It has been said that running is a sport that takes no outlay of money to participate. While you could run in bare feet and a loin cloth, I wouldn’t suggest it! There are people who would lead you to believe that running barefoot is the holy grail of the sport. They tell you that your foot is so amazing that putting shoes on them is like wallpapering over the Mona Lisa.

What these people can’t seem to get through their thick skulls is that while the bare foot is natural, running on concrete is not! You also hear stories about the grand conspiracy of the running shoe companies, who are keeping us enslaved by high heels and cushioning, somehow creating a throng of zombie heel strikers. The real story is much more interesting, from a scientific standpoint, but it doesn’t sell sensational books or shoes that look like misshapen gloves. The fact is that the major running shoe companies pour an awful lot of money into biomechanical engineering in order to make you run farther and faster, all the while lessening your chances of getting injured in the process. Shoes with cushioning no more promote bad running form than seat belts promote bad driving.

Once all the smoke clears, what does this all mean? Simply that the single most important investment that you can make, if you want to be a successful runner, is a properly fitted pair of running shoes. Period! End of story! And when I say properly fitted, I mean that you need to visit a store the specializes in runners and running shoes, and spend up to an hour or so getting properly fitted. Don’t cut corners. Don’t pick out a pair of shoes at the local big box store, or buy them on the internet. You need to be professionally fitted, at least for your first pair or two. Once you have a good pair of running shoes, everything else is gravy. Well, almost…

The thing that goes hand in hand with your shoes are socks that are made for running. They aren’t your average cotton pair that you used to wear to the gym, or way back in high school. Synthetic fiber socks pull moisture away from your feet to keep you comfortable, but more importantly, they help to prevent blisters. Blisters don’t feel good, and if you don’t feel good, you are less likely to want to get out there and run. Don’t wear socks that cause blisters!

Now the first thing that a lot of guys will have to get over is the look of running socks. They look…how should I put this…a little like the short socks that your mother used to wear when she went out to play tennis. Get over it! While wearing socks like this to the mall may cause you to lose points on the cool-o-meter, they are all the rage with runners. If you really can’t stand the short ones, some companies make them to go up over the ankle. I prefer an above ankle cut, because I sometimes zone out on my form and accidentally clip my ankle with the sole of my opposite shoe while running. A little extra protection there sometimes helps.

So you have shoes and socks, you are now ready to be a streaker! No, wait! Streaking went out in the 70’s, so don’t forget you clothes! For now, just any old pair of shorts and a tee shirt will do. You aren’t going to be putting on a ton of miles in the beginning, and you already forked over a bunch of dough for your shoes and socks, so save up for to buy some running clothes later.

While we’re on the subject of clothes, here’s a tip for the guys. Girls, if you are reading this, close your eyes for a minute. Guys, remember what I said about socks and blisters? The same thing can happen to your nether regions, if you live in a warm, or humid climate, or you tend to sweat a lot. The cotton in regular supporters or skivvies will get wet and stick to your skin, causing irritation that you don’t really want to feel. Conversely, going commando isn’t recommended, as the places that have a little extra skin tend to rub against other places, and you can figure out the unhappy ending to that story! Most running shorts come with a built in brief, or compression component, kind of like what’s inside of your average bathing suit. If you want to wear regular shorts, I would suggest wearing compression shorts underneath. Your naughty bits will thank you! OK girls, you can open your eyes now…

If you are starting to run in the dead of winter in Alaska, all bets are off for shorts and tee shirts, as you really need specialty clothing to keep from freezing your nubs off! If you live in a place where it rains all the time, I send my condolences, and suggest that you can look for running clothes that will keep you slightly dryer, but you’re going to get wet. Not much I can help you with on that one. If you are unsure of what type of clothing to wear, the general rule of thumb is to dress as if the temperature is 10 degrees warmer than it shows on the thermometer. Your body heat from running will take care of the rest.

Now that you are properly shod, have something comfortable to move around in, and you have that all important plan in place, are you ready to start running? Let’s go!

Can running really be enjoyable? We’ll talk about that next time.