What Kit is Right For Me?

05-07-2019
Shoes - Gait Analysis
The right running shoes are the most important piece of equipment for any runner. Ultimately, a runners shoes are what protects you from the repeated impact of the foot striking the ground.  The risks of injury can be greatly reduced by choosing the right trainer to suit your running style or running gait.  Your footfall or running gait is one of the most important things about your running style or technique.  

We recommend a number of local specialised running shops that offer a free service to all our members helping you to choose the correct shoe for your type.  Everybody has a unique combination of size, shape and weight.  This leads to a variety of biomechanical differences in the way people run.  In turn, there are numerous technologies and variations in the design of running shoes to support these running styles.  It is easy to overlook the differences in running shoes without guidance, wearing the wrong running shoe is as bad as running in a fashion trainer!  With the use of a treadmill and video gait analysis, the shops that we recommend examine foot strike and gait, compare different models and manufacturers and assess which shoes are providing the best support and fit.   Remember that these shops are run by experienced runners, so they will be able to give you good sound advice.

As a rough guide, you will need to replace your running shoes every 300-500 miles.  However, if you experience shin or knee pain on a regular basis after having run only 250 miles, it might be worth considering changing your shoes a little earlier.  By keeping a training log, this will give you an idea of how many miles you are currently running.

Sweatshop - Maidstone, Bluewater and Dartford
The Running Outlet - Canterbury
Podplus - Ashford

Upon production of your membership card, these shops will give Jelly Legs members a discount.   

Sports Bras 
Your bust is only held in place by skin and the ligaments around it.  When the bust moves, these stretch and can result in a permanent droop of your bust, long-term back pain and neck and shoulder stiffness.  Also this movement can be painful and leads many women to avoid certain activities that could be enjoyed with a good sports bra.  By wearing a correctly fitted sports bra you can reduce the risks of these ligaments stretching and ensure maximum support and comfort.  A sports bra should fit snugly, yet not feel too constrictive.  Run or jump on the spot to see if it gives you the support you need.  Ensure you buy a sports bra designed for high impact activity, a well fitting T-Shirt bra will give you a certain level of support for low level activity, but will not be able to counteract the excessive movement experienced during running or other high impact sports.  Sports bras should be replaced approximately every six months or when the elastic breaks down.  Do get fitted everytime you buy a new sports bra because your shape and size can change overtime, especially if you are losing weight.
 
Clothing 

Layering is the key because as you warm up, you can remove layers and as you cool down again you can just put it back on.  Plus heat gets trapped between layers of clothing so several thin layers are better than one or two thick layers. Do consider how you can carry them however; a long sleeved tee can be tied around the waist, gloves tucked into your waist band.

Consider the design of your kit, a wind proof/water proof jacket is an essential piece of winter clothing in a bright bold colour, preferably high vis and boasting reflective panelling. Some jackets come with removable arms which can be stowed in your pockets or alternatively the whole thing can fold up small and fit into a bum bag.

Steer clear of anything made from cotton. You will still sweat and cotton retains the moisture resulting in you feeling very cold. Consider investing in a pair of running tights made for winter running, these will keep your legs far warmer than a bagger version.

Don’t let the rain put you off, your skin is after all water proof! Invest in a jacket which is at least shower proof and preferably water proof, to keep the  worst off. A baseball cap will keep water out of your eyes.

Strong northerly winds during the winter can chop around 10 degrees off the air temperature and really start to bite at your exposed skin. Wear a wind proof jacket, gloves, ear protectors or a hat, and a snood. Try to pick sheltered routes or those that change direction frequently so you aren't blasted by icy winds for long periods of time. If you are expecting to be out for a long period of time training at a low intensity the additional use of wind-breaker/water proof trousers effectively support heat storage as well.

 In the summer you will need light and airy clothes. A wicking t – shirt or vest will help to keep you cool in the midday sun. You can also get cool packs which sit around the neck to help keep your temperature down. 

If you can brave it, a pair of shorts will also help to keep the temperature down and keep you cool.  

Also sunglasses are essential to protect your eyes and even more so to keep the wrinkles at bay!

We have a number of items of clothing for sale in our shop, these items can be ordered via your leader, info@jelly-legs.co.uk or 01227 830984.

Login/Register