Fall means cooler weather and shorter days. For the runners among us, it also means race season. Whether the local 5K or New York City Marathon, the fun, excitement, and competition of a well-organized road race is something looked forward to as autumn’s crispness settles in.
OTC’s Chris Hogan hit the pavement the first weekend in November in one of the longest consecutive running 10K/5K races in the state of Maryland, and joining him were a few of our favorite brands.
For the run itself, ECCO provided the BIOM EVO Racer Lite running shoes and Timex’s Ironman Run Trainer GPS (similar) helped monitor time and pace. ECCO running shoes are less well-known than other big brand names, but the company focuses on producing the best footwear possible – a corporate goal right from the start. With a low heel drop that redirects road impact toward the ball of the foot, a more natural running experience is created. It took a little while to get used to the ECCO fits; now, it’s the only one we recommend. And, ECCO’s Better Running Lab, its athletic research unit, uses direct feedback from and to real runners as a tool for refining their shoes.
A nicely curated playlist helped the race fly by thanks to RHA Audio’s MA600 earbuds – still the tops for everyday running, as far as we are concerned.
Post race – and still early, cloudy, and chilly – a classic zip hoodie from American Giant was just right. They also sent along a great mid-weight tee to freshen things up afterwards. You don’t need us to repeat what everyone else has already said: American Giant makes the best hoodies – the best classic sweats, frankly – on the market today. Think of those old-school staples from the 1950s; the sweatshirts and tees that they used to make “back then.” That’s what American Giant does better than anyone.
Thanks to all our OTC friends for their thoughtful and always-stylish support – more running to come!
