Socks
With so much pressure on your feet, especially when you are running on hard surfaces, your choice of running
socks is vital. Although some runners prefer to run without
socks – indeed many running shoes are now designed with no seams inside the foot box to facilitate this – your
socks need to be the right size and of such a quality t
hat they do not wrinkle or bunch, causing discomfort and/or blisters. The longer the run or race, the more important this becomes.
Off-road running places even more stress on the performance of your socks as water, mud and grit penetrate your running shoes – and socks. Because of the increased abrasion, cross-country, trail or fell running socks tend to wear out more quickly and there is an argument for buying cheaper (dark coloured!) pairs, so long as they provide the right level of comfort and fit initially. In winter, it is worth considering a pair of waterproof running socks. Although they are more expensive, they are well worth the extra cost on wet runs in winter.
Gloves
Gloves are an essential part of all runners’ equipment. It is surprising how quickly hands become cold and unresponsive when you are running in wet or windy weather. A thin pair of running gloves can make all the difference to how you are feeling in such weather. In addition, although your hands may feel warm during a run, it is very common for runners to experience circulation problems in their hands afterwards, as the body recovers from its exertions. As with
socks, a pair of waterproof running gloves is a good investment for cold, wet days.
Runners are required to carry a pair of gloves for most trail and fell races.
Hats
A peaked
cap is a useful piece of running equipment for very bright, sunny days, where the peak can shade the eyes and reduce strain. A
cap can also help to keep you warmer on a cold day, though they can be a liability on windy days. A fleece or Polartec
hat or balaclava can be a life saver when running on cold and/or windy days. Again, runners are required to carry a
hat for most trail and fell races.
Compression Clothing
Many manufacturers are now introducing compression clothing into their product range. Compression clothing is a base layer t
hat is specifically designed to maintain an even body surface temperature when running by ‘wicking away’ perspiration over a wide area. Some manufacturers have ranges for hot and cold weather events – i.e. the garments keep you cool when running in hot weather events, but keep you warm, if the weather should be cold or windy. As its name implies, compression clothing ‘grips’ your muscles to improve blood flow, enhance the efficiency of the muscles, reduce muscle ‘wobble’ and aid recovery, post exercise. This type of garment is more expensive than other running base layers, but you may consider t
hat, if wearing compression clothing produces the benefits claimed by the manufacturer, it may be worth the extra cost.
