When January came around most of us were full of the best of intentions. Many of us were wanting to throw ourselves into an exercise regime and shift the extra pounds. Whatever you planned make sure you have all the right equipment. Otherwise, your new resolutions might be over before the month is out! This article points you in the right direction of all the essential items you need to get the most out of running.
A Running Bra
Starting off with what I would consider one of the most important items, the running bra. This will give you a high level of support when running and prevent you from being in pain. You need to be very careful with breasts, too much movement and you can strain them causing irreversible damage. The biggest issue with the breasts is they are only held together by ligaments and skin. Therefore they can be easily injured with vigorous movement.
Running Shoes
You need to invest in a good pair of running shoes as they play a vital role in protecting your feet, joints and knees. Decent running shoes are designed for comfort and performance. They also need to be flexible to prevent injury. Your running shoes will have to cope with a considerable impact as you hit the tracks, so shock absorption is paramount.
Comfortable Clothing
What you wear will be weather dependent. But you can pick up specialized running clothing, which will be lightweight and easier to manage. If you are struggling with sweat, you could buy some headbands. Sweat on your face can be a real distraction which will only slow you down!
Think About Being Seen
If you run when its dark, which is quite easy to do by the time you have arrived home from work, make sure you can be seen easily. You can buy clothing that has reflective strips for high visibility. Or instead, you can get a clip on safety light or armbands with LEDs, you want traffic to know you are there.
Pocket Armband or holder
These are ideal for storing your mobile phone. Then you can listen to music or a podcast during your run and a phone can help keep you safe. If you are running somewhere new you can use the GPS and an online map to track your route or if you get lost you can call for help.
Stay Hydrated
It can be a bit of a bind carrying a water bottle in your hand for the entire run. There are other easier options like a flask belt or a running vest with pockets for drinks. These are more convenient and leaves your hands free.
Running Watch
Furthermore its a good idea to see how your doing and a running watch does just that. You can check the distance you have covered, your heart rate and the calories you have burned. All good stuff to keep you motivated and on track for success.
A Running App
If you are looking for a free app that comes highly recommended, perhaps you could try couch to 5k with the NHS. It’s a great way to slowly build up your stamina especially if you haven’t exercised in a while. The nine week plan covers three runs a week with music to keep you motivated.
