What sort of shoes should I wear?  What about other gear?

Shoes

Running is a cheap pastime when compared to other sports, which often need lots of equipment and special places to play.  Still, it’s worth investing in a good pair of trainers at the beginning.  Go online to find your local running shop (you’d be surprised how many there are in the UK!)  Most of them are staffed by helpful people who are runners themselves.  They understand how beginners feel and they can help you find the right shoe for you.  Many places even let you run about in a few pairs to help you decide what to go for.

I personally recommend getting some running socks as well.  Your run shop should be able to help with these.  A friend of mine suffered from blisters until she discovered the joy of the running sock!

Other gear

Most people start out wearing a cotton tee shirt and some shorts or leggings.  That’s fine for a beginner, because you’re not going to be drenched in sweat!  Once you’ve been running for a while, you’ll be working harder.  That in turn means you’ll be hotter, so your clothes may start to feel uncomfortable.  Time to go back to the running shop to chat with your friendly assistant about clothing!  You don’t have to spend a fortune.  There are some great running tops from around GBP12.00.  They tend to be made from material which wicks sweat away from the body, helping to keep you comfortable.  Cotton just gets damp, which makes it heavier – not nice! 

A good sports bra is worth buying, because we can feel a bit self conscious if we’re bouncing all over the place!  It’s not comfortable, either.  There are plenty of options to choose from out there.  I suggest getting yourself measured and then trying a few on to see what feels best.