One of the most important parts of running a marathon — beyond the training, of course — is figuring out your race-day outfit. Wearing a cotton t-shirt or a pair of socks that are slightly too big may seem like NBD, but over 26.2 miles, you’ll feel every seam, snag, and hot spot. And when you’re already pushing yourself to your physical limits, the last thing you want to do is be uncomfortable in your clothing.
Over nine years and four marathon training cycles, I’ve put every athletic brand to the test for miles and miles (and miles). So when it was time to toe the start line for my latest race, the 2023 Boston Marathon, one of the only things I wasn’t worried about was my outfit. After testing the best running clothes for women, here’s what I wore on race day, from head to toe.
Best Anti-Chafe: BodyGlide For Her Anti Chafe and Moisturizing Balm
Why We Like It: The easy stick application ensures you don’t miss a spot.
It’s Worth Noting: The stick is pretty small, so you often need to go over spots multiple times.
Even though I was confident that all of my clothing choices would leave me chafe-free, there’s no such thing as being too prepared against painful hot spots. I applied Body Glide for Her around my armpits, under the band of my sports bra, and at my waistband, counting on the Vitamin E-enriched moisturizing balm to protect me from agony. True to its stellar reputation among runners, I peeled off my wet race clothes and was delighted to find only clear, non-irritated skin.
