A Day Late and a Dollar Short...

Once again, running a day behind.  However, I did manage to pick up another class for the fall, work out all the bugs in my syllabi, hit up the farmer's market, run, and make pickles in the meantime, so all was not lost. :)

Something else amazing happened yesterday, which sparked the topic for

today's post.  My new earphones arrived via UPS!  Ok, yesterday UPS actually called to tell me they couldn't deliver to the post office box number I had given the company, so I wouldn't be getting my package until today--which wasn't so amazing.  The earphones are here now, however, and they're fantastic!  So today's blog is about proper fitness "equipment."

When I first started walking last year, I literally put on the tennis shoes I had and hit the streets around my apartment complex in Portage.  I usually walked in the evenings so if I got sweaty, who cared? I came home, took a shower, and was in for the night anyway.  I really didn't purchase any "special" equipment--and it's a tribute to the simplicity of good health to say that anyone can get out there and exercise without anything special.

As I increased my speed into a definite "power walk," I found it necessary to purchase some special equipment.  Like say, a good sports bra.  After all, at sixty pounds heavier--everything was a whole lot bigger.  After a few months, I likewise contemplated buying new shoes--but they seemed so expensive.  I also felt like I never really got a lot of use out of my current pair, even though I had owned them for a couple of years, so they were "probably" fine.

Now, fast forward to last winter when I finally convinced myself, after losing about 45 pounds, that I could probably run--at least a little bit.  It was cold out.  Things were covered in snow and/or ice on a regular basis.  While I was still dedicated to just 30 minutes of exercise a day--it was too darn cold to just "walk" even if it was a quick pace!  Running seemed like a good idea, but it's really hard to run in a scarf, pea coat, jeans, etc.  At this point, it was time to invest in some legitimate exercise apparel.  

Clothing specific to running (or any other individual sport) is generally a bit pricier than your standard cotton tank tops and basketball shorts--but it does have a purpose.  All those moisture-wicking, compression, spandex fabrics are legit.  This being said, you do not need to spend a million dollars putting together your wardrobe--though you certainly could with all that's available out there.

Primarily, you should invest in some good layering pieces for winter running if you run outside.  Compression pants and socks keep your leg muscles warmer (and it takes longer to warm up when you're running in 20' temps), leading to fewer injuries, and also aide in quicker recovery time post-run.  They are meant to fit snugly, but shouldn't be restraining (you are trying to move in them after all!)  If you don't like the Cat Woman/Batman look, you can always throw a pair of running shorts or track pants over them, but they're handy to wear underneath.  Likewise, invest in some of the thin, long-sleeved, compression tops or moisture-wicking shirts to layer under your jacket/sweatshirt.  I really like the stuff Under Armor makes.  It will take you a while to get the hang of how many layers you, individually, will need in a certain temperature to stay comfortable while you run, but eventually you'll know just what to wear when it's ___ temperature outside.

If you're still worried you'll look like a total spandex goon out there in all this garb, let me just say this--when clothing fits closer to your body (not tight!) it helps keep the warmth in while dispelling the moisture quickly.  When you wear something baggy, cold air from the outside easy blows around you, cooling you and your muscles down, making you feel "cold."  Trust me. Get the spandex if you're a winter runner!  Try shopping for stuff on sale (obviously) or at places like TJ Maxx, which offer a plethora of discounted name brand stuff.  You'll have to search through the racks, but there is some good stuff there on the cheap.  I would say your main investments for winter clothing should be a good pair of compression pants and a good, lightweight, but insulated jacket/sweatshirt specifically made for your sport.  These will be more expensive, but you can wear them day after day.  And pick up an earband, gloves, and neckwarmer too for those really chilly (or snowy--how depressing) days.

In the summertime, just as I did when I first started exercising, you can get away without the special equipment--but it does work better than the typical cotton tee in the summer too.  Cotton "breathes" but it can also feel like a heavy, wet, towel on those humid days--the moisture-wicking tanks and shorts won't do that.  You'll feel cooler--but I think it's more personal preference when it's nice out.  I mean, now is your chance to bare all in those Richard Simmons-short shorts, so have at it.

Socks are important too.  Some runners don't wear socks (apparently?) but if you do--and I do, so I recommend you do as well--check them out before buying.  Opt for socks specific to your sport--probably a little more snugly fitting with a little more spandex in them, for running.  I recently started getting some oddly placed blisters on my feet as I began adding distance so I tried out the Feetures brand of socks--lite, merino wool, and padded.  They are specific to your right and left foot and made just for walking/running.  They are also kind of pricey for socks--somewhere around ten to fifteen bucks a pair.  

Honestly? Meh.  On me, anyway, they fit nicely around the ankle and foot bed, but leave a lot of extra space in the toes.  True, they don't slide into my shoes--but I never really had that problem anyway.  They're nice, but I'm not sure they're nice enough for the price.  I also purchased some Adidas running socks, which, in my opinion, seem to work just as well and offer a better personal fit for me.  As for my blister issue--it seems to have stopped.  Maybe I just needed new socks in general--they're probably not manufactured to last forever.  Socks, like talk, are cheap.  Try 'em out and see what you and your feet prefer.

Shoes are probably the single most expensive and absolutely necessary investment any walker/runner will make.  You don't have to spend $500 on a pair of glow in the dark Nikes that promise to drive you home when you've had too much to drink--but you should be willing to make an investment on a quality pair of shoes that fit your feet well and are engineered for your specific sport.  Shoes are all personal preference and fit.  Go to a good running store and get your gait analyzed.  They should also be able to fit you for shoes and recommend certain brands that offer the type of support you'll need (high arches? narrow feet? wide feet?)  You'll also likely wear a larger size in a running shoe--usually half to a full size up, depending on the brand you go with.  If you want to save a few bucks--find a shoe you like and search the Internet for a better price on it.  I prefer New Balance shoes because I have narrow feet and they fit snugly yet have a wider toe box, so my problem hammer toes don't whack into the edges when I run.  

Finally, there's the entertainment factor.  I like to walk/run to music...and a variety at that!  My friend Tiffany recently queried Facebook about what type of armband to get for her iPhone/iPod.  There are lots of options. I always recommend things that are adjustable--the "one size fits all" standard is a ridiculous one, and almost never fits properly, whether we're talking arm bands or Halloween costumes.  

Additionally, headphones/earphones are in wide variety these days.  There are ear buds/phones, over the ear headphones, and those things that latch onto the outside of your ears.  Many of these made specifically for exercise.  Here again, it pays to invest in a pair made for working out.  They are often water (read: sweat) proof or resistant and coated with a different type of plastic that won't disintegrate from sweat, sunblock, etc.  Additionally, make sure you get a pair that stays snugly in/on your ears.  There is nothing worse than constantly trying to readjust your headphones while running.

Perhaps most important to me regarding earphones is sound quality.  I'm a music nerd and band geek--it's no secret.  If I'm going to listen to music it better be at optimal levels--and that doesn't mean LOUD.  I want to hear that lone bassoonist (and Lord knows, any band only needs one). I want to hear Billy Joel take a drink of whiskey in the middle of Piano Man, etc. Yurbuds are supposed to be great earphones for running, but I've experienced Bose--and I refuse to go back to substandard musical quality.

The Bose sound will freaking change your life--I kid you not.  They are not cheap, however.  So if you just aren't the music junkie I am, you might have a problem coughing up more than $100 for earphones.  There are, indeed, plenty of less-expensive versions that will get the job done for your workout, and most of you will probably never know what you're missing (So, so, sad...).  

Moral of the "equipment story" for today?  Get the stuff you need and think "quality" for those really important items.  Splurge here and there on items you find important, but don't feel obligated to break the bank.  It's not a fashion show, it's a lifestyle!