Starting Running, any advice on equipment from Reg Runners?

[Vardinhio]

My fitness is pretty average through football but I want to up it. I currently do weights etc at home but I really struggle to get motivated to do the cardio side.

I wont be getting a gym membership as the gyms near me are either very poorly equipped or overly busy at reasonable times.

To start running I obviously want to get the basic gear at a reasonable price (as cheap as I can really).

Does anyone have any recomendations for trainers? watches? other bits of kit I will probably need?

[danny.]

Most runners wear Garmin watches, I have a 210 - old shape but great watch, stuff like the 100 and FR60 are smaller and more modern looking, and the FR60 is pretty cheap (£60ish). You might be able to get away with using an app on your phone though, like MapMyRun or Endomondo or Nike+ etc. which is free.

Trainers - get something comfy, that's it. The rest of the 'features' on running shoes are gimmicks. You don't need to spend more than £40.

Gear - just wear whatever you do for football, some kind of breathable technical material is best so you don't get too hot. In the winter gloves are useful.

Motivation - maybe run with a club or try something like Parkrun, running can be pretty boring especially if you are doing it on your own or have no goals. Maybe enter a race in a few months and then follow a training schedule which will make it all more focused.

[Alexikokopops]

On the motivation front I couple it with running to and from work (changing the route regularly depending on how far I'm running that way), which is great if you can!. It adds an extra purpose. It would take me 20 minutes to cycle home for instance so running five miles in 40 minutes is only really taking 20 minutes out my day. If I run direct it's quicker than getting the bus or tube in. Obviously not everyone can do this! Failing that you can look for a local running club. I haven't got round to this yet (I like to stick to my own training schedules) but when I looked at my local it only cost £30 for the whole year (and that's London prices) so certainly a lot cheaper than the gym.

As for a watch, I agree with Danny on the Garmin front. If you're only just starting I'd think about investing in a watch. You can start off using a phone app to track runs. It obviously not as accurate and doesn't have the features but it will do to start with until you realise if it's worth investing in a watch.

[Vardinhio]

Cheers Danny,

I have seen an app called Runkeeper that I might try on my iphone. This might sound silly but obviously if I use it I'm gonna need to keep it on my person. Do people tend to just keep them in a zipped pocket or something?

Thanks for the heads up on trainers, I have noticed there is a big disparity between prices and wondered what the difference was.

[anotherharboroughfox]

I used to just put a pair of trainers on and run round a reasonable circuit, time myself and keep trying to beat it. Worked wonders for my fitness, take an mp3 player though otherwise you'll get bored.

[danny.]

Cheers Danny,

I have seen an app called Runkeeper that I might try on my iphone. This might sound silly but obviously if I use it I'm gonna need to keep it on my person. Do people tend to just keep them in a zipped pocket or something?

Yea, I have a watch but take my phone on long runs as it's good to be able to make/take calls and also good for podcasts/music - I have something like this:

http://www.wiggle.co...udio-waistpack/

You hardly notice it's on, and don't notice it at all after about a minute. You can get arm band versions too, but I prefer the waist one myself. Useful to put money and a key in too.

Thanks for the heads up on trainers, I have noticed there is a big disparity between prices and wondered what the difference was.

There is loads of 'science' in trainers, and the more expensive ones apparently do all kinds of stuff which helps absorb the shock, for example this one has an "infinity wave plate"and costs about £170.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot3RE3-TTtE

I have no idea what that means, but in my own experience it's all bollocks - the shoe companies dream up new jargon every year in an attempt to sell very expensive shoes. They certainly don't stop you getting injured or make you quicker, any more than wearing £300 football boots will make you as good as Ronaldo!

All you need to absorb shock is land on the front/middle of your foot and your leg and nature does the rest.

If you are going to start running even 30 mins a week, I would say it's vital to learn how to run (most people don't bother, and then get injured/suck at running), so spend an hour watching some videos etc. this one is good for starters:

[FoxyPV]

Use mapmyrun to get your circuit / distance.

Get your gait checked (any decent running shop should do this for you)

Get good running shoes - no need to break the bank (mandmsports.com)

Use music / podcasts.

Develop a schedule and stick to it regardless. Once you're in the habit it makes it much harder to stop.

Keep a log to monitor your progress.

Increase the difficulty or find a competitive race to test yourself.

As for weights, get a programme that will benefit your running.

Good luck.

[Orkneyfox]

Running up here ( not that I would do anything so energetic) it makes sense to have some sort of reflective or hi-vis element to your kit.

[FoxesAreBlue]

If you're just running for fitness and not training for a race I would say that you don't need a big, fancy (expensive) watch. A simple 'sports watch' with a stop watch will be fine. You'll soon get bored of analysing your runs if it's not in preparation for an event.

As Danny. Says about the trainers. Don't fall for all of the hype (as I have been guilty of in the past) if you want a pair of running shoes then entry level Asics (about £25) will be fine.

A technical tshirt for the summer and some Nikepro/UnderArmour for the winter (Cold Gear Mock Top usually around £25) is all you will need.

[Bryn]

Consider going to a proper running shop and getting properly fitted for your first running shoes, getting injured early on will probably lill your motivation. If you want to use an iPod while running get one of them arm holster things for it, makes it easier and more comfortable than having it in your pocket in my opinion. I wear one of those Nike drifit tops that I got cheap in the Nike outlet in Salford, very comfortable, I also run with cycling shorts under my normal shorts because I cannot tolerate any kind of chafing or dangling!

[danny.]

Consider going to a proper running shop and getting properly fitted for your first running shoes, getting injured early on will probably lill your motivation.

Shoes won't make any difference to injury, you might get blisters if they don't fit well or aren't comfy but that's it. Injury comes from overtraining, weak muscles, poor technique etc.

[danny.]

No idea how good this is but this watch is very cheap and claims to do speed/distance/pace http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_28573.htm

[Rincewind]

In the charity shop where I volunteer there are some exercise machines just come in. They include a running machine with a guage fitted.