If anyone knows how challenging training for a marathon can be, it’s Emily Sisson. Since her 2019 marathon debut (where she had the second-fastest marathon debut for a woman in American history), the pro runner has seen the highs and lows those grueling 26.2 miles can bring firsthand — from the heartbreak of having to drop out of the 2020 Olympic trials marathon to the triumph of breaking the American marathon record in 2022. Even her most recent achievement, becoming an Olympic marathoner just a few weeks ago at the Paris Games, where she finished in 23rd, didn’t come easy .
“I don’t know how many marathons I’ve done now, and I’m still learning,” she says. “I don’t know it all, and I don’t think I’ll ever know it all with the marathon — the distance is such a mystery to me at times. But that’s why I keep going back to it, it’s fun to keep trying to figure it out.”
Still, Sisson has plenty of wisdom from her years of tackling the marathon. Her best pieces of advice? Be patient with yourself, and take it one day at a time. “One of the things I find challenging with marathon builds is that you’re constantly thinking of this one day, three months out, and that can lead to overthinking,” she says. “I find I do my best work and enjoy it the most when I’m present in the moment and breaking the training into chunks.”
Another trick to make marathon training feel more manageable: Having the right tools to support you along the way. Ahead, Sisson shares her favorite products for on- and off-the-run.
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v14 ($140)
New Balance’s 880 running shoes are a classic for a reason, as Sisson can attest to. “I started wearing them in college,” she says. “They’re great neutral trainers that I’ve relied on for over a decade. I don’t look for anything fancy in my shoes, I just want something that’s reliable and feels like it helps me recover.” Though the 880s are her go-to for those slower recovery runs, Sisson says she sometimes picks up the pace in them, too, making them a great option for runners looking for one do-it-all shoe. For runners who like a bit more cushion, she says the New Balance 1080s are a very similar shoe with just a touch more underfoot.
Garmin Forerunner 265s ($350)
If you’ve ever run a race in a big city, you know that tall buildings can mess with your watch’s accuracy. But it’s exactly in those big-race moments that runners want accurate mile splits. That’s why Sisson loves her Garmin, which has multi-band GPS (meaning it’s significantly more accurate than systems with just one GPS frequency, and is better at navigating buildings and trees that can block the signal). She wears the “s” model because it’s made for smaller wrists, and loves that it comes with the Garmin Connect app, where she can monitor stats like heart rate, elevation gain, and more.
New Balance Sleek Medium Support Pocket Sports Bra ($50)
“I don’t often run with my phone, but if I’m running somewhere new, like when I was in Europe, I want it on me in case I get lost,” she says. This New Balance bra has a perfectly-placed phone pocket in the back that she says comes in clutch in those moments, and is a great alternative to putting your phone in your pocket, where it can bounce, or in a belt, which can be cumbersome. Even when she’s phoneless, she loves the Sleek line of bras for their no-chafe comfort.
UCAN Edge Energy Gel ($36 for 12)
While gels are the on-the-run fuel of choice for most everyday runners, elite marathoners like Sisson usually take their fuel in bottles. But even Sisson takes a gel sometimes, especially for medium-length runs (which, believe it or not, are around 14 miles), where she just needs a little something midway through, or when she hasn’t eaten enough pre-run and needs an option that won’t sit in her stomach as she’s heading out the door. She likes the UCAN gels because unlike many other brands, it’s not necessary to wash them down with water.
New Balance Performance Visor ($16, originally $20)
“I’ve recently become a hat person,” says Sisson. “With the sun, I like having some protection on my forehead and my face, so I’ll usually wear a visor, especially in the summer or if I’m training in Arizona.” At the Olympic Trials, where Sisson finished second and secured her spot to Paris, she wore this New Balance Performance Visor, which she credits with helping her handle the Orlando heat. “It helped keep my face relaxed, because I didn’t have to squint or anything,” she says. Sisson is partial to a visor rather than a full hat because it means she doesn’t have to wash her hair afterwards. Her New Balance pick has a moisture-wicking sweatband, and reflective accents for safety.
Nathan Push-Pull Cap Flask ($8 for a 2-pack, originally $10)
If you’re running for more than an hour (which, if you’re marathon training, you definitely are), you should probably be hydrating along the way. Sisson prefers a small bottle that’s easy to hold, so that she doesn’t feel rushed to chug her drink. Distance running legend Des Linden recommended Nathan bottles to Sisson before her first marathon, and she’s stuck with them since.
New Balance Performance No-Show Socks ($14 for a 3-pack)
“I’m a millennial, so I like the socks that come just below my ankle,” says Sisson. Lightweight socks made of performance fabric are key for long runs to avoid blisters, and Sisson says these New Balance options more than fit the bill. “They’re lightweight, I don’t get blisters, they don’t fall apart,” she says. “And they’re just comfortable — I don’t really notice they’re there.”
Oakley EVZero Blades ($16, originally $20)
Sunglasses are a must to protect the eyes on sunny runs, and Sisson likes her Oakleys both because they’re super-lightweight, and because the lenses can adapt to changing light. “When I’m running on a trail or in the shade, I don’t have to constantly be taking them off,” she says. “When I was running through a tunnel at the Olympics, I kept them on the whole time, while other people were taking theirs off because they couldn’t see.”
Sidekick Echo Muscle Scraper ($135)
Sidekick Eclipse Muscle Scraper ($119)
“My lower legs can get really stiff when I’m marathon training,” Sisson says, so she swears by Sidekick scrapers, which are massage tools that can speed up recovery by increasing bloodflow and boosting collagen activity. Sisson uses both the Echo and the Eclipse, both of which are small enough to travel with and can be used with Sidekick’s Pump Gel or just regular-old lotion. “Before and after a run I’ll go through my lower legs and feet, and sometimes around my quads and hamstrings, too,” she says.
New Balance Athletics Packable Jacket ($100)
Sisson is based in Providence, where layering is very much necessary during those fall and winter runs. She prefers light layers that she can easily throw off, such as this New Balance jacket that is wind- and water-resistant and folds up into a small waist pack.
Headspace App ($13 per month)
You would think it’d be easy to wind down in the midst of marathon training, given how exhausted your body often is. But Sisson knows all-too-well that sometimes your body and mind are buzzing after a hard workout, or with the anticipation of the upcoming race. Sisson likes to use Headspace to quiet her nerves leading up to big races, including the Olympics and Olympic Trials.
UCAN Energy and Protein Powder ($55)
Fueling after a long run is key to replenishing your energy stores and getting the recovery process started. But eating right away can be easier said than done, especially for those with sensitive stomachs, like Sisson. Her go-to is mixing this UCAN powder, which is formulated with the recommended amount of carbohydrates and protein for post-exercise, with some almond milk. (She uses the chocolate-flavored powder, and says it tastes like chocolate milk.) “It goes down easy,” she says. “I struggle with protein drinks, they really upset my stomach. But my stomach digests this really well.” She’ll often pair this drink with an energy bar right after her run, and then have a proper lunch a while later.
Thinksport Safe Sunscreen ($15)
Lately, Sisson has been transitioning to mineral-based sunscreens. Her favorite so far: Thinksport Safe Sunscreen, which is free of harmful chemicals and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. “I don’t sweat it off — I can finish a run and still have a ton of sunscreen on my face,” she says. The sweatproof factor is enough for her to look past the white cast that’s nearly unavoidable with zinc-oxide sunscreens, and that she sometimes cuts with a tinted moisturizer.
New Balance 550s ($110 and up)
For marathoners, having a supportive, comfortable pair of shoes to wear off-the-run is nearly as important as wearing the right shoes on-the-run. “I like the 550s because I feel like I get support, but they don’t have a high heel-to-toe drop like a running shoe,” she says. Sisson has too many pairs to count, but her favorite may be the all-white pair, since it goes with a range of outfits. (Taylor Swift, on the other hand, is partial to the red and white colorway.)
