When I first started running, I used mesh shorts and cotton t-shirts. If you're doing anything over 2 miles, I would advise against this. By now, sweat-wicking, synthetic clothing is ubiquitous and relatively inexpensive. That being said, don't let having to purchase this new "equipment" hold you back from your first run. The first run is liberating in so many ways, and you will undoubtedly be focused on catching your breath rather than the evaporative cooling process. If you want to know more about appropriate clothing for running, here is my take.

Stay away from cotton and other similar products. Once cotton gets wet (i.e. sweat), it stays wet for a long time and can promote chafing and other uncomfortable experiences. Instead, look for hydrophobic materials such as synthetic (e.g. polypropylene) and natural (e.g. wool, merino wool, etc.). The retail market is flooded with these types of materials now. Typically, the more expensive fabric manufacturers have spent time and research on how the fabric feels, fits, and works. The cheaper manufacturers, will use their existing templates for other clothing and just change out the material. What this means, as an end consumer, is that you can get cheaper shirt, shorts, and socks but at what cost to your comfort and usability.

It is definitely a balancing act between getting something affordable versus getting the most expensive product out there. Consider the climate you are running in. Is it sunny and hot all day? You may actually consider running in long sleeves with built-in sun protection. Are you running in a heavily wooded environment? Think about bug protection (e.g. built-in bug protection into the clothing and wearing a hat).

One major downside to synthetic clothing is the stink and funk after a few runs. Cheaper synthetic clothing typically smells quicker and is harder to get rid of. More expensive clothing might have antimicrobial agents built-in, or an odor treatment of some sort (e.g. Ex Officio). Regardless of clothing features, change your clothes immediately following your workout. If you don't, you're promoting the opportunity for gross skin issues including acne. When you are just starting out, it is uncommon to have multiple pairs of workout clothes, but it is worth the extra investment.

A big issue I haven't mentioned too much about yet, is chafing. Chafing is caused by the friction of two surfaces rubbing together. I would say this is more common in folks just starting out, or those who are running long distances. Do not take this lightly, or you can become uncomfortable pretty quickly. There are a variety of products out there on the market like, Body Glide, or you can use good ol' Vaseline. Feet, thighs, nipples, pretty much anywhere. Your body becomes desensitized over time, and you become more comfortable over time, but there is definitely a learning curve.

Well, if the post doesn't turn you on to running, I don't know what will. The good news is, I condensed many of my hard lessons learned into a short post. In truth, your first several episodes of running maybe uncomfortable. This could be due to a variety of reasons. Once you push past these barriers in the beginning, running becomes much more natural and comfortable. That being said, listen to your body and seek out medical advice if you are unsure.

The great part about running outside is the diversity that you get to see and the terrain naturally forces a variety of intensities. It took me a while to build back up my speed, because I was not used to the hills. I learned a combination of sighting goal lines, keeping my head down as to not downgrade my morale, and keeping my chest open to make it easier to breathe.

Goal sighting is a critical tool that I relied heavily on in the beginning of my running career. I would pick mailboxes or cracks in the pavement ahead of me that I would run to. After I reached those goal-points, I would walk for a little to calm my heart rate and breathing back down. Over time, I was able to make my goals longer and longer and this boosted my overall confidence and morale when running.

In between goals, I would keep my head down and try to focus on my breathing. I tried to concentrate on breathing rhythmically and deeply. Doing these breathing exercises early-on were important, because it laid the ground work for more intensive runs in the future. Additionally, keeping my head down helped me worry less about what people in my neighborhood thought. Caring less about others' thoughts/comments and worrying more about my progress was another leap forward in my training and confidence. This lesson carried over to when I started racing. I made sure that I should care less about other races and more about the pacing I trained for; which, helped insure that I would finish the race each time. And, I had to make sure I went my own pace because of my asthma. If I took off too fast out of the gate, or did not listen to my body when trying to pass people, I would definitely have struggled to finish the race.

Because I have asthma, I had to spend a lot of time dialing in my breathing, positioning of body, and my medicines. With my training in choral singing, I had the foundation laid for breathing deeply, filling up my chest cavity, and controlling my exhale. There was a noticeable difference when I focused on breathing versus leisurely running. In order to breathe deeply, I also had to train myself to run upright and my chest open. It seemed rather common sense, but again, a big difference when I had positive posture for running.

Over time, I began to reap the benefits of running. I noticed I was not winded at the top of stairs, I was losing weight, and I began to feel much happier. One of the key benefits, was a drastic improvement on my breathing and a severe decrease in asthma related symptoms. By the time I reached college, I was able to go off of preventative medicines that I had been on since I was born. I remained off of my preventative meds for nearly seven years.

From my perspective, running increased my VO2 max [1], decreased my resting heart rate [2], and increased my heart's efficiency at pumping blood throughout my body. I'm sure it also help decrease my likelihood for heart disease given my extremely unhealthy diet during my middle school to high school years. Running also helped me become more tuned-in to my body's needs.

Stay tuned for more to come on the learning curve of running outside.

[1] VO2 max is the maximum rate at which a body can consume oxygen. This is a measurement commonly referred to as a tool that can provide an indication of fitness level (Clemente, C. J., P. C. Withers, and G. G. Thompson. 2009, as cited by Wikipedia July 2014).

[2] Resting heart rate refers to the measurement of heart beats within a minute taken when the body is at rest.