There are so many types of so-called sportswear in stores, that amateur runners have a hard time identifying the kind of shoes and sweats which are truly efficient and recommended to offer them protection on the track or on the treadmill. While professional runners have already learned what type of equipment allows them to run freely, without over-sweating and without causing them injury, amateurs do not even know exactly how important it is to wear adequate equipment.

Why Are the Clothes You Wear during Running So Important?

Running is a specific type of body movement, in which you put extra effort on your feet and legs and use all the muscles in your body. As you are gaining speed, you encounter the resistance of the wind, which means that you have to put in extra effort to overcome it and keep up your running speed or even accelerate.

If you remember the physics lessons back in high school, you know that the larger the surface you offer to wind pressure, the greater the resistance – proportionally greater, in fact. What does it mean for the beginner runner who is trying to build up speed and endurance? It means that if you wear a large, baggy t-shirt and loose-fitting trousers, you will have to put in extra effort to overcome the air pressure.

Running Clothes Offer More Than Sheer Comfort

Professional running equipment did not appear overnight. It has been developed through continuous observation and testing, working closely with professional athletes. They are specifically designed to offer your body the exact type of comfort and protection it needs during a long distance or short distance run.

Here are some simple examples to show you the ways in which running equipment is different from your everyday “sporty” clothes:

  1. Running Socks

“Really? Socks matter?” Yes, they do – very much. They are precisely designed to follow the contour of your foot, without seams, to eliminate the risk of chafing. They are also made of special materials which absorb sweat quickly and do not allow your feet to overheat as a result of sustained effort.

  1. Compression Clothing

Those tight shirts and shorts worn by runners during competitions are not to show off their sculpted bodies. They are the most advanced type of running clothing made of compressive materials which are demonstrated to improve performance by maintaining the correct oxygenation level in muscles after reaching the lactate threshold (this is when you start to feel your muscles becoming sore and heavy).

  1. Specialized Materials to Let Your Skin Breathe

Have you reached the level when you feel sweat trickling down your body, and an increasing heat wave emanating from within while running? This means that you do not wear adequate running equipment. Specialized materials absorb sweat as soon as it forms on your body and allow your skin to breathe by ensuring one-direction air intake. This sounds like sci-fi stuff, but this is why proper running gear is more expensive than t-shirts and sweats you buy from your local hypermarket.

  1. Last but Not Least… Shoes

We have already covered the subject of running shoes in previous articles, but they are so important, that we make one more mention of them. Wearing adequate running shoes, not only specifically designed for running, but also specifically designed for your type of running gait, is essential. Adequate shoes offer you optimal support and allow you to reach your highest potential as a runner. Inadequate shoes will further damage your incorrect running gait and may even cause you to suffer running injuries.
We believe that these reasons are sufficient to convince you that running equipment truly matters. It is not a fad, it is not for the sake of “looking like a pro”, but it is meant to offer you optimal comfort, safety and support during your running sessions.

SPI Team