Equipment

When I used to think about walking, I never thought about equipment.  If you are in Europe walking up and done a bunch of hills, many people grab a walking stick, but we're not in Europe or an area with incredible changes of elevation.  Besides, if we did have walking sticks then we might find ourselves in a disagreement with TSA like Peter Mayhew did at the airport recently.

I'm certainly no expert but I'm happy to share some info about some of the equipment I am using to help me attain my 9 mile walk in August starting with clothing.  There is a great deal of details available on the web about what you should and shouldn't wear so I would never try to complete with the information available.  I will say this.  I have been walking mostly in cotton fibers.  As it turns out, cotton is not my friend.  There are many synthetic option out there that do a great job of wicking moisture away from your body so if you are going for long distances or more intense workouts, investments in products from Under Armor or products with Cool Max Fabric in them are advisable.  You do have to look a little harder for them if you are my size, but options can be found.  Even cotton socks can be bad during a long haul and this time of year can contribute to blisters.

Shoes are crazy important.  Take your time with these and do some shopping.  You don't have to buy the most expensive shoe to get a good pair.  Shoes should be lightweight, made out of a breathable fabric and hold up to the activity you've chosen.  I personally prefer my cross trainer shoes over walking because I feel like they support me better because they generally have a larger sole.  Most people will want to stick with a running shoe or even a walking shoe, because well...I'm being too obvious.  Talk to a pro a a real shoe store and replace your shoes every 200-300 miles depending on wear and tear.  I'll be getting a new pair in Mid-July to make sure they will hold up through August.

I just bought a back pack system for carrying water.  I spent $20 on it at Sam's and Have used it once without any problems.  I really put it through its paces on Friday morning and update you if there are any problems.  The pack comes with places for extra water bottles, a spot for your phone, lanyard for keys, several little pockets and even a built in safety whistle.  The only down side so far is once your phone is in there, it's not coming out until you take the pack off or a friend helps you out.  I asked Siri if she could hand me a Gatorade while she was back there but she responded, "I'm sorry, Brian, I'm afraid I can't answer that."  Ultimately, it a good idea to have a plan for keeping hydrated and pack like this can definitely help.  A runner on the other hand might not like a pack bouncing up and down on them as they run.  There are straps to hold it down, but I guess it depends on the runner.

The final piece of equipment I will talk about is my smart phone.  I use my phone to track my mileage and listen to music or even bible readings to pass the time.  I don't have fancy headphones, just simple earbuds that came with the phone and they seem to stay in place for the most part.  From my research, I would recommend against earbuds that provide a seal blocking out external noises when walking and running outside.  If your on the street you need to be able to hear a car approaching.   If your on a path, you need to be able to hear "On your left!" from a cyclist racing past you.  The best reason to have a phone though is to make sure you have a way to call for help if you need it.  I've lucked out so far and haven't needed it, but you never know.

Good gear can make a difference but don't let that get in your way.  I can name several civilizations past and present where people routinely was and run without the benefit of advanced equipment.  Just bring what you need to feel safe, and remember it's much easier to feel safe when you have a friend walking with you.