As part of Living360’s partnership with Crohn’s & Colitis UK, acting deputy editor Evelyn Richards shares the running kit, fuel and recovery essentials she relied on during the Edinburgh Marathon.
Marathon training turned me into someone with unexpectedly strong opinions about socks and anti-chafe balm.
As I prepared for my first marathon, I realised that long-distance running is really just a series of negotiations with your body. How do you stop chafing? Which gels can you stomach after 25km? And which products genuinely help your legs feel slightly less destroyed the next day?
After months of testing products through freezing early-morning jogs, rainy long runs and increasingly tired legs, here’s what I relied on during race day.
Read more: Best marathons in the UK, Europe and beyond for the ultimate running holiday
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Top: Mileoff The Cropped Run Tank Top
A good running top is wildly underrated. Mileoff’s cropped tank was lightweight, sweat-wicking and genuinely comfortable over long distances, but the standout feature was the side pockets. They were perfectly placed for gels or essentials during longer runs and somehow still managed to look sleek rather than bulky.
I wore the International Women’s Day limited-edition version, which came in a beautiful blue and green colourway that still looked surprisingly good after being drenched in sweat.
Shorts: 262 Women’s Pocket Tights
For a while, I genuinely thought I’d never find comfortable running shorts. However, these cycling shorts from 262 somehow managed to fit properly, stay put and hold an alarming amount of fuel without bouncing. I wore them on race day and didn’t have to adjust them once — which, honestly, felt revolutionary.
The pocket system was excellent too, with enough space for gels, keys and even a phone.
Sports bra: Gymshark High Support Ruched Sports Bra
As a slightly larger-busted runner, I’ve experienced more than enough sports bra disasters over the years: chafing, pain and unflattering jiggling.
I was sceptical about Gymshark’s running bras, but this option surprised me. It kept everything secure while still feeling comfortable enough for longer runs.
I liked it so much that I bought it in every colour.
Read more: The surprising ways your sports bra could be hurting your workouts
Trainers: Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB
These trainers are called PB for a reason. This carbon-plated beast was built for speed, with a PEBA midsole that gave a ridiculous amount of energy return. Translation: my legs felt fresher for longer, and faster sessions felt slightly less soul-destroying.
This is now my third pair, which probably says everything.
Read more: The 8 best running shoes to help crush your PB
Socks: Balega Blister Resist Quarter Running Socks
Socks are hands down the most overlooked part of marathon kit.
I switched to Balega earlier this year after struggling with blisters on my arches and haven’t looked back since. The cushioning is excellent, and they completely changed how comfortable longer runs felt.
£17 sounds absurd for socks — until you’re 25km into a run without a single blister.
Sunglasses: Oakley Meta Vanguard
I didn’t fully appreciate how useful sunglasses would be until race day itself. With long stretches of exposed heat and very little shade during the Edinburgh Marathon, having proper eye protection made a noticeable difference.
The Oakley Meta Vanguards combined performance sunglasses with built-in audio and AI functionality, which felt surprisingly useful during training runs. They sat securely throughout longer distances, didn’t bounce and helped make solo runs feel slightly more enjoyable.
One of the standout features is that you can also take hands-free photos and videos directly through the glasses, which made capturing moments during training runs feel far more seamless than constantly reaching for a phone.
Most importantly, they survived being drenched in sweat.
Anti-chafe balm: Body Glide For Her
One thing marathon training teaches you very quickly is that literally anything can chafe.
Body Glide became one of those products I panicked about forgetting before a long run. It created an invisible barrier on areas prone to friction — thighs, sports bra lines, underarms — without feeling sticky or greasy.
It’s not glamorous, but it may genuinely have been one of the most important products here.
Fitness tracker: Garmin Vivoactive 6
I previously tested Garmin against Apple Watch and, for runners, Garmin wins comfortably.
The difference wasn’t just in what it tracked, but how useful the information felt. Recovery insights, training readiness and detailed running metrics became increasingly valuable once marathon training started taking over my life.
At a certain point, you stop wanting vague wellness data and start wanting answers.
Earbuds: Beats Powerbeats Fit
A good playlist can rescue a terrible run. The Powerbeats stayed firmly in place throughout runs and gym sessions, while the sound quality was genuinely excellent — rich bass, clear vocals and enough battery life to survive even the longest training sessions.
They also let you switch between noise cancelling and transparency mode, which was particularly useful for outdoor runs.
Running gel: GU Energy Gel
Marathon gels are one of those things you don’t fully appreciate until you’re trying to force one down at 28km.
GU became my go-to mainly because the flavours were genuinely tolerable — something that becomes increasingly important once you’re taking multiple gels over several hours.
Salted caramel, birthday cake and vanilla bean were my favourites, and I liked that there were both caffeinated and non-caffeinated options depending on what I needed.
Each gel contained 100 calories and 22g of carbs, giving a noticeable energy boost when fatigue started to hit.
Read more: ‘I tested the bestselling energy gels — this is the one I’m going to use on my marathon’
Electrolytes: Punchy Daily Hydration Reset
Electrolytes were one of the biggest gamechangers during training.
Punchy’s Tropical flavour tasted refreshing rather than aggressively salty or artificially sweet, and I noticed a real difference in how hydrated and alert I felt after drinking it before harder sessions.
It was less of a jittery energy boost and more of a hydrated clarity — exactly what I wanted before longer runs.
Read more: “I’ve tested loads of electrolytes while marathon training — these are the best 6”
Pre-race caffeination: Red Bull Energy Drink
My race started early, so I wanted something simple that woke me up without feeling too heavy. A 250ml can of Red Bull contains 80mg of caffeine, which can help with alertness and concentration.
It also contains around 27g of carbohydrates, mainly in the form of sugars. During longer efforts like a marathon, having enough glycogen stored can help maintain pace and delay fatigue.
That’s why runners often increase carbohydrate intake in the days before a marathon and make sure they’re topped up again on race morning.
Recovery slides: Oofos Ooahh Slide Sandal
After long runs, the last thing I wanted to do was walk around in hard-soled shoes, and the Ooahh Slides genuinely made my feet and calves feel less battered. The foam absorbed impact brilliantly and they quickly became my default post-run shoe.
I now completely understand why runners become emotionally attached to recovery footwear.
The recovery essentials: Zerolia Massage Gun and Puresport Freeze Roll-On
I underestimated how much marathon training would make my legs feel like concrete.
The Zerolia massage gun became my go-to for tight calves and glutes after long runs, while Puresport’s Freeze Roll On gave that immediate cooling effect that made exhausted legs feel vaguely functional again.
Neither product magically removed soreness — sadly, nothing fully undoes a marathon — but both made recovery feel much more manageable.
And psychologically, recovery rituals matter too. Anything that convinces your body it’s being looked after feels valuable during marathon training.
Buy Zerolia Massage Gun from Amazon for £34.99.
Buy Puresport Freeze Roll On from Amazon for £38.
If you’d like to support Living360’s fundraising efforts for Crohn’s & Colitis UK, visit Evelyn’s JustGiving page.
Feature image: Canva/brands
