HITTING A HOME RUN

Repeated lockdowns led MH editor Toby Wiseman to renew his love of crosscountry running. This is the cold weather kit that helped keep the show off the road

01 TAG HEUER CONNECTED WATCH

Many colleagues swear by their Garmins and Apple Watches. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer something on my wrist that feels less like a gizmo. A lot of luxury brands have dabbled in the smartwatch market, but none with the grace and poise of Tag Heuer. Equipped with all the tech you need to track your progress, it provides various training-intensity modes and full post-run analysis via the app. £1,495, tagheuer.com

02 SIS GO CAFFEINE GELS

I tend to be wary of supplementation when covering long distances. Frequently, they can irritate the stomach – an undesirable side effect given that running itself is notorious for playing havoc with digestive systems. (Some refer to this as ‘runner’s trots’; I call it ‘a touch of the Radcliffes’.) SiS gels cause no such problems, tasting more pleasant than most and easily dispatched.

£58.50 for 30, freewheel.co.uk

03 RUNDERWEAR SHORTS

As wet-weather runners know all too well, a red raw undercarriage is an occupational hazard. Many a jolly outing has ended with a perineum seemingly torched by a welding gun, only to be assailed by a Black & Decker sander. Runderwear’s shorts are lightweight, antisweat and move in tandem with your body, leaving you completely chafe-free. £50, runderwear.co.uk

04 HAMILTON & HARE TOWELLING HOOD

The benefits of the right apparel extend beyond the kit you wear on the trail. As body temperature rises during a run, the blood vessels in your skin dilate, and blood flow increases to promote sweat and keep the body cool. But when you’re sweaty after a long run, your temperature can drop quickly, often leading to violent shivering. I’ve come to depend on the snug feel of this terry top after a long slog. £155, hamiltonandhare.com

05 CASTORE JACKET & BEANIE

Castore has long been my favourite brand for outdoor sporting apparel and, for winter gallops, these two items are my must-haves. The track jacket is incredibly lightweight, water-resistant and comfortable in motion, while the merino wool in the beanie helps regulate temperature.

And, as always with Castore, they look as good as they perform. £165 and £35, castore.com

06 NIKE TRAIL RUNNING SHOES

Last September, I ran my first trail race – a 25k jaunt around Derwent Water as part of the Keswick Mountain Festival. Naively, I had assumed that a trail race was much like a regular race, albeit on gravel. In fact, it more closely resembled a band of weary soldiers fleeing the Viet Cong through mountainous jungle. Without Nike’s responsive yet stable Zoom Terra Kiger 7 shoes, I wouldn’t have made it. £124.95, nike.com