Been chewing over what I reckon to be the best things to assist us plodders that have materialised in the years that I've been running.
No particular order.
1. Compression clothing. Mmmm, Mmmm! Just gotta love that skin-tight fit. "Reduces lactate build-up in the muscles..." blah-de-blah. Does it work? Yes. It does.
2. Sportident Timing. Oh, how I love it! Finish slogging your guts out and before you can say, "Was that the first lap?" you've got a little receipt for your efforts! Brilliant!
3. Bag of frozen peas. Instant re-useable ice-pack that moulds nicely to the shape of your sore bit. Also nutritious.
4. Heart Rate Monitors. Like most gizmos, have become more affordable since first appearing. A useful training aid, especially for the target oriented runner. Like beeping noises? HRM is the thing for you.
5. Energy drinks. Once upon a time there was Lucozade. And that was for when you were off school, sick, and watching Rainbow from under the duvet. Now there's a whole supermarket aisle of liquid mind-bend that you can glug to energise, hydrate, recover, or simply feel a bit more excited. ( I confess, Lucozade Sport is becoming a bit of a pre-race ritual.)
6. Google Earth & GPS. More teccy innovations to keep the obsessives busy. Bye-Bye OS Map and a bit of string. Now you can zoom in from outer-space on your fave routes, map them out with a few clicks of the mouse and find out their distances, climb-rates and hill profiles. Or, put on a blindfold and the GPS, then go for a run. Hook GPS up to PC when you get back and find out where you went!
7. iPod. No mates? Who cares. Yet again technology can save you, sad sacks. Alot easier than back in the day when we strapped the gramophone on with a snake-belt and tucked the 78's under the arm. Now you can have Wagner while you wun, Tina Turner while you trot, The Specials while you sprint, or whateva! (Phillip Glass- Koyaanisqatsi- gives me the neck-hairs when out in the wilds)
8. Waterproof materials. Because nowadays they are. That bloody oilskin was so heavy! Especially for my diminutive 10 year old frame. Along came Gore-Tex etc. and now there's no excuses when the monsoon's on.
9. Footstrike analysis/Decent shoes. Recurring injury niggles? Hang up the Dunlop Green Flash and let them down at the shoe-shop have a look at how your heels hit the deck. What did we know of 'pronation' all those years ago? We were just wild, crazy kids! Now the shoe wizards should be able to sort you out with just what your little tootsies always needed.
10. Mobile Phone. "Err...hello. Yeah. Got a bit over-excited, went too far. Knackered! Come and pick me up in the car will ya?"
If I'd been writing this in the middle of winter then 'Head-torch' would probably have been on the list. And Sarah said omission of- 'Loving family who've hauled ass all over the country to support your race efforts'- might result in a clip round the ear.
Any additions anybody?
Very interesting list. I will give it some thought. I can think of a few essential items for the females of the group.
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