One of the great things about running as a sport is that it doesn’t involve a lot of expensive clothing or equipment. All you really need is a good pair of running shoes and maybe a running watch. That said, there are various other types of clothing and gear that will definitely come in handy if you’re running all of the miles needed to train for, and complete, a marathon. What gear do you really need? Consider:

Clothes
Shoes

Watches for runners

Heart rate monitors
Water bottles
Gel belts

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• Post a comment about your favorite stuff: What can't you run without?

Properly fitting running shoes that fit your foot type are the most important thing to purchase. Do not skimp here. Plan to spend at least $50 to $80--or more!--and purchase them at a specialty running store where the clerks will be knowledgeable about fitting running shoes to your body and foot type.

You may think your old gym shorts and cotton T-shirts will be fine for your workouts, but consider purchasing technical running apparel. It truly makes a world of difference. Basically, technical apparel moves the sweat away from your body, where it can evaporate more quickly. This means your clothing won’t be as wet, and you’ll feel drier and more comfortable.