What Not to Wear

by Dana-Susan Crews

When I have the privilege of taking a beginner runner from never having run to loving the sport, my first step is to get that athlete into the right shoes. Next, we learn about clothing. You have now decided to do an endurance race. Congrats! You're embarking on a life-changing experience. In hopes that you'll have the greatest time of your life, here are a few tips for getting started with my "What NOT to Wear" when you're training...

Cotton
Cotton clothing gets very wet and heavy when you sweat. It clings to your body and can cause chafing. The best materials for running are wicking fabrics such as polyester or spandex. These help lift the sweat away from your body. Some of these fabrics are even odor resistant.

Sweatsuits
Just like cotton, these will cling to you when you're sweaty because they hold the moisture in.

Heavy, cotton socksToday runners can choose wicking fabrics for socks. In addition to wicking the sweat away from your legs and feet, they help give your feet the air you need to avoid blisters.

New clothing on race dayRunners should only wear clothing on race day that they have actually trained in. It's a terrible feeling to go out in a brand new running shirt you've never tried before only to realize it causes chafing or discomfort. Train in your race day clothing BEFORE race day!

Old "sneakers"First of all, don't wear "sneakers". Wear running shoes! And get yourself fitted in the right shoes for your feet. Go into a running store (where there had better be a treadmill) and have a shoe expert watch you run, looking at your foot stride, strike and arch. Your running shoes don't need to be "broken in", but should feel good from the beginning. If your shoes hurt your feet in any way, return them and find the right shoe. Taking those first steps in the right running shoe will dramatically decrease your risk for injury.