It's that time of year when all the fitness magazines and Sunday supplements are offering advice for how to make this year 'your fittest year ever', or promises to that effect. The pages are full of advice regarding gym memberships, home training plans and the latest exercise fads. Somewhere amongst that advice, you will almost inevitably find the journos advising you that, if your budget doesn't stretch to fancy gizmos, gym memberships, dvd purchases etc, then there is always the 'free' option of donning a pair of trainers and heading out for a run. Be warned! This advice is akin to the drug dealer offering you your first 'fix' for free, knowing that you will then be sucked into an addiction that will turn you into a gibbering mental and physical wreck whilst financing his monthly Hire Purchase payments on his blacked-out BMW! Sure, it's a more insidious process with running, and it doesn't draw everyone into the addiction in the same way, or to the same extent, but trust me it sure can take hold!
I have been running seriously for about 14 or 15 years now. In the early days, I didn't cover that much distance, either on a weekly basis or in a single run. Life was pretty simple. I owned a couple of sets of lycra kit, a couple of sports bras, and maybe one or two pairs of running shoes which I also used for going to the gym, playing badminton, and hanging around in at weekends. But then I started to compete at 10km and 10 miles and 'needed' a pair of racing flats - I'm not sure that they made me physically faster, but I felt fast in them and that sure helped propel me to some better times! But then, some of those 10km races started to take in some off-road terrain, and I started to train off-road a bit more, so I 'had' to buy a pair of trail shoes, with their improved grip in mud and crud. A couple of years in, and approaching my first Marathon, my attention turned to what type of shoe I was going to need to stop my knees from melting during the 26 miles! Cushioning was the buzz-word at the time and I bought 2 pairs of gorgeous Asics Grid Omnis - one pair for completing all my long runs in, and one pair to break in on a single 20 mile run and then run the marathon in. Those Asics were definitely the start of the slippery slope for me. I wore both pairs into the ground training and running in that marathon and a further one before they started to fall to bits. Fast forward to the current day and, for the sake of my marriage, I dare not confess how many pairs of trainers I now own. Running crazy long distances across constantly varying terrain tends to make you pretty precious about your feet and what encases them. I have 'barefoot' shoes in various brands and designs for fast, free, shorter runs. They are also my shoe of choice for work (for those of you who don't know, I'm a personal trainer!). At the opposite end of the scale, I have a few pairs of super-cushioned Hokas for when my feet and legs are screaming 'enough' . I have smooth soled shoes for road running, super-aggressive mud-pluggers for wet and wild off-road, shoes for mixed terrain, waterproof shoes, even a couple of pairs that I bought simply because I liked the colour! My wardrobe is now full of running kit, with an occasional item of non-running clothing sulking in the corner. My lacy underwear has been eschewed in favour of scaffold-like running bras, for which I constantly struggle to find matching briefs. I have water-proof, water-resistant and plain old wind-proof running jackets and running gillets, running hats, visors, buffs and gloves, running waist belts, running rucksacks, running gadgets and all manner of running socks... and I still can't resist the word 'SALE' at any of my favourite running shops or online sites! I am not alone! Amongst my friends and clients, everyone I know who runs to any degree is at some point on the way down that slippery slope. But do you know what... we all love it! The financial cost may increase the further you get into our sport, but generally so do the rewards. Who wouldn't love being addicted to a 'drug' the side effects for which include improved self-esteem, better mental functioning, reduced depression, decreased body fat, increased muscle-mass and general all-round awesomeness! So although I don't own a blacked-out BMW (just a soft top Mini, honest!), I am going to own up to being a pusher of this particular 'drug'.... with one small piece of advice ... Run free my friends, but don't assume that it won't cost you anything!!
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