Your Run Specialty Destination
We know Athleisure is all the rage these days, with those “cute” outfits. What if those cute outfits actually helped you perform?
Take the outfit pictured here. It has every one of the features listed below, does yours?
We only sell the real deal at Complete Runner.
A few years ago you only wore yoga pants when doing yoga. Then, something happened.
We’re not sure what happened, but one day it was okay to wear yoga pants when going to the store, dropping the kids off at school, and most other non-yoga activities.
With the interest in fashion apparel increasing in the recent years, many companies have sprung up overnight offering the latest looks in athletic wear. Many stars even have their own athletic clothing lines; think Kate Hudson.
A lot of fashion apparel can be purchased rather cheaply from big box stores and is advertised to be worn during fitness and running activities. However, the main differences between fashion apparel and running tech wear (that is made specifically for running) is performance.
Do you just want to look good, or look good and perform your best?
You wouldn’t take your Buick out to the drag strip because it wasn’t made for racing. In the same way, you shouldn’t wear cheap fashion apparel that was only made to look good for your training or races as it won’t offer the performance that is required to be successful. That is what tech wear was made for.
Most fashion apparel is made of a basic stretch material. However, this material is old news in the running world as top running brands like New Balance, Tasc, and SmartWool have their own sophisticated wicking technologies that not only keep you dry (some even at the molecular level) but also odor free. They are flat seamed to reduce chaffing and also protect you from harmful UV rays, and the wind.
Before you are tempted to buy that clearance fashioned apparel at Kohl’s remember that you are getting what you are paying for, and consider the benefits that true quality running tech wear gives. You will be amazed at the extreme levels of comfort, performance, and quality offered by running tech wear even after one race or workout!
Don’t just look good, look good and perform your best! Complete Runners offers the most innovative tech wear in the Flint area, so stop by if you want to experience the comfort, performance, and quality for yourself.
Spring is an exciting time for runners and walkers as the temperatures typically start improving and the snow starts melting, providing more favorable weather conditions for outdoor training. In addition to the weather change it is also a fun time as all the new fashions and technical wear comes out and ready to help you feel and look good in 2015.
Here are a few hot trends to look out for with running apparel and tech wear in 2015:
We’re talking seams, zipper, hood and all. Not many manufactures will put this in writing! It is said that “April showers bring May flowers” so having a good waterproof jacket is essential to stay dry and lightweight aids in comfort.
Brands have realized in recent years that runners and walkers don’t only want apparel that is functional, but that is fashionable also. Each year the colors get brighter and the designs more interesting, and this is no exception in 2015.
Want arm coverage but don’t want to get too hot? What about a long sleeve that cools when you sweat? This year includes base layers they help you stay cool, comfortable, and offer UV protection.
Most women love their capris as the weather gets better, and brands are taking note and offering fashionable capris that also function as tights or compression. Capris are also super practical in late spring when the temperatures aren’t yet warm enough to wear shorts.
Increasing your blood flow and oxygen to your muscles for faster recovery are major reasons to be interested in compression, which come in all forms such as sleeves, socks, tights, and even half tights.
To see these hot trends for yourself stop by Complete Runner today!
Do you have that favorite piece of clothing that is so comfortable you wish you could wear it all the time?
SmartWool gives you that very same feeling in running tech wear. Not only can you feel the difference of this amazing material, but it also keeps you dry, warm, and odor-free. Bonus!
SmartWool is made from Merino wool, claimed to be the best wool in the world straight from the hills of New Zealand. SmartWool tech wear not only moves moisture away from your body at the vapor level before it turns to sweat, but it is also more comfortable due to the fact that it is all natural and free from synthetic fibers. Merino wool also helps you to maintain a stable body temperature in the heat of the summer or the cold of the winter, and is odor and itch-free.
People often come in the store to try on a few tops or tights and more often than not when they try on the SmartWool they don’t try on anything else because of the amazing feel and comfort.
Complete Runner currently has SmartWool available in a base layer, women’s tights, socks, and hats.
Stop by the store and try on some SmartWool if you want to be amazed at the comfort of all natural Merino wool!
That runner is crazy!
These are the thoughts of most people when they see someone running outside in the frigid cold and wind wearing only a thin jacket.
In reality, the person running outside may be warmer than the person in the vehicle with the heat on.
Many popular running brands like Mizuno, Brooks, and New Balance offer an innovative base layer and outer layer technology that actually generates heat as moisture is wicked away from the body. This allows you to stay warm, dry, and comfortable in the winter with few layers. A few of the heat generating tech wear that we offer at Complete Runner are Breath Thermo, Heater Hog, and NB Heat.
One of the original heat generating technologies, Mizuno continues to innovate with the 2013 Breath Thermo offering twice the warmth in half the weight. We carry Breath Thermo in base layer top and tights for men and women (in most versions).
Brooks’ version of heat generating technology is offered in the base layer for men, with a similar Smart Skin mesh base layer available for women.
The NB Heat Windblocker Jacket and Tights not only generate heat but block the wind and are water resistant.
If you are serious about running outside in the winter you need some serious tech wear to keep you warm, dry, and comfortable, and you should rely on heat generating technology to do the job.
A local runner shared with us that she used to buy running apparel at a local department store because it was cheap and looked nice but after experiencing real high performance running tech wear, she quickly realized why the apparel at the department store was so cheap.
The saying “you get what you pay for” is very true, and just because something looks like a running shirt or jacket doesn’t mean it will offer the performance runners are looking for, like keeping you dry and comfortable, to help you perform your best.
Popular running brands like New Balance, Brooks, Mizuno, and Nike have years of experience in perfecting the science of running tech apparel, and they continue to innovate every year. Specialty running stores like Complete Runner only carry this quality running tech wear because of its high performance.
Here are a few ways to tell the difference between the high performance teach wear runners need and cheap copycat apparel that looks nice but doesn’t do the job.
If the brand is a well-known player in the running industry there is a good chance the apparel is the real deal. Beware of cheap unknown brands that may look the same but offer inferior performance.
If the price is too good to be true, you are probably getting the cheap imitation. Eight dollar tech shirts at the department store sound like a good deal, but when compared to what you are getting in a high performance tech shirt the quality speaks for itself.
Not all wicking is created equal, and you will be able to tell the difference between the feel and touch of the apparel as well as when you run in two different tech shirts. The higher quality shirt will keep you dry and comfortable, and the lower quality copycat will hinder your running experience – you may have found this out the hard way.
High quality running tech wear will have features the imitation apparel doesn’t have including things like reflectors, thumb holes, zipper garages, wind shield (behind zipper to keep the wind out), media pockets, and a high quality material.
Just because running tech wear may look the same doesn’t mean it performs the same. When making the investment in tech wear don’t only look at the fashion but the functionality, which should help you perform your best by keeping you dry and comfortable when running.
As the temperatures rise the shirts typically come off when running. Well, at least the guys. Ladies also have some options to keep cool in the warm summer heat.
However, running shirtless can have the opposite affect that you are planning and actually keep you warmer than if you wore a good wicking shirt.
You see, when you don’t have on a shirt your sweat sticks around on your skin, keeping you warm. Wearing a tech shirt will wick away the sweat off your body and keep you more comfortable and cool, allowing you to perform your best. Yes, a good tech shirt will keep you cooler than wearing no shirt at all! Remember, a shirt has a greater purpose than to just cover your body, and you won’t allow it to take on that role if you don’t put one on.
So the next time you think about ditching the shirt, think about the purpose of tech wear and make the smart choice.
Photo by Flickr user Tony Alter
Have you ever stopped to consider that the clothes you wear while running should perform a purpose more than just covering your body?
Your shoes perform a purpose, and your feet will tell you what that is rather quickly if your current shoes are old or if the shoes you have aren’t the right fit for your feet.
Your shirt, shorts, and socks are no different if you really think about it. They should help you to perform your best, and if they don’t they are doing nothing more than covering your body.
You may notice the “good” runners get this, as you see them wearing their singlet at the races. At this level a tenth of a second can be the difference between first and second place, so there is no room for error.
But most of you are never going to win a race, and your goal may be to improve your time or maybe just to finish a race. Whatever your goal may be, the proper tech wear will help you to achieve it.
The technology of running apparel has increased dramatically over the years, now offering benefits such as SPF protection from the sun, lightweight and breathable to keep you cool, wicking to more the sweat off your skin, and even anti-odor. Compared to the person who runs in their favorite cotton shirt and old basketball shorts, the runner who has the running tech wear will be more comfortable and less likely to overheat, meaning he or she will be able to perform their best.
Stop by Complete Runner to check out the new spring and summer tech wear and start taking advantage of the performance it brings to your training and races.
If you are looking for a cute, super light-weight breathable tank to wear in the summer when it is scorching hot outside, look no further than the Brooks Women’s D’lite Micro Mesh Racerback.
An online review describes it as a “light, breezy, barely-there tank to wear over my sports bra when I don’t want to completely expose my belly”.
This tank is as fashionable and functional as they come, and has to be experienced to fully appreciate. Check out the Brooks Micro Mesh Racerback the next time you stop in Complete Runner.
After some spring-like “teaser” temperatures and the groundhog’s announcement that spring is coming early, we just got a reality check with the Winter Storm Nemo. Yeah, spring will be here soon, but it is definitely still winter.
Regardless of the current weather, we’re pleased to announce the arrival of the new spring running apparel at Complete Runner. A fresh variety of shirts, shorts, light jackets, and ever popular capris will help you feel, look, and perform your best when spring does decide to come.
It’s not too early to get excited about spring with some technical yet fashionable running apparel. Stop by Complete Runner to check out the spring line-up and get a head start on your spring wardrobe.