Looking to gear up for some soundtracks to your run? Here are two must-have products for Fall/Winter Marathon season…

4th Generation iPod Shuffle

Some big news in sports technology hit this week when Steve Jobs announced that the next generation iPod Shuffle will be going retro (re-instating buttons). Buttons?! Yes! Anyone who has ever tried running with the third generation iPod Shuffle knows that the delicate, albeit gorgeous, design behind the Apple product is not very sweat-friendly. Disregard the fact that “touch” technology and sweat (water being highly conducive to electricity – think back to middle school science) don’t necessary mix well, making the iPod touch a no-contest for workouts. As far as the third generation iPod Shuffle is concerned (voice commands) I have heard a lot of runners and work-out enthusiasts complain about the delicacy of the earbuds (being placed near one of the larger centers of sweat during a workout – your head).

That being said, the “new” old school shuffle news came out just in time for me and my two-year-old (recently deceased) shuffle that is in dire need of replacement.  I am hoping that this next shuffle will at least be able to endure the years and countless training runs/races my second generation Shuffle had.

Philips Flexible Sports Style Ear-Hook Headphones

More frequently replaced than my iPod gear has been what has carried me through a lot of races…  the earbuds. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has experienced a fumbling race moment where just as you are trying to do your last kick, charge uphill, etc. you find yourself instead trying to hold your equilibrium after post arm yank of earbuds, which are now dangling dangerously near your legs. If you are in the market for earphones, there are a lot of “sports” labeled headphones out there. I’ve roughly sampled about seven or eight headphones over the past few years and my favorite of all-time have been the Philips Flexible Sports Style Ear-Hook Headphones. A few reasons to love these headphones:

1. PRICE – for roughly $10 a pop, you can purchase headphones that with decent quality that can also take a bit of a beating.
2. SIZING – the flexibility of the plastic around the ear hooks just do not budge. One of my biggest gripes about other sports headphones is usually fit (especially the wrap-around the head type) so I found these hook types pretty form fitting and comfortable
3. SWEAT – I sweat a ridiculous amount when I run, especially around my forehead, which usually trickles down near my ears… despite this fact, the Philips headphones have (surprisingly) outlasted other more expensive name-brand iterations.