Mini Makeover: Out the Door Running Kit

The hardest part of making (and keeping) my running habit is getting out of the house. It can be so easy to feel like it’s just too much hassle to actually lace up my shoes and get out the door. As I’m the kind of person that needs my gear with me when I go running, I’ve decided that now is the perfect time to make myself a running kit so I can grab what I need and get out of the house before the excuses pile up and I need to get to work. Whilst mine is for running, you could easily adapt this for walking or going to the gym. Here what I put in mine and how you can make one too!

What to put in the kit:

1.  A Hat – for keeping the sun or the rain off your face – I have an Operation Move one that doesn’t get too hot to wear
2. Sunglasses – for protecting your eyes from the harmful rays – I have Oakley running ones that have non slip arms but until recently I just wore an old pair of Arnettes that I had from when I was a teenager
3. Headphones – I like to run with music so headphones are a must for me – these are yurbuds which allow me to hear ambient noise (like cars and people) so I can still clearly hear what’s going on around me
4. Music Player – the other half needed for me to play music – this is an old iPod nano with the clip that they don’t make anymore, but the clip makes it so easy for me to keep it close and not lose it
5. GPS watch – this keeps track of my distance, time and pace (and a bunch of other cool stuff) and because I love knowing all that stuff, it’s a must for me – this is the Garmin Forerunner 220 that I got for Christmas (I love it!!)
6. Thick Headband – for keeping ears warm in winter, and hair off your face too when you don’t need a hat – this is the bang buster headband from lululemon and is so far the only headband I’ve owned that doesn’t just fly off my head

Other things that you might like to add to your kit:

• Some ID – in case of emergency – I carry an old expired drivers licence of mine and my phone, but I’m looking at getting one of those wrist bands with all the important info on it
• Jelly Beans – if you’re a long distance walker or runner you might like to have your gels or jelly beans ready to go
• Keys – I keep mine in a special spot in the house but if you have keys that you take just for exercise you could leave them in the kit too
• Sunscreen – If you forget to put on sunscreen before heading out, this is a good reminder spot for you

Thoughts on the kit:

I love having a simple kit like this in a small box near where I get ready for my run. I already have a drawer for my running clothes (which I lay out the night before) and a spot for my shoes, but these things tend to get left around the house wherever I put them down after my last run, so it can feel like I’m rushing like mad to try to find them in the morning. Even if I was a walker, rather than a runner, I think I would probably still take most of these things with me.

The hat is great for both the sun and the rain, but when it really cools down here I need something to protect my ears, and the headband is magic for that. I ran for most of last winter with it on, and it made a huge difference to my comfort level. The fancy Yurbuds headphones have been a great upgrade for me too, as I can now hear the cars much clearer, though it was a little disconcerting at first. Whilst I mostly run where there aren’t driveways to contend with or cars, it’s great to be able to hear both the music and what’s going on around me.

Having all these things in one place makes it easier to get out the door quicker and for me to not only enjoy my run, but also to get my day going well. No matter what your morning exercise routine, it’s a great way to make sure you have everything you need in the right place before going to bed the night before.

Do you have a kit for exercise? What would you add to this?

If you do try this, I’d love to see a photo or hear about how it went! Tweet me your pics at: @danniellecresp or instagram me at: @dannielle with the hashtag: #styleforahappyhome