Running Clothes And Gadgets
Surfing the internet or traipsing up and down the high street in search for decent running kit is an arduous task, even for those with a high spectrum compulsive shopping disorder.
Finding the good looking running clothes at reasonable prices is all that everyone wants, so fitFAQS have decided to give you a helping hand and use our experience of years of sports goods shopping and point you in the right direction of trusted stores and great products.
Have a look below and check out some of the sites where we recommend you should go shopping.
Running Clothes
Like nearly everything in life, more often than not, you get what you pay for.
When it comes to buying running clothes, I cannot stress the importance of spending that little bit extra, to ensure that the clothes you buy are comfortable and made specifically for runners.
All of the top manufacturers make great clothes for high mileage runners training for 10km, half marathon and marathons so its really a case of trying on different trousers, tops and vests etc and see which make suits your body type.
Running Tops
Running are essential to get right.Not just so that you look the part when you're pounding the streets but also you need to make sure that the top fits correctly and isn't tight under the arms. Many people buy a running vest or t-shirt which looks good but often after a few miles the fabric can rub and chaffe the area just under the armpit and it can get really sore.
Whether you choose a figure hugging top or a baggy t-shirt keep this in mind and if you find a brand which suits your physique then do not take a risk and swap brands just a few weeks before your even - you might end up sore in places other than your legs!
Running Shorts
When it comes to choosing shorts to run in, runners have very varied tastes.
Some runners prefer to wear just a pair of under shorts - like cycling shorts. Others prefer to wear a under shorts and another pair of shorts over the top.
Whatever floats your boat, once again avoid any risk that the area surrounding your "bits" could become chaffed. If you choose shorts which feel a bit tight in your groin area without running a step, its likely that this will be really irritating and sore after a 10 miler.
Running Gadgets
These may not be as essential for training as your trainers, but I strongly recommend you consider buying one or two of the following.
You needn't spend very much but the following "toys" genuinely add great benefit to your training and make it far less tedious.
Heart Rate Monitor
Of all the gadgets, a heart rate monitor is arguably the gizmo that should be at the top of your shopping list.
Using a heart rate monitor for your training runs is extremely useful to help track your progress, keep you running at the right intensity and stop you from under or over training.
By keeping an eye on your heart rate, it is much easier to gauge if you are overworking or under working during a training run, plus its good fun.
Depending on your budget, they can cost as little as £30 for one which just measures your heart rate, up to £200 which offers a number of statistics on your training performance.
For the best and most competitively priced models, I can highly recommend www.heartratemonitor.co.uk. Not only do they have a range of heart rate monitors to suit every budget but they stock a whole range of other running gadgets that will keep you company through your training.
By keeping an eye on your heart rate during your training, it is much easier to gauge if you are overworking or under working during a training run and over time you can see how much your running performance and fitness improves.
Depending on your budget, they can cost as little as £30 for one which just measures your heart rate, up to £200 which offers a number of statistics on your training performance.
Distance and speed measuring devices
There are a number of distance measuring devices on the market and it is very much up to you and your budget which one you get or whether you feel you need one at all.
The accuracy of these neat devices has improved immeasurably over the years and according to heartratemonitor.co.uk the new "Dynastream" Footpods, manufactured by Polar and Suunto offer 97%accuracy - without the need for calibration.
They are really useful to have on any training run, but particularly handy if you live "out in the sticks"
The Top 3 most popular devices are:
Nike Plus
Nike have teamed up with Apple and have come up with an ingenious invention. For just £20, you can buy a little pod which you can attach to your shoe and a small attachment which you click into the bottom of your iPod Nano.
It's a great gadget for a relatively small amount of money and with the option of uploading your runs to an online running community through iTunes, it is one of the most popular running gadgets available.
Running Pods
Both Polar and Suunto manufacture similar shoe pods, which work in a very similar way to the Nike Plus system, though they are more accurate and provide much more feedback.
They work by measuring the movement of the foot over 1,000 times per second in all 3 dimensions, they then translate all that data to pure forward motion. They are really smart gadgets are well worth considering investing in.
The pod transmits information such as running speed (in mph or kph), pace per mile (or Km), information on your splits and much more which you can then download onto your PC.
Running pods are more expensive than the Nike plus system but if you are a sucker for gadgets and love the aspect of looking at and logging your running data, they are certainly worth the investment.
GPS
Arguably the "
Rolls Royce" of running gadgets, GPS devices gives the runner the same information that running pods do, with similar accuracy.
Not dissimilar to the Sat Nav system you get in a car, GPS devices monitor your running speed, average running speed and distance covered.
Most GPS systems fit onto your wrist like a watch and are a fantastic addition to your running kit - if you can afford it. With prices starting at £120 they are pricy - but great fun to use and give you a lot of feedback on your running performance.