Clothing advice
Of course you can run in anything: those baggy pants that you would never wear anyway, or that washed-out T-shirt. But if you really want to do it right, you have to pay the necessary attention to your running clothing. This makes running a lot more comfortable.
If there’s one thing that can get on the nerves of runners, it’s a pair of underpants that won’t stay in place. Underwear can also chafe. It is therefore wise to start with sports underwear without seams when purchasing your running wardrobe.
Prevent sagging breasts
Women need another essential piece of clothing: the sports bra. It offers more support than a regular bra and prevents your breasts from sagging
Special materials
Cotton is not the best material for running. It has the good property of absorbing moisture, but the bad property of retaining it. A cotton T-shirt quickly becomes heavy with sweat. The shirt will stick and rub against your skin.
Real running clothes can wick sweat away from the body 50 percent faster. But that is not the only reason why special clothing is practical.
- They are made of light materials, which means less ballast.
- They have good ventilation.
- They have fluorescent stripes, so cars and cyclists can see you in the dark.
- They have special pockets for house keys, for example.
- There are now even models that fit your iPod perfectly.
Never throw your running clothes unwashed in a corner, that is bad for the important properties of the clothing. Always wash clothes inside out and at low temperatures. Try to iron as little as possible.
Special materials are:
- Phase Change Material or PCM. This material liquefies slightly above normal body temperature – around 38 degrees. It traps body heat so you stay warm.
- Coolmax and Supplex. These materials breathe and wick away perspiration. Supplex also stretches well.
- Lycra and Tactel. This keeps your clothes in shape. It just doesn’t breathe and it can’t drain moisture either.
- Teflon. This makes clothing waterproof.
- SunPaque. This way you are protected against harmful UV rays from the sun.
- X-static. This fabric is made of wire with pure silver. The fabric prevents unpleasant odors and the growth of bacteria.
socks
There are special running socks without seams for sale. With those socks you have less chance of blisters and chafing. So very comfortable! The material wicks away sweat and prevents athlete’s foot.
The traditional white cotton sports sock is not suitable for running. Cotton lubbers out because of the much perspiration and therefore sinks quickly. Do you want to reduce the chance of blisters and not hoist your socks all the time? Then special socks made of acrylic are the solution. This material keeps your feet drier. There are also socks especially for the left and right foot with ‘air conditioning’ and support at the ankles. Running socks are available in specialty stores and outdoor stores.
Under all circumstances
The avid runners among us don’t stop when it rains and gets colder. Do you also want to run in the winter? Then a good running outfit is of great importance. A few layers are needed to get through the cold winter months.
The first layer
You especially get cold when perspiration cools on the skin. Thermal underwear is the perfect basis to counteract this. The material of this underwear is made up of synthetic fibres. These fibers absorb perspiration from the skin.
The perspiration goes to the next layer: the shirt and pants. The moisture is therefore transported to the outside, so you stay drier and therefore warmer. Thermal underwear is available for the upper and lower body.
Tip: If you are a woman running in the winter, you can put cotton wool in your bra to keep your breasts warm and to prevent sore nipples.
The second layer
This is the layer we wear over the underwear. When the weather is dry and colder with little wind, it is best to wear a long-sleeved shirt. Like the first layer, the shirt should be made of moisture-wicking material. This too is made of fibers that transport the moisture to the outside, where it can evaporate.
The third layer
In harsh weather conditions – a lot of wind, rain and cold temperatures – a third layer is an absolute must. The third layer is needed to stop wind and rain. The most ideal running jacket should be windproof, water repellent and well ventilated.
The material Gore-Tex comes closest, but is not nearly good enough for running in our little country. Due to the high humidity in the Netherlands and the high heat production during walking, the effect of this material is not sufficient.
More than half of your body heat leaves the body through your head. So wear a good hat and gloves.
summer outfit
Fortunately, you don’t have to wear so many layers in the summer. A T-shirt made of synthetic fibers, shorts and lightweight trousers are enough. When the sun is shining, a cap is recommended. Sunscreen is specially made for sports activities. It is available in the better drugstore.
