Trail running is a typing activity that most people can get involved with without needing expensive equipment or a gym membership. But, several pieces of gear can make the experience more enjoyable and productive. Here are trail running gear to get you up and ready to run:

1. Running Shoes

You cannot simply get some fancy sneakers and declare them to be your running shoes; there are some important considerations to make when choosing these shoes. For starters, you need to be aware of the weight of the shoes you are comfortable with. Most of the times, lighter weights are preferred, but there is a range in the light series as well.

Moving on, you need to consider the durability of the shoes along with how hot it gets inside when you wear it. If it’s heavily covered allowing no pores for air to enter, then it will turn out to be very problematic after the very first half hour or so.  Here is some help choosing the right shoes.

2. Appropriate Clothes

You might have the best cotton t-shirt ever which you feel is the best for running, but on your very first lap. The same goes for the trail running shorts /trousers you choose.  The t-shirt should not be baggy so that the air friction does not make you exert more energy than you should to run.  Also, you need to check the quality of the sports t-shirt/bra that you choose and make sure that it allows sufficient aerial passage. You should always try to purchase two so that you have sufficient time to wash one while you wear the other.

3. Water Carrier

While running long distances, there is no question that you will need water, and everyone is not lucky enough to have a running track right by his/her house. In this case, you need to have a water carrier that you can take along with you without its weight becoming a hindrance to your performance.

Sports stores offer bottles attached to gloves for runners, and you should not miss out on getting one of those.

4. Sports Watch

After a few weeks of trail running, you will automatically find the need to time yourself and see how much you end up improving. These times make equipment like sports watches very important.

Significantly so, these watches are very resilient when it comes to falls and damage so that you can run without worry.

5. Ice Pack

An ice pack is the best way to treat minor injuries temporarily, and you should have one wrapped up in your running backpack in the case of an emergency because there is no guarantee that you will have a running partner with you.

6. Gloves

For the colder mornings or evenings, a pair of running gloves is certain to be a great addition to the running supplies. Liner gloves are great for sports. They come with odor-resisting and sweat-wicking characteristics, and the relatively thin material won’t get you too hot when the heart starts pumping.

Running is, undoubtedly, one of the most effective and powerful forms of exercise if you are attempting to lose weight and improve your cardiovascular health. In addition, it can prevent stress from affecting your day-to-day health, add years to your life, as well as elasticity to your skin (wrinkle prevention). By doing it for as little as 15 minutes every other day, you can also significantly boost the strength of your immune system and improve your lung function.

Although this type of workout may seem like an easy cardio exercise, it does require consistency and some level of skill in order to protect the body and improve muscle strength. Below, therefore, we take a look at 5 running tips for beginners as follows:

1. Proper gear

While suiting up for a run is considered half the battle, having the proper running gear does not necessarily mean that you have to go out and buy a fancy workout outfit. For your initial few jogs, an over-worn band tee, sweats, and running shoes should do just fine, as long as you feel comfortable and are dressed appropriately for the weather. Also, do not forget your headphones together with an upbeat playlist to keep you entertained and motivated.

2. Realistic goals

While running a marathon may be a great long-term goal, it is not realistic at the outset. Having achievable goals is thus the best way of getting that feeling of encouragement and accomplishment needed to keep you running. For instance, at the beginning, you could aim to run consistently for 10 minutes. Once that starts to feel manageable, you could up it to 20; 30 minutes etc. and keep pushing your limits.

3. Talking about it

Talking to your spouse, friends, and children about your new running aspirations will, inevitably, force you to keep going. For example, if you pick up your children from school and they ask about your run, you would not want to admit it if you skipped that particular day. So go ahead and keep them in the loop and do not stop with them. After your first few days running, when you are feeling sore and heading for drinks with your friends, let them know what you have been up to. You may be pleasantly surprised to find out that some of them may want to join you on your runs and you can in turn motivate each other. Either way, talking about your new habit should leave you feeling great and encourage you to make it permanent.

4. Rewarding yourself

Needless to say, there is nothing more motivating than knowing that you can reward yourself with one of your favorite things after meeting your daily running goals. Whether it is binge watching your favorite TV show, having a massage, or a piece of chocolate, rewarding yourself is indeed the best way to get you running. Therefore, identify your guilty pleasure and motivate yourself to run before you can indulge.

5. Make time, however busy you may be

While this may be the hardest of all the foregoing tips, it is also the most important. Most of us tend to quit something simply because we fail to prioritize it. If you get up early, have breakfast, take the children to school, clean the house, work on your assignments etc., you may probably think that you deserve to have a rest- and with good reason. However, if you are really committed to taking up running, you may be forced to push relaxation down on your list of priorities and make time for it. Whether it is a quick jog before bed time or at lunch, try and fit it in even if all you can manage is 15 minutes.

By incorporating the above running tips, running should become easier and more enjoyable in your quest to get into shape. It does not take long to become an experienced runner- how quickly you learn and how much depends on your willingness to make it a part of your daily routine.