Running is one form of exercise that involves a minimal amount of equipment and can be done almost anywhere. To get the best out of your run, it’s important that the equipment you do have is right for you.
Shoes
The most important piece of equipment to get right is your running shoes. The impact of running sees approximately 10 times your body weight being carried by your legs and feet. If your shoes aren’t the right fit for your feet, you could be increasing the risk of injury and pain in the legs, hips and lower back.
Your shoes should:
Clothing
You can run in almost anything - there’s nothing wrong with running in an old t-shirt and shorts. But running in cotton can get uncomfortable and heavy when you start to sweat. I like to run in ‘technical’ fabrics that wick sweat away from the body – especially in the colder months.
Compression clothing is also popular and helps with recovery and performance.
Sun protection
While one of the joys of running involves enjoying the great outdoors, you do need to remember to ‘slip, slop, slap’. Sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are a must. A note on sunscreen – you will be sweating and sunscreen and sweat in the eyes is not great. I usually don’t put sunscreen on my forehead to stop this from happening, and I wear a hat to keep this part of face covered.
Sports bras
Ladies, just like your shoes need to be the right fit, so does your sports bra. Your bra should be the correct size, comfortable to wear, have moisture control (wick sweat) and provide the right level of support for high impact activity. Don’t let your bra get too old, and get it fitted by an expert.
Are you running with the right equipment?