Must Have Running Gear

If you have decided to take up running to keep fit, sooner or later you will start to think about what running gear you might need to buy in order to achieve more comfort, convenience and efficiency. For example, you will need different clothes depending on the season and also whether you run outside or inside. You may want to purchase a new pair of trainers that are suited to your feet and gait to prevent injury and make your running style more efficient.

Gait analysis is offered at Sweatshop and He Runs She Runs. There are also many forms of gadgets available to runners such as footpods and watches, which track your times and distance so you can monitor your process or aim for a specific goal.
Lets think about what running gear you may need for the summer. Summer clothing tends to focus on wicking moisture (sweat) away from your skin into the surrounding air to keep you cool but not wet. Both tops and bottoms can be bought with this feature. Adidas provide an extensive range called ‘clima cool 365’ which can be used in summer to cool you down and when used in the winter, will wick away sweat preventing it from cooling on your skin to keep you warm. If you prefer to run outside in the summer then moisture wicking garments are a must. You will also need these products if you run inside also, as it can get quite hot running on the treadmill in the summer. Even over the winter, you will probably be running in shorts and a T-shirt in the gym and will still be sweating.
When you are running outside you may consider using a utility belt, which will keep your keys, phone and other valuables safe while you run and may also have a facility for carrying a drink too. Some of these belts come with a drinks bottle and many will also wick sweat away from your skin via air vents whilst also being padded for comfort.

Winter running gear mainly focuses on being seen at night and during the day when the light is fading. Runners will probably start to avoid running in rural places where there is little light and begin running along pathways next to roads in brightly lit and often busy areas. Some will even turn to the trusty treadmill in the gym to avoid any inclement weather! To run on the streets you are going to need some reflective running gear. These come in luminous yellow or pink with reflective features and can be bought as tops and jackets. Trousers and tights are not usually luminous colours but feature reflective details. These products are invaluable in making yourself visible at a distance when you will be crossing busy roads or running down dimly lit streets.

You may require slightly more running gear in winter than in summer. Lets have a look at what you may need. A good collection of moisture wicking clothes will be required as you will still sweat but you will need that sweat to be wicked away before it turns cold on your skin so you can keep warm. You can wear your summer tops and layer them for colder weather, but as summer tops tend to be short sleeved, a collection of long sleeved tops will also be necessary. These range from very lightweight to the more substantial and can be layered or worn alone as needed. Always choose reflective gear when possible. You will also need some form of jacket that is shower proof. It is a good idea to have a lightweight one that folds up very small that you can take with you on a run and also a slightly more substantial one for heavier showers. These can be bought with reflective features. If the weather in winter is mild you will be able to get away with wearing less but will also have the added benefit that if it does rain, moisture wicking garments will provide effective weatherproofing leaving you feeling dry and comfortable at the end of your run.

Running gear for women focuses mainly on comfort and safety. Running clothing for women is made for the female form to fit well and provide comfort on any type of run. It also comes in a variety of styles and colours.
If you are running outside alone then it is a good idea to wear a utility belt that can store your mobile, keys, change and an alarm. Utility belts come in all shapes and sizes but if you buy one specifically for women it will have contours in all the right places to fit the female figure. If you are running for about an hour you will probably get away with a lightweight belt without a drinks bottle carrier attached. If you are running a great distance of prefer to drink on your runs, purchase a belt with access for a drinks bottle that you can get at easily. ‘Nathan’ sells a range of these belts, which are extremely comfy and lightweight and also come with a drink bottle to fit. A personal alarm is a very good idea you can easily find inexpensive alarms, which will clip onto your running belt. If you pound the streets at night alone it is also a good idea to leave your ipod at home. With music filling your ears you will be more vulnerable as you will be unaware of the people and traffic around you. If you must take your ipod, leave the volume at a low level so you are still aware of your surroundings.
Joining a local running group will provide the most safety and you don’t need to take anything out with you except perhaps a water bottle. If running on the treadmill in the winter bores your socks off then finding a local group will provide you with motivation and companionship! These groups are full of enthusiastic runners of every level who provide useful advice about all things running free of charge. They always welcome new runners even if you are inexperienced and will run with you no matter how slow you go. This is especially important in the winter and if you are female, as it may be dark and you may be unfamiliar with the route.

You can find discount running gear in the high street and online, with many outlets offering a good range of running accessories very cheaply. They often have special offers on and are well worth a look round. All the big brands such as Adidas, Nike, Asics, Ron Hill, and Karrimor are available at discount prices. It is best to check anything you like for defects as some stock may be reject. As well as high street shops it is a good idea to check online for discount sports stores. Some of them offer free postage and at certain times in the year will offer quite considerable discounts on their stock, for example, the online Millets store.  Ebay is another good way to save money on your running accessories. Moisture wicking fabric can be quite expensive to buy new but if you know what you are looking for then bidding on an item that has been previously worn, but is still in good condition, or purchasing new through ‘buy it now’ can save you pounds. Especially expensive are running tights. These are invaluable throughout the winter and are so comfortable they are almost worth the sometimes extortionate prices they retail at! If you can purchase a few pairs of these on ebay or at an online discount store they will see you through many winters.  Moisture wicking tops or running shorts can sell for as little as 99p on Ebay plus a couple of pounds postage.
Running socks are a different matter, they are extremely hard to find discounted so it is probably best to wait for a specialist running shop sale, such as Sweatshop or He Runs She Runs and buy them then. Proper running socks are invaluable items as they will stop blisters and will also wick away sweat from your feet as you run. The best ones are made from two layers of material that wick sweat away from your feet keeping them cool in summer and warm in winter and are made by Hilly. These socks also have built in padded areas around the toes and heels where blisters usually form and prevent them occurring. If you are not sure which ones to buy from the huge range ask at the running shop for advice. Running socks are so comfy that some enthusiasts wear them the whole time; at work, or out shopping, in fact at any time when your feet are being used a lot.

Mens running gear focuses mainly on comfort and efficiency. Safety can still be an issue for lone male runners who may wish to invest in a utility belt made specifically for the male form to house a mobile, keys and cash.  Most men don’t mind running alone, even in dark rural areas, but running with a local running group during the winter nights can offer more safety. Many men don’t wear specific running clothing, preferring to just get up and go in whatever comes to hand, usually some shorts and a cotton T-shirt. But when it comes to trainers they prefer to go for top of the range, made specifically for men, made for their own personal gait and running style to help them run faster and achieve their goals.
Running shops sell a range of men’s running clothes such as tops, shorts, tights and shorts. All of this can be bought in moisture wicking material. Many men prefer a range of clothing called ‘skins’ which is a compression style of clothing that fits to the contours of the body like no other material. Its compression action keeps the muscles warm and flexible, keeping injuries at bay. It is very expensive to buy but men like the fact that you cannot feel ‘skins’ on the body and therefore there is no extra material to flap in the wind, or ride up on a run, which can slow you down. Compression clothing is thought to support speed on a run, which is high up on the list of priorities for male runners.
Men love their gadgets and there are lots to buy in the running world. There are many different watches to choose from but by far the most popular is the Garmin watch. This provides too many features to list here and is expensive. The Garmin watch utilizes satellite connection while you are running outside to track your progress. The most popular features track distance, calories, elevation and time. You can also race against a virtual partner at a speed that you would like to attain for personal best goals. The Garmin comes with a USB device that plugs into your computer port permanently. After a run set your watch in front of your computer and it will automatically upload details of your run onto an online facility. Information on all your runs can be stored here and your progress can easily be followed. The Garmin site also allows you to search for runs in a particular area and these can be downloaded to your watch, which will guide you around the runs that you decide to try out. This watch is a must for all enthusiastic runners who want to achieve personal bests and attain their goals.