One of the reasons I love running is that it's an easy-entry sport in terms of equipment you need. This is actually one of the main reasons I started running a decade or so ago. I didn't need to invest a lot in a bunch of stuff, and I could practice my sport anywhere. All running really requires is a good pair of shoes and some decent clothing (which is becoming much more accessible and a whole lot cheaper with good options available at Target, Kohl's, and even places like TJ Maxx and Marshall's).
I did my first triathlon last year and was overwhelmed with all the gear I had to get for my bike: The bike itself (which was not cheap even though I bought a pretty unsophisticated ride), helmet, pedals since the ones that came on my bike weren't good for racing, water bottle cage and bottles, frame pump, floor pump, an 'emergency kit' in case of a flat, a bike rack, and a lock. Phew - I'm exhausted just from typing that list! And I'm still not done - now that I'm getting a little more serious about riding, I need to upgrade my handlebars and my pedals (again) and get new shoes. With running I don't really think about the equipment. I get new shoes every 200-250 miles and buy the occasional new pair of socks or shorts or a shirt (though now that most races give technical shirts as premiums, I hardly ever buy one outside of a race).
Running is simple - from the gear to the actual act of doing it - and simple, to me, is good.
Photo: My neat little gear pile in the gym locker room
No comments:
Post a Comment