Shoes & Gear 101 (Part 2)
Rule #2: Avoid the Rub – Get the right apparel.
chafe
v. chaf·ing
1. To wear away or irritate by rubbing.
1.b Soreness or irritation of the skin caused by friction
Since you are just starting out as a new runner you will want to avoid any obsticles to enjoying and continuing the sport. Chafing is not fun and easily prevented especially if you don’t run in the usual gym cotton tshirt. Now all major sport brands have their own versions of high-performance running apparel. This basically consit of a microfiber polyester fabric that is designed to pull sweat away from the body and transport it to the surface where it evaportes and leaves the skin dry and cool. Some of the well know brands are:
-
Adidas: CoolMax ™
Asics: Hydrology™
Brooks: Silc ™
New Balance: Lighting Dry ™
Nike: DriFit ™
Under Armour: PolyArmour ™
-
Tip: Might want to pick up some Bodyglide ™
to target those specific areas of concerns (armpits, inner thigh, etc.)
Rule #3: Hydration – we all need it.
In the beginning you might start doing anywhere from 1 to 3 miles. Before doing any run make sure you are well hydrated. If you had any wine the night before with dinner I can guarentee your body needs some water before any physical activity. When you make your way passed 3 miles I would suggest making sure the area you are running (parks, etc) has some fountains accesible or you should carry your own water. If you want to go low tech use one of those 12 fl. oz. bottled waters you can find in any grocey store.
If you want something a bit more comfortable and reusable, everything from hand held bottles, running belts to small back packs are available. Here are some examples:
If you are interested there is free shipping on Camelbak Hydration Systems at Backcountry.com. I’m a big fan of these guys.
Shoes & Gear 101,(Part 2), (Part 3)