My Running Kit Essentials
Have you ever been late for a bus or a train? When I worked in the city, I had a great knack of always running late for my train both to and from work, so I can confirm that you can pretty much run wearing anything (although the amount of heels I snapped during my train sprints is testament that there is some kit that is better than others!).
So, what’s the point of all this fancy kit available to runners? I mean, all these companies can’t be telling you what you need if, well, you don’t need it!
First and foremost, if you fancy going for a run, get on out there and do it. Don’t let the thought that you haven’t got the right stuff stop you doing what you want to do. You don’t need a lot - some sports wear and sports shoes (although these too can be optional) should do the trick.
The last thing I want to do here is put up a great big tick list that you can then use as a ‘get out of run’ pass. When I started running back in high school at 13 years old, I was wearing a netball skirt I made in sewing class, and a pair Dunlop tennis shoes! The longer I’ve been running the more discerning I’ve become with what I like to wear on my runs, but my point is, when starting out don’t over think it.
Once you catch the bug for running and you want to go further, faster, rougher – that’s when you might want to start looking at being a bit more specific with what you use.
You may take some time to work out what is best for you (I know, it’s taken me years to work it out!), but here’s my basic training run kit that I use on a daily basis:
Shoes: Hoka - road or trail
Socks: Runderwear
Shorts: These vary depending on my mood and the weather and include underarmour and scimitar running shorts, Flanci skorts, Runderwear bike shorts, Kymira sport leggings
Sports top: Runderwear
Tee’s: These also vary from tees, tanks, long-sleeve, but usually made from a quick drywick material
Headwear: vary on the purpose - Attain cap for sun, wind and rain protection, Chasing Extraordinary headbuff for branding and keeping my ears extra warm, beanie for when it’s ridiculously cold.
Watch: Polar Vantage - I chose this watch for its very long battery life
Phone: for safety and selfies
For my longer, or more technical, runs, I start adding to my basics:
Backpack: You’ll usually see me out running with some form of back pack on whether it’s a short run or a long run - these vary in sizes and brands (8l Salomon, 20l OMM through to 30l Ultimate Direction). For my shorter runs it’s really not necessary, but I’m usually out practicing/training for my longer runs and so I wear it to get used to having something on my back. It’s handy for keys, phone, extra kit such as rain jackets, and I also carry a constant supply of poo bags (usually for the dog, but has been known to be for me too), toilet paper, hand sanitiser, and an emergency blanket.
Wind/Rain jacket: Inov8 wind jacket, Ronhill rain jacket and Rab for extreme conditions when you’d rather be in, but for some insane reason, you’re still out giving it all you’ve got.
Lubricant: Glide for my tootsies and rub areas (thigh gap, crotch, armpit, under boobs, back, waistband areas). I sweat and whether my kit says it’s chafe-free or not, I chafe after a while.
Sunscreen: Nutrogena sportface F70 - I probably should have put this up in the essentials. I’ve got freckly skin and with so many of my friends and family having skin cancers removed from living in the ozone depleted harsh Australian sunshine, I ‘slip, slop, slap’ (an Aussie advert meaning slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat) when I run.
Tent: yep, those runs do exist where you run all day and camp where you stop, then get up the next day and run again.
These longer runs also require sustenance and here’s where food, water and supplements become things to consider. I have been known to eat anything from sweeties to burgers and pizzas during a long run, and my beverages have ranged from water through to beer - although I once took a swig of vodka that had been put into one of my drink bottles for a party I think - its definitely not something I recommend, but it didn’t kill me soooo … but no, I’ll stick my little neck out and suggest that vodka should not really be considered a beverage for long distance running. I’ll write more about food and drinks in another post. It’s a doozy of a topic.
I also mentioned above about wearing shoes, or maybe not. I do run in my bare tootsies occasionally - I use these session to improving my running body position, technique and balance, and also for improving the strength of the tendons, ligaments and bones in my feet. But this again is a doozy of a topic that deserves its own blog.
In summary, I’ve listed my favourites which has ended up being quite a long list and what I wear depends on my mood, the distance, the location, the weather and mostly my mood (yep, mentioned it twice, because I can be in one mood at the start of a run and then get changed mid run … I know I have a fickle mind, but I own it!)
Don’t let “not having the right kit” stand in your way for getting out on a run, there’s no right and I really don’t think there’s a total wrong, although there’s definitely a weird - have you ever seen someone fancy dressed in a Borat swimsuit, I have and wow talk about chaffing opportunities in that outfit.
Go for a run, enjoy the movement, learn what feels comfy for you and keep being extraordinarily you.
If you enjoyed this blog and would like more advice and tips on how to do crazy-assed adventures or follow me as I take them on, please join me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Or you can subscribe to my YouTube channel.
X Nikki
P.S. My book ‘With a Little Dash of Crazy’ is available from my shop. Click here to buy a copy, it’s an epic true running adventure story about the time I ran 63 marathons in 63 days.
Running 63 marathons in 63 days in your 50th year seemed a little crazy to most, but maybe a ‘little dash of crazy’ was what it was going to take.