When you walk into a running store, you may be overwhelmed by the variety of the clothing and gear choices, as well as the prices. It’s true that good running clothes and gear are expensive. It’s also true that they can last a long time if you take care of them–more on that below.
This will be a general overview of the gear you might find useful. I’ll do more item-specific reviews in future posts.
Like socks in my last post, moisture-wicking is the key for running clothing. Cotton and other fabrics hold moisture longer and you have a greater risk of chafing. While runners used cotton and other “non-wicking” materials for decades, we’re much more comfortable now. Again similar to socks, once you have the right material, you pick what piece of clothing is most comfortable and the color/style that best suits you.
Depending on when you’re beginning your running program, you may be able to get away with starting small, such as shorts and a shirt. As you move into the fall and winter, you will likely want to add a light pullover, running tights/pants, or even a heavier running jacket. Gloves and headgear are essential.
Many races are now handing out moisture-wicking/synthetic/tech shirts. If you run two or three a year, you may be boosting your running wardrobe by two or three shirts a year–obviously more if you race more. Some winter and fall races will hand out long sleeve shirts, too. If you don’t like how the race-designed shirt looks there’s no problem, just use it as a base layer for your winter running. Nobody has to see it.
You may be able to get away with more basics than you realize. For years, I only had one pair of light running tights for winter running. When it got under ten degrees, I would wear those then throw an old-school pair of sweatpants on top. The sweatpants didn’t have the properties I prefer but since they were an outer layer on top of the tights, it didn’t matter.
I would encourage you to be creative getting “new” running gear. If I’m parking somewhere for a run, I put my essentials in a running wallet. Except that my running wallet isn’t an official one. When we were moving recently, I found our old digital camera case (remember those?) and it was a perfect size for a few ID cards, cash, and my car key. Instead of buying new running gear and tossing the camera case into one of our donation boxes, I had a free running wallet.
For your hydration/nutrition needs, there are a few basic options including handheld bottles, belts with bottle holders/zippered pockets, and small backpacks you can wear. What you use is all personal preference. I will say that if you’re running longer than a couple of hours, a belt with bottle holders/small backpack is pleasant as you can either have your hands free, or you can use that plus a hand-held bottle and have extra fluids.
As you develop as a runner, your wardrobe and gear will increase. This is helpful because even though the workaround options are fine, you’ll be more comfortable in the new clothes that are designed for running. In the meantime, be creative and practical and you’ll surprise yourself with what you can do.
When you are ready to wash your running clothes, modern washing machines are gentler than older ones. Regardless of the age of the washer, air-drying will preserve the clothes’ longevity. Also, I never, ever throw my running shoes in the washer. For starters, they’re running shoes, not work shoes. They’re supposed to get dirty. In addition, submerging them in water and soap, even on a gentle cycle, breaks down the materials faster.
Much of my running gear has lasted for years by taking care of it. In the photo above, the shirt and shorts were acquired over ten years ago. I can’t guarantee yours will last a long time too, but your odds are good if you’re careful with it.
Running food review of the week: (note–gels, bars, chews, and other items affect everyone differently. Try them on a short run before using them for a key training run or race): Clif Shot strawberry. Clif has been a popular brand among athletes, especially runners, for a long time. I’ve always loved Clif Bars. However, years ago their gels, known as Clif Shots, had a heavy brown rice syrup flavor. Many people liked it. I was not a big fan. However, I tried the strawberry Clif Shot last week. It is all strawberry, no brown rice syrup that I can taste, and it is all good. I’m glad because it is highly regarded and it’s good to have an additional flavored gel I enjoy.
I’m signed up for the Jackalope 5K in Laramie, Wyoming this coming weekend. It sits at 7,000 feet so I’m not expecting a fast time but it seems like a fun adventure. Will report back on that next time in the context of running untamed…