There are few occasions that garner such good-willed camaraderie in New York City as the annual marathon. While the Knicks’ historic win this summer brought people out into the streets in rivaling numbers, nothing quite matches the city-wide embrace of race day. This year, on November 1, an estimated 60,000 runners will flood all five boroughs, while an even larger number of spectators will return to the challenging route for an annual block party that transforms the five-borough course into a vibrant, cheering celebration.
If you have looked around the past few weeks on your morning commute or weekend walks, you have probably spotted these dedicated runners settling in for the long haul, completing their grueling 15, 18, or 20-mile runs in preparation for the main event. Among them are Vogue’s own Emily Jones and Teen Vogue’s Alyssa Hardy, sweating through the changing seasonal shifts alongside thousands of hopeful athletes.
For runners at Vogue, finding the right race-day fit, or even just the perfect daily gear, can feel overwhelmingly complex. The logistical questions pile up quickly during training cycles: Do you prefer sports bras with removable or sewn-in padding? Do you put your phone and gels in your shorts, or do you spring for a belt? Carbon plates or traditional foam? And can you really run comfortably in merino wool? Luckily, the team has had all year—and plenty of variable weather—to figure out what truly works under pressure.
In honor of the upcoming NYC Marathon, here is a look at the essential gear, fuel, and apparel that Vogue’s runners simply cannot live without.
Emily Jones
As someone who suffered the consequences of wearing a bad pair of socks during her first marathon—noting that her toenails have quite literally never been the same since—finding the absolute perfect pair of socks was at the top of Emily Jones’s list when she started training for the New York City marathon. For her, the search ended with the Feetures max cushion crew sock, a staple she now swears by to prevent friction and blisters over long distances.
Hair management during long runs remains a persistent challenge, but the SNTE Styling Cream has been a saving grace during runs on humid summer nights and through the pouring rain, ensuring stray locks stay put during unpredictable coastal storms.
While Jones supports the nostalgic corded headphone comeback in everyday life, she found that traditional wires kept getting in her way while logging serious miles. To solve this, she invested in a pair of Shokz open-ear headphones and hasn’t looked back. They have proven exceptional for running in a city as busy as New York, allowing her to stay fully aware of city traffic while enjoying reliable battery life and crisp audio.
When it comes to apparel, Jones is entirely devoted to Lululemon, specifically highlighting the Fast and Free High-Rise Short. Praising their secure pockets for phones and energy gels, she notes that the shorts refuse to ride up or roll down during extended movement, offering a level of comfort that makes her want every available color, though True Navy remains her favorite.
Alyssa Hardy, digital director, Teen Vogue
Alyssa Hardy likes to think of herself as a casual runner—someone who logs miles primarily for the vibes, the exercise, and the simple joy of getting outside every once in a while. However, when given the opportunity to run the New York City marathon this year, she knew she could not pass it up. In less than two months, she has had to scale her routine from a comfortable five miles to crossing the daunting 26.2-mile finish line. The thing getting her through the painful physical build-up, naturally, is the gear.
Throughout her training block, Hardy has relied on a full ON kit in sleek black, utilizing performance shorts equipped with multiple pockets for her phone, keys, and headphones, paired with a lightweight tank bra featuring a convenient front zipper. Because she is a dedicated morning runner, she also layers up with a cropped hoodie that almost invariably ends up tied around her waist by the time the sun rises and the workout heats up.
Hardy has also discovered that she doesn’t need to sacrifice her love for beauty products during training, provided she chooses formulas that offer functional benefits. By sliding a Summer Fridays Dream Lip Oil in Rose Bud into her back pocket, she keeps her lips hydrated through the elements, applying it immediately post-run to feel human again.
Talia Abbas, shopping director
Fall in New York is by far Talia Abbas’s favorite time of year for running. There is nothing she loves more than heading out into the crisp air wearing a pair of lightweight shorts paired with a long-sleeve top when the atmosphere is chilly but not bitingly cold.
Her current setup heavily favors pieces from Bandit and Literary Sport. Combined with a pair of dependable Adidas trainers and her District Vision sunglasses, she finds herself firmly in her running happy place.
Alexandra Hildreth, fashion news writer
While Alexandra Hildreth has experimented with plenty of variables on race day—testing no gels, new gels, added electrolytes, and even buying an entirely new outfit the day before—her day-to-day running uniform remains remarkably steady. Despite frequently protesting that she is merely a casual runner, she reliably wakes up at 5:45 AM to run most weekdays, meaning her morning routine requires absolute simplicity.
Her workout wardrobe consists primarily of a week’s worth of Lululemon shake-it-out shorts, complemented by her On Speed Belt and her go-to sneakers, the Asics Novablast 6. She finds that the belt, which securely holds her phone, keys, AirPods case, and on one memorable occasion, a portable phone charger, sits comfortably across the waistband of her shorts for a seamless, hands-free run. For tops, she rotates freely between a Lululemon sports bra, an On crop top, or an old t-shirt for a groggy jog along the West Side Highway.
When tackling longer distances, Hildreth leans on Gu Liquid Running Gels in Lemonade, though she counts a handful of Trader Joe’s Super Sour Scandinavian Swimmers as her ultimate secret weapon.
Kylee McGuigan, associate production manager
Having completed three half marathons in an 18-month period from 2024 to 2025, Kylee McGuigan has set a firm personal goal to complete a full marathon before turning 30 next year, giving her ample opportunity to research the finest running equipment available.
Lululemon serves as her primary brand for apparel, with the Swiftly long-sleeve top and high-rise pocket leggings standing out as cold-weather staples. While the built-in pockets on her leggings easily accommodate her phone and apartment keys, she relies on a SPI belt to keep smaller items like sunglasses, her AirPods case, and electrolyte packets safely within reach.
To combat physical fatigue when pushing her limits, McGuigan credits LMNT electrolyte mixes with providing essential revitalization that plain water simply could not achieve on its own.
Aemilia Madden, contributor
Having spent the majority of the summer training through punishing, blazing heat, Aemilia Madden is finally embracing the cool autumn days that make up her absolute favorite running weather. As a first-time marathoner, the grueling weeks of high-mileage training—including demanding 18 and 20-mile outings spanning multiple hours—have taught her the vital importance of eliminating distractions, from avoiding shorts that ride up to finding nutritional fuel that sits comfortably on the stomach. With the big day rapidly approaching, she enters the final stretch feeling confident that her preparations are locked in.
