Running Gear
All you need for running is a pair of trainers. That is the basic requirement and after that you are free to choose gear and gadgets to your heart’s content. I have found that new gear can motivate you a little to start something but it won’t keep up your motivation. So don’t buy stuff thinking “if I buy it I’ll use it”. Just look at the amount of unused exercise equipment people have in their houses (I bet every house in the UK has at least 1 piece of useless exercise equipment).
The motivation is in your head not in your gear!
However, it is nice to have “gear” so here is my list of stuff:
- Aasics 1100 trainers (magic! cost around £50)
- Nike+ adapter for my iPod Nano (£16)
- Adidas running shorts (£12)
- Canterbury top (like the ones rugby players wear. It is a winter one to keep warm)
- A couple of other running tops to alternate with
- Nike fleecy trousers for really cold nights (I haven’t ventured into running tights yet - my arse is a bit big for that at the moment)
- A Gore running hat (£16. Christmas present from my wife and it is brilliant)
- An Altura bike jacket (£60? Christmas present from my mother in law. Fantastic in the heavy rain)
All in all you can get well kitted out for £100.
I may go for a Garmin GPS monitor at some point - that will be my present to myself for doing a half marathon.
It is important not to look like the guy who buys all the fancy gear but can’t run for shit. It is much better to be the guy in old t-shirt and shorts who suprises people by being able to run. I think I’m somewhere in the middle 