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What You Should Wear When Running A Marathon

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon is less than two weeks away, and all this week the WCCO Morning Show will be giving tips to help you make sure you're ready to run.

Though the presumption is that you need to really loosen the purse strings to buy the appropriate pieces of clothing for running, the truth is that you don't need to spend a lot of money to get the right kind of gear.

Jamie Yuccas headed over to Gear West Ski & Run in Long Lake to get an expert opinion from Jan Guenther.

"Runners have to realize that how they run and the approach they take to running a marathon will also determine what type of clothing they wear," she said.

Guenther said that the elite runners will usually go minimal, with very small tops and bottoms, not cotton but rather material with some stretch. Those who aren't among the upper echelon can instead go for longer sleeves and pant legs.

Arm sleeves, Guenther said, are a really good option for this time of year. They allow you to start the race off cold and then warm up. And even better, you can roll the sleeves down and then use them as a nose wipe.

For men's shorts, Guenther said you should avoid going for the longer, down-to-the-knee style basketball shorts. They won't allow for your legs to cool as effectively and won't be as comfortable as a shorter cut.

Guenther said you don't have to spend a lot to get appropriate marathon wear. And many products are so well engineered that everything can last one to two years, even for people who run all the time. They might even last long enough where you're buying new stuff just to update your look, not out of necessity.

She recommended for bras spending between $30 and $50; in that price range, the bra will last you for more than a year.

For shoes, the price point should be between $80 and $160. She said you really should never spend more than that.

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