Time for some new gear?

Are you still running in the same pair of shoes that you wore in high school?
Is cotton a mainstay in your running gear?
Are you drinking only water on your long runs?

There's nothing wrong with doing these things but you may be depriving yourself of what new research and technology has to offer, and keeping yourself from that performance that you have always wanted.

Sneaker technology has a come a long way beyond the days of just a layer of cushion. There are new materials that will do everything from making you run faster to correcting biomechanical issues. More importantly, a new pair of shoes might keep you from getting injured as worn shoes don't provide the same amount of support and impact absorption.

Imagine running with a bucket of water. That's what can happen when you run in cotton clothing. While cotton is soft and comfortable, it's not a great material for sweating in. It absorbs sweat but doesn't wick it away properly. As a result, you can end up carrying a lot of extra weight. Plus, cotton tends to chafe in a bad way when it's wet.

Another way to look at it is that to be caught in your cottons on race day is a little like being caught in your clogs in a Manhattan cocktail party. At best it is 'in' if you can pull it off. At worst, it is 'out' and it is also dysfunctional. Several companies now make technical clothing that wicks away your sweat. They can't help you work up a sweat but if you can do that, they can soak it, breathe it out, and leave you dry. And then you won't have to carry around that extra bucket of water during your workout.

Beyond the stuff on the outside, research and technology has come a long way on what you put inside as well. People used to think that water would be enough for any type of workout, and it is important to stay hydrated (though you can also be overhydrated and get hyponutremia -- more later). Have you ever felt that sudden loss of energy during a workout? Well, it could be that you didn't fuel yourself properly. In future articles, we'll go into detail but suffice it to say there are several products available now that are designed to keep you well-fueled for your workouts and races.

We've covered a few things in this installment rather briefly. We'll be diving deeper into these topics and more in future installments so be sure to check this blog weekly for new information. And, if you have any comments, questions, or topic suggestions, please let us know. We'd love to hear from you!