Running Gear
Running gear plays an important part in any runner’s life. Running gear comes with many different categories. To start with, you have accessories consisting of a hat of some sort, sunglasses and mittens or gloves for the cold days of running. Lightweight outerwear that removes easily as the body heats up while running. Extreme cold weather finds earmuffs and scarf’s if needed.
Heart monitors come in many different styles, which might include auto/manual visual and audio alarms, ability to track percentage of fat burning and automatically find your heart rate zone. It might sound for every so often when you are in your target zone and have a button free operation. Having a unit that reflects interference from other heart rate monitors helps with accuracy.
Hydration accessories that strap on, belt on, or allow one, two, four and six bottles carried at once. A flask type of bottle, a round oddly shaped bottle for carrying along in the straps and belts. From 4 ounces to 22 ounces, the sizes vary and have shapely designs. The strap on back backpack type watering system allows you to have a hose that reaches around to the front and can be accessed by the runner with ease. Drinking and running has never been easier with this type of setup.
Running gear also looks at power gels, snack bars and powder energy drinks for the training runner and the marathon runner. These supplements give energy and needed nutrients lost during a long hard run. These nutritional products help to keep your body supplied with carbohydrates and sodium that is used by the body during a hard run.
The pedometers and the speed distance monitors for tracking your progress. Speed distance monitors continually monitors your pace, distance, speed and calories burned during a run. The build in GPS tracks through trees and other obstacles. The pedometer comes with different features such as mileage distance, stopwatch, step counters and manual stride adjustments. These items are both recommended for runners in training as well as the novice runner.
Reflective running gear needed for nighttime running such as vests, headbands, wristbands and ankle bands available for the avid runner. The LED lights in different styles for night running. Reflective apparel for a larger area of coverage allows you to be seen from a distance. The vests allow you to move easily, and the headbands give added protection so you will be seen in darkness.
Skin lubricants for prevention of chafing and blisters along with foot powder. Use the skin lubricant on inner thighs, breast area and feet, between the toes. Using this lubricant on the face during cold weather prevents windburn. Insoles to provide extra comfort and cushion for tired feet used to prevent sore feet. Heel cups to provide protection for the heel, which takes on most of the shock from running. Socks for different weather conditions and some have extra heel and toe support.
Running gear for training such as weight-training equipment for upper body and lower body workouts is a necessary part of running gear. Whether you need weights or rolling machines, the proper equipment provides the needed strength training you need. Preventing injury with knee braces and ankle braces when running sometimes needed if you have potential for injury due to a new or previous problem.
Shoes need special consideration when you consider what type of shoe, the style and the material. The trail runner shoe or the flat roadrunner shoe takes special consideration to make sure you get the right shoe with a proper feel. A lightweight shoe, yet durable and constructed for stability when performing a run. Picking the right shoe for your arch type and the proper size for a running foot is extremely important. Shoes should be replace even thought the comfort level established has comfort. Every so many hundreds of miles, shoe needs replacement to support the foot.
Depending on the weather conditions, clothes should be loose and fit comfortably for overall running performance. Women need sports bras and men need supportive cups or something similar. Clothing should be a synthetic material as cotton tends to get wet and damp and holds water-allowing heaviness when running. Tank tops and t-shirts allow for upper body movement and should be loose fitting.
Cold winter running gear needed to keep you warm made of a thermal material fits close to the skin and helps keep the warmth inside. Layering clothing with a lightweight turtleneck and tights over the first layer with a lightweight jacket or windbreaker type jacket helps keep your warm and still flexible for running. A knit ski hat or a knit sky mask to protect the face and head keeps the heat inside.
Top quality running gear needs to be highly rated and not a lower quality for a lower price. Running gear need to meet the standards of top running advisors who have already found what quality products to use verses products not to use. Opinions from other runners sometimes help you find good deals on running gear that you should have for a safe running experience.
One last form of running gear should be the gear bag. Keep all your moveable gear items in one convenient bag with straps for easy carrying and getting around with from point to point. The gear bag ranges in size from small to extra large depending on your needs.
