Gear

I'm a purist. And as such, I try to minimize my use of superfluous running equipment. During the past two years, I've broken down and become a full-fledged iPod runner, and I've succumbed to the need for hand-held water bottles in ultrarunning events (and in the training leading up to them). However, when it comes to watches, heart monitors, GPSs, and waist packs, I draw the line.

To me the essence of running is the feeling of one's body gliding through space, over ground, and around obstacles. In this respect, I find that a minimalistic approach is the best way to distill this feeling. Gear is cumbersome. It's weighty. It generally feels awkward. And, it takes us further from the primal state of being unadorned sentient beings moving across the planet that we inhabit. Further away from the beauty and purity of simple movement.