When I decided to run my first marathon this past November, I knew I would be doing a lot of shopping in my future; to successfully complete the 26.2-mile course, even an amateur runner can imagine how many pairs of leggings with pockets (my favorite was Lululemon), a bounce-resistant sports bra (Nike's s are top-notch), and a pair of personal-best running sneakers (in my case, New Balance 1080s), even an amateur runner can imagine how many pairs of sneakers would be needed.

But as I began serious training in July, I realized that I had overlooked an equally important part of my preparation: skin care, hair care, and general health. After all, it wasn't just my legs and feet that were pushing me mile by mile. As the distances got longer and the training harder, my mind also needed to shape up to deal with the inevitable “can'ts.”

However, my training was not as intense as that of a running editor. My lifestyle is simply too busy to install a cold-weather tub in my apartment or book a week-long retreat before a race. I wasn't interested in spending hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars to optimize a few minutes of performance. So I took advantage of summer vacations and New York Fashion Week to run in five countries over the course of five months leading up to race day. What kept me going through the process, race or no race, were the low-function products that were present in my life and could travel with me when I needed to work: sweat-proof sunscreen with SPF 50, soothing face balm, cleansing shampoo, and grippy hair ties, sauna blankets that you could roll up and carry with you.

By nightfall on November 3, I had completed the New York City Marathon, and while I mentioned earlier all the extras that helped me prepare to finally cross the 26.2-mile finish line, these are also suitable for 5k, 10k, and half marathon training.

When I started running four days a week, sometimes five, I made two enemies. The sun and sweat. But with a few beauty-critical minis in my go-pack, I could easily defeat them.

Supergoop. the Play Everyday Lotion was my one and only SPF choice during my five months of training. I tried new sunscreens here and there for work, but returned to this sunscreen for its pleasant scent and quickly blending formula. Some other sunscreens, even on my extremely fair skin, would harden and leave me looking white after sweating, but this one did not. To protect my lips, which pee easily in the heat, I carried a tube of Rohde Lip Peptide with me on every run. A quick dab at a pit stop, and voila, no cracking.

As for sweat: Of course, deodorant is essential no matter how many steps I take. But for a four-hour training session, I needed something strong. I read rave reviews of DuraDry online, and it lived up to its advertised sweet scent and antiperspirant properties.

My hair is much harder to maintain than my skin. I have hair that goes all the way down to my shoulder blades and fluffy bangs like Dakota Johnson. A simple ponytail would never look good on a training run. (I don't want sticky, sweaty bangs in my eyes.) I didn't have to go far to find a style or material that would stay in place and not in my face during a 5K, 10K, or 20K run. I used a grippy hair tie from Goody's drugstore and French braided two braids. At the top, a thin Lululemon headband was used to push the bangs back. A thin Lululemon headband pushes the bangs back. Plus, they are sold in colors that match the many sports bras and leggings sets I ordered.

I sometimes felt like I spent as much time on my marathon training trip taking cold showers as I did running around Central Park. It's not sexy, but I'll say it again: running 5 days a week, sometimes as long as 20 miles, makes me sweat a lot. About two weeks after I started running, I realized that a good shower would motivate me: a good smelling product would make me look forward to finishing my run.

The shampoo and conditioner that won the Marie Claire Skin and Hair Award from Crown Affair had the cleanest scent and made my damaged hair, braided in a ponytail, feel the softest with every blow-dry. The dull keratin (especially around my ankles) was washed away with sugar, leaving it much softer than I felt. And every day, Dieux's gently foaming glycerin cleanser prevented breakouts on my face and body, despite sweat and sunscreen.

My biggest shower splurge was a new shower head. I replaced the one I was using in my apartment with a canopy hand-held one, along with a scalp massager attachment and essential oil diffuser. During my pre-marathon training, I couldn't resist a cold shower, even though I knew it was better for my muscles. Now that I have a tool that relieves tension in my scalp and turns my entire bathroom into an oasis of steam and scent, I can shower for hours.

Rest days are just as important, if not more so, than training days. I learned this lesson at the beginning of my marathon journey after I pushed myself a little too hard and hurt my ankle a little. (Taking a breather is very important to keep you physically and mentally prepared for longer distances as your training progresses.

Some of my rest day essentials were NYC-only treatments to purify sweat-clogged pores and soothe aching muscles; a facial at Ställe Studios included a cheek massage to relieve tension in the cheeks and jaw. She also tried a QMS Medicosmetics foaming third-generation collagen treatment (sponsored by the Public Hotel in DUMBO, Brooklyn) to plump up her forehead and neck area, where fine lines and wrinkles had become visible after hours in the sun.

But I have to be realistic: even as a fashion and beauty editor, I didn't have the budget (or the time) to go to weekly cryotherapy sessions or full-body massages. Instead, I started by applying a generous dime-sized amount of Nourette's Sérénité balm daily. It is moisturizing, smells like a blend of fresh flowers and clean laundry, and contains N|A3 technology. (10]

The two pieces of equipment I used the most were the infrared sauna mat from HigherDose and the hand gamma massager from Theragun. The former was used in the living room to work up a sweat after long stretches and foam rolls, and the latter to treat my sore back and quads as my weekly mileage increased. The sauna blanket on the living room floor, which sometimes drew sideways glances from my dog and husband, became my happy place for further muscle relaxation and meditation.

I finish off my rest day with an eye mask (Dieux's straight from the freezer), a foot mask (Aquaphor from Amazon), and a Gaia Spritz. It's a personal preference, but after putting down the “real” drink on my training trip, I felt energized by the early morning wake-up call, “I'm going to go to the gym, and I'm going to have a good time.