5 Must Haves: Kristi Peacock

Kristi Peacock
5 Must Haves... for a Rockin' Road Warrior

(or a weekend jogger!)

Meet Kristi. Not only is she gorgeous, a total sweetheart and a serious fashionista, she's also an inspiration! This chick runs marathons like it's nobody's business. She's been running long distances competitively for less than four years, getting totally hooked after her first 5K in December 2007.

In 2008 Kristi ran her first marathon in Washington D.C. for the Marine Corps. Marathon, and will be running it again on Halloween; her fourth marathon! She's also run four half-marathons; more 5Ks, 10Ks and 10-milers than she can count and ran her personal best of 3:34:07 at the 26.2 in Jacksonville to qualify for the Boston Marathon, which she'll be running in April 2011.

As you can tell, this gal knows what's up when it comes to running so we've recruited her to dole out some advice to the new and novice. She's currently on the board of the Palm Beach Roadrunners, and is a run club coordinator at Lululemon Athletica in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.


Here, Kristi tells you in her own words, her five must-haves:

Good running shoes
No matter how far you’re going, from beginners starting at one mile to ultramarathoners trekking 100, good, fitted running shoes should be at the top of your list. There is not one shoe that is best for everyone, so visit a local running store to have them fit you based on the mechanics of your foot…whether you have a high arch, overpronate, etc. In Palm Beach County, Fla., Run & Roll at CityPlace, Fit2Run in Wellington or Running Sports in Juno Beach are all fantastic, and help by watching you stand and stride around the store or on a treadmill (a little embarrassing, but totally worth it!). I have extremely flat feet, so I swear by the supportive Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10…doesn’t hurt that in this latest version, Brooks finally made them good-looking too!

Tip: Bring an old pair of running shoes with you so they can analyze the wear and tear, and purchase shoes a size to a size-and-a-half bigger than normal since your feet swell when running.

Hydration: Coconut water

Proper hydration is key to any sport, especially when running. Like running shoes, there is not one rule for everyone, so it’s best to test what product or amount works for you. That being said, I practically live off of coconut water to fuel my runs. I prefer it to Gatorade because it is an all-natural, low-acidic, low sugar way to consume electrolytes, and it’s packed with more potassium than a banana and most sport drinks, preventing cramping and aiding recovery. It can of course be found inside a coconut, but for a quicker and easier fix, stop at Whole Foods or Publix, for a carton of 100 percent coconut water like O.N.E. or Naked. Flavored options are available too, but they sometimes contain artificial juices or preservatives. Need even more hydration for longer runs? I like Crank’s e-Gels and Succeed electrolyte capsules.

Lululemon Athletica apparel

Ever since I put on a pair of shorts from Lululemon, I’ve hardly been able to convince myself wear anything else when running. Not only are the clothes innovative from a fashion sense with the bright colors, plaids and stylish cuts, but they seem to be ahead of the game in the technology behind the design as well. The yoga-inspired tops and shorts are made from soft, breathable and quick-drying materials that reduce chafing and aid in comfort. Recent pick: I had been long opposed to anything skirt-like when it comes to running…just doesn’t seem to fit with the sport…but I recently got talked into trying one of the brand’s running skirts and I think I’m hooked. With light shorts underneath that have gripper elastic to keep them from riding up, plus pockets and air vents, this was probably the most comfortable bottom I’ve ever worn on a 22-mile run. I’m even considering wearing it for a marathon in D.C.!

Tiger Tail or The Stick

As most runners can tell you, with the excitement and adrenaline of the sport comes a lot of nagging injuries. From IT band pain and sore calf muscles to tight quads and overused back muscles, sometimes stretching and icing isn’t enough. The Stick or Tiger Tail rolling muscle massagers look like specialized rolling pins and can work wonders to prevent or assist healing for all of these things. I especially like to use it the night before my long training runs and races, and have seen a big difference since I started.
TAGG tip: Search on Amazon for these products; there's different options based on your needs. And, even if you're not a serious runner we see these as hugely beneficial for anyone with tight muscles!

Running buddy

I’ve been running all my life, but treadmills and long routes around town were just too boring for me when went beyond 13 miles and started training for my first marathon. My training completely changed for the better once I found a few running buddies and joined a running group. I prefer talking to music, so the conversations kept me going for miles, and you can’t deny that safety in numbers is always better, especially if someone needs help. If you don’t already have a buddy to tag along, check out a local running groups in town with friendly beginner groups to more advanced runs.
My choices: Palm Beach Roadrunners is one of the largest in the area with group runs at different lengths during the week, and Run & Roll at CityPlace and Lululemon at The Gardens Mall also offer runs from the store. Palm Beach Marathon Training is a good place to start if you want to make a few friends and get a training plan at the same time.

Happy running!