Unveiling the 2026 Marathon Awards No One Saw Coming—An Insider’s NYC Running Scoop That Will Change How You See the Race

I ran my favorite half marathon to date (the Lululemon SeaWheeze half) in this tank—so I’m a little sentimental. But still: it has the classic soft and breathable material I love Lululemon for, it’s super comfortable and lightweight over long distances, and comes in bright colors that will get you spotted on the course. I’m very much considering ironing my name onto the one I have and wearing it on race day.

I trained during the summer months in New York City, so a lightweight top was critical. This one from Salomon kept me comfortable throughout training (and also has a really cool, elevated look). I cannot stress enough just how lightweight, breathable, and quick-drying this fabric is. Truly a gem of a find!

Now that the weather is cooling down, this top from Rhone is my favorite for an early fall day. The material is soft and breathable, making it a perfect transition layer. And, I think the crop and mesh design make it cuter than other running long sleeves.

I would say the biggest thing I didn’t nail down last year was a running vest, so I’m excited to share that I’ve got one that I loved this time around. The big problem with last year’s (unnamed) vest is that the water bottles were always popping out. They stay put in this one from Hoka, which also feels lightweight and easily stores everything I need to bring with me. The closures are easy to work, it feels really secure and comfortable across long distances, and I like the pop the purple gives my usually all-black running outfit.

When all my laundry is clean, these are the first pair of shorts I grab above every other option. The main reason: I want to be comfortable on a run, and these are the most comfortable shorts I have by far. They don’t ride up, provide compression—but not too much compression—and have a softer feel. They have two pockets along the back (one zippered, where I keep my keys) and a mesh one (where I throw my empty gels), plus one on the right thigh (where I keep my phone).

This pair from Bandit also hits all the important notes in running shorts: they don’t ride up, offer compression, and are comfortable even on double-digit mile runs. These shorts also have extra grippy material inside to help them stay put and have pockets on both thighs and two along the back center, which is helpful if you have more things to carry with you on a run. (Come race day, when I don’t plan to wear a vest because I won’t need to carry my own water supply, I’m going to be happy to have an extra pocket to hold my gels!)

Lululemon’s low-impact Flow Y bra got an upgrade to be more supportive for higher-impact activities. The racerback bra has a mesh panel along the back too, making it more breathable on hot days. While training through the summer, I mostly end up running in just a sports bra, and this one also has a fun pattern to show off.

It’s very hard to successfully cross a finish line without the help of a training program. This year, I worked with Kelly Roberts, an RRCA-certified run coach and creator of the Badass Lady Gang. It’s a run community, and now, an app where you can get customized training programs, connect with Kelly and other runners, and utilize strength training, fueling, mindset, and recovery resources. It’s the most thorough platform I’ve ever seen, and Kelly was there to help me navigate the highs (5 and 10K PRs when I wasn’t even trying) and lows (strep throat) that popped up during training.

Bose just dropped these earbuds and I’ve been obsessed ever since I got my hands on them. They stay secure on your ears and have that open ear feature so you can still hear everything around you. But, since they’re Bose, the sound also feels more high quality than other options, and they’re slightly louder for moments when you really need to pump those tunes.

I love these sunglasses from Warby Parker Sport. They’re lightweight, but still feel like a solid, nice pair of sunglasses, and their look feels a little more elevated than some of the aggressively big and bold sunglasses that runners have to choose from. They also stay on my face, rain, shine, or sweat.

Not to be dramatic, but these hair ties from Goody changed my life. Last year, I watched a bunch of tutorials of how different influencers styled their hair for a race and purchased different products that would hopefully help tame my flyaways and often-drooping ponytail to no avail. It turns out, all I needed were these hair ties. They’re thicker and stronger than the regular old ones I’ve been wearing since I was a kid, and seem impossible to break. I can run for miles now and my hair doesn’t budge. I don’t know what kind of magic is in these things, but I’m grateful.

I don’t love the way most sunscreens sit on my skin, but obviously, some SPF is important when you’re spending that much time in the sun. I actually like this sunscreen from Summer Fridays—it melts into my skin, keeps me covered, and doesn’t get into my eyes when I’m on a run.

If you’re acne-prone like me, all that running and sweating that comes with marathon training could do a number on your skin. This year, I got in the habit of immediately rinsing my face with water once I got back to my apartment and then spraying it with Tower 28’s SOS spray for good measure. So far, no major breakouts to report.