W
C
onfession: I’m
a very anxious
runner. This fear
isn’t driven by
personal expe-
rience, but more by the fact that
I run in rural areas and tend to
imagine the worst.
I keep these nagging thoughts
in check by always running with
my phone. It’s rare that I hit the
pavement without it, especially
now that I’m a new mom (my son,
Ben, is 2) who likes to be in touch
at all times. But for years, running
with my phone came with a seri-
ous trade-off: safety at the cost of
comfort. I tried various methods
to secure it—an arm band, jacket
pocket, shorts compartment—and
nothing worked. My phone would
always slip, bounce, chafe, or
cause serious midrun annoyance.
Then I discovered a truly life-PRESENTED BY ADIDASchanging solution: the Koala Clip.
It’s a portable pocket that clips
onto the back of my sports bra
and holds my phone, plus credit
cards, ID, and cash.
Unlike the previous phone-
toting methods I tried, the Koala
Clip is super-comfortable. It’s also
waterproof, which means I don’t
run the risk of drowning my phone
in sweat (that happened once).
And it makes it much easier to run
with headphones, as I can simply
tuck the wires into my sports bra
rather than having them bounce
on my chest.
On top of that, the clip makes
me feel safer. Because it’s easy to
pull out, I feel like I can grab my
phone on a moment’s notice—this
came in handy about a year ago
when a dog bit me on a run. And I
feel more connected to my family
and the outside world as I tackle
trails alone.
Since buying my first Koala
Clip, I haven’t looked back. Now,
I spread the gospel to others. I
gave my sister one for her birthday,
and at the starting line of races, I
often share the game-changing
secret with fellow runners.
—As told to Jenny McCoyI
rarely go for a run without a bandana knotted
around my arm or head. The simple cloth carries
a story that goes far beyond the (incredibly useful
sweat-wicking, sunburn-protecting) features.
Whether it comes to you as a gift or you’ve put
in a bunch of miles with it, a bandana can connect you to
your why. You’re not going to run with a framed picture
of someone important to you, or a written-out race goal,
but you can run with a bandana, so even if your run isn’t
going your way, you can get a glimpse of it and come back
to the reason you’re out there in the first place.
Years ago I came across a bandana from this designer I
loved—Apprvl in New York City—and I bought one. With
every run, it gained meaning and power, it was proof of
my strength. But after many miles, I decided to pass it on,
to go on a journey with someone else. After connecting
with Olympian Deena Kastor on a panel at the 2019 Boston
Marathon, I gave it to her.
Right now, I wear an orange bandana that served as
a baton during a 50-mile relay road race I finished with
powerful, elite women. I feel like I have a superpower
when I have it with me. It’s this little piece of confidence.
Plus, well, it’s still the best way I know how to keep
sweat out of my eyes. —As told to Tyler DaswickW
WHO Larkin Podsiedlik
Chief program officer,
LaFayette, New YorkWHAT The Koala Clip, $40WHO Jess Movold
Runner’s World
Coach,
New York CityWHAT Apprvl
Bandana, $2590 RUNNERSWORLD.COMLakota Gambill; Previous spread: Trevor Raab (Adizero)