Gear Up For The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon

You may think that new pair of pricey-yet-stylish running shoes is enough to carry you over the finish line for the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon May 21, but Bill Dieter, who owns Second Sole running store in Lakewood, says there are more necessities for a great run. Hit your stride by sporting this type of gear.



Apparel: Don’t be that person wearing one of your many heavy cotton 5K shirts to the marathon. Something made of polyester will wick away sweat and allow air in to cool you down, Dieter says. Try the Nike Hypercool Tank ($45 women, $40 men). “That’s going to help regulate your body temperate by getting the moisture off and not having it stick to you,” Dieter says, “which can help with endurance.”



Hydration: Water does a body good on race day. But the 18 interspersed hydration stations at the marathon may not be enough, so take a couple bottles of your own H2O along for the ride with the UltrAspire 2.0 Race Vest ($69.95). The lightweight vest has pockets to hold two emergency bottles of water. “You may need extra,” Dieter says. “You can drink whenever you want.”



Socks: Those old Fruit of the Loom cotton socks in your underwear drawer aren’t going to cut it. Cotton holds moisture and causes blisters, Dieter says, so spring for something like Feetures Elite Max Cushion socks ($15.99), which are made of polyester and feature a compression zone in the arch for a secure fit. “They provide cushion,” he says. “And they’re not going to move around on your foot.”