales twice a year; during one of the sales a few years ago I got this mid-weight pullover.  It has a cool fleece lining that keeps me a little warm but not overheated on a long run.  It’s a staple in my closet and I could probably do with one more like it, so that I don’t have to run the wash as frequently.

 Things I look for in a piece of technical clothing; wickability, weight, and of course, a cool color.  I love a company that has a awesome corporate social responsibility and doesn’t over-package its products.  SmartWool and Go-Lite are two such companies, which is why I’ve been a happy repeat customer for many years.