My denim shorts (cut and rough edges), army boots and CFP (camouflage face paint). The perfect setup for Tabata sprints on the sidewalk, or as I like to call it "guerrilla cardio". I get the full package, quality, appearance, durability, and whatever might be encompassed by that "etc.".
I don't think it cost me anything, but a T-shirt I got for winning a race back in college (~1990) became my lucky race shirt/uniform that I wore in almost every race afterwards (across trail/cross country/orienteering/road) and won many races in. It's a distinctive, baby blue, stretchy (50/50?) T-shirt washed/worn thin and feels weightless. I always wore it inside out to hide the logo, tag hanging out the back. I've stopped racing, so I haven't worn it in years.
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Adidas Prime X. I use them for fast long runs and I’m able to do hard efforts and then feel good running the next day. I feel much less beat up with these shoes than anything else I’ve used, which is important in your 40s.
I got them discounted and would love to find something similar for cheaper price, but nothing has compared thus far.
I have the Invincible 3s and don’t love them. They feel like basketball shoes. Very dead and too much shoe. I will go through this pair, using them for recovery running (which I guess is the intended use) but I wouldn’t buy them again.
Garmin 220 from 2013, that watch has lasted me ten years without even changing the battery and replacing the wrist strap once. Not bad for $250.
New Balance Radiant Heat Jacket from 2019. It’s the perfect mix of warmth and weight without feeling like you’re running in a straight up down jacket and has gotten me through sub-zero temp runs. Plus the iridescent blue color matches up nicely with other colors.
Instagram followers and run ccg subscription. I hadn’t run the 800 since middle school for PE. After 3 months of training with CCG i PR’ed by 5 seconds!
I'm not sure if I would consider it my "best" purchse, but I bought an Adidas Terrex weatherproof jacket at an outlet a few years ago. Since I avoid treadmills at all costs, it's helped me avoid going hypothermic in some really horrible weather. Great for when it's in the 30s and pouring rain, and also an excellent outer layer when temps are close to zero with a strong wind.
My Garmin 255 has materially improved my training. As someone who is self-coached and mostly trains alone, the data from it has really improved my ability to regulate the intensity of my workouts, and, more importantly, the amount of recovery I need between workouts.