What’s a good running starter kit?
A It’s that time of year again, is it? Where readers beg flat-foot plodder GaGu to reveal his top-secret jogging tech? Fine. Start with the motivation. Ignore those lithe, gorgeous, matte people pounding the pavement: focus instead on the glistening chunky dudes trying their best. If they can do it, so can you.
You’ll find adequate coaching in the form of a good Couch to 5K app, or a Garmin Connectcompatible tracker, which can help build you a personalised starter program – the Forerunner 45 (£160) is cheap; the Fenix 6 (£530) will carry you further in the, er, long run.
In-ear motivation is important, which means good sweat- and jiggle-resistant headphones. GaGu feels it is imperative, if you’re going true wireless, to pick up a set with powerful Bluetooth able to readily penetrate the meaty fluids of your body and not drop out while you’re running; the Powerbeats Pro (£220) are amazing, even sitting at the two-year Apple apoapsis which puts them at risk of replacement fairly soon.
Good footwear is obviously vital, but don’t let GaGu influence you on the right fit given that his own feet look like strangely hairy spades. Just think of the price: the value proposition of higher-end running shoes isn’t quite there until you’re doing enough to really appreciate their more subtle differences. Same goes for something like the Nurvv Footstrike Coach (£250) – Guru recommends waiting until you’re confident putting one foot in front of another at pace before you start to monkey with your gait.
The value proposition of higherend running shoes isn’t quite there until you’re doing enough to really appreciate them