It’s the start of a new year — and runners are being flooded with ads for expensive shoes, supplements, and “must-have” gear.
In this episode, Coaches Chris and Maya cut through the noise and perform a true runner gear audit: what actually improves performance and recovery, and what most runners can safely skip.
We break down the Core Four essentials that matter for half marathon training:
We also cover what’s mostly hype, including fat burners, BCAAs, and carbon-plated shoes for beginners — and explain why simplicity beats overbuying.
🎯 Runner Tip of the Week: Never race in brand-new shoes. Use the 2-week break-in rule to stay injury-free.
🔗 Resources & Coach Picks:
We’ve put our exact recommendations in one place so you don’t have to guess:
This episode builds on earlier conversations about magnesium, fueling, and recovery — perfect for runners starting the year focused on training smarter.
This has been a production of the Half Marathon Training Plan Podcast. Visit us at HalfMarathonTrainingPlan.com for in-depth articles, training tools, and gear recommendations.
Train Smart. Run Strong. Finish Proud.