Running is an ideal sport for a lot of people because it does not involve
investing in a great deal of expensive equipment or gear. With only a few basic
pieces of gear, a novice runner can be ready to hit the streets and start
running. Compare this to other sports such as golf, rock climbing or ice skating
which all involve the purchase of a great deal of expensive gear to function in
the sport. You can also compare this to other team sports such as soccer,
basketball and football which may not require a great deal of equipment but do
require the participant to find and join an organized team or club to
participate in the sport. This is significant because this can make practicing
the sport more time consuming, more expensive and less convenient. However,
running involves only minimal equipment and can be practiced by the individual
either alone or in a group. This article will outline a few of the basic pieces
of running gear required and will also discuss a few pieces of more specialized
pieces of gear which are not necessary but can make running more enjoyable or
more effective.
A good pair of sneakers is one of the most important pieces of gear for any
runner. Quality sneakers are very important because they can help the runner to
avoid injuries and can also keep him more comfortable while running. If you are
unsure about what type of running shoe would be best for you, you should
consider purchasing a running shoe from a store which specializes in selling
sneakers to runners. This is important because the salespeople in these stores
are likely to be much more knowledgeable than the personnel in a store where the
sale of running shoes is not the main focus of the store. Many of these
specialized running stores even videotape customers running on a treadmill to
evaluate their running style before making suggestions for possible sneaker
selections. Once the salesperson has made these suggestions, they may ask the
customer to run in each of these shoes to determine which shoe is best for the
customer. The salesperson can make recommendations for which sneaker seems to be
the best suited for the runner’s style of running but the customer will have to
determine which sneaker feels the most comfortable.
Comfortable socks are also an important piece of running gear. This is so
important because socks which do not fit properly or are not designed
specifically for running can cause the runner to develop blisters. This often
occurs if the socks do not fit properly and cause the fabric to rub against the
foot while the person is running. Some popular types of socks designed
specifically for runners have two layers to the sock. The inside layer fits
closely to the foot while the outside layer fits more loosely. This type of
design protects the foot from movement of the fabric because the inner layer
acts as a buffer in case there is any movement from the outer layer.
In addition to functional socks and shoes, a runner should also invest in
quality clothing appropriate for the season. This should include shorts or pants
and a long sleeve or short sleeve shirt of a thickness appropriate for the
current weather conditions. Lightweight shirts with short sleeves are ideal for
warm climates while heavier weight shirts with long sleeves are ideal for cooler
climates. Additionally, materials which help to wick moisture away from the skin
can help to keep the runner cool and dry and can also help to prevent problems
which may occur from moist clothing rubbing against the skin such as chafing.
There are other types of clothing which can also be very useful for running but
are not exactly necessary to participate in a sport. This includes gear such as
hats, raingear, or clothing designed to resist the wind. These specific pieces
of clothing can help a runner to feel more comfortable in specific weather
situations. For example a hat with a wide brim can be very useful to runners who
frequently run in very sunny weather. The hat can prevent sun from getting into
the eyes and will protect the skin on the face from the damaging results of
overexposure to the sun. Raingear including waterproof pants and jackets can
also be useful for runners who do not want to curtail their running just because
it is raining. Effective raingear will prevent the runner from becoming cold and
wet while running in the rain.
Runners may also wish to invest in high tech gadgets to aid them in their
running program. Gadgets such as heart rate monitors, speed and distance
monitors and watches designed specifically for runners may not be necessary but
they can be very useful. A heart rate monitor is a device which typically
includes a chest strap and a wrist unit. The chest strap transmits information
to the wrist unit and the wrist unit displays useful information such as the
heart rate but may also include information such as the number of calories
burned. Using a heart rate monitor can enable a runner to fine tune his training
program to ensure he is training at the right intensity. Speed and distance
monitors allow the runner to track useful information such as how far he has
run, the pace at which he is running and also allows him to store this
information for future use. The majority of these monitors utilize a GPS system
to supply this information. Most of the high tech gadgets useful for runners can
be rather expensive but many runners find these useful tools are very valuable
during the training process.
The video clip above is from my DVD about running stetches and other running related information. Click on the DVD case below to find out more.
