Running Gear Information

Spirit Gear:

• • There will be a 2023 Spirit Gear Store through BSN shortly after the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year. Another store will be planned in August, but note that some options may not be available due to inventory limitations and you will not receive your gear prior to the start of the season if you wait until then to order.

  • Everyone MUST order*:

    • Warmups (this usually consists of long pants and either a jacket or 1/4 Zip - Coach Puffett will specify the items when the team store is set up)

    • The short sleeve or long sleeve t-shirt (you are welcome to purchase both, but your son needs one of these two)

    • If you will want to wear compressions under your jersey, it is strongly recommended you purchase the options on the team store to comply with uniform rules on meet days. If you do not order them from the team store, see details below under "Racing Uniform" for specifics on what to order elsewhere.

  • All other items will be completely optional

  • The store will CLOSE on a date TBD to give BSN the best chance to get our gear to us in time for the start of the season. A new store may be opened later in the summer for late-comers, but gear will arrive at least three weeks after the close date of the order, if not more (it usually is more).

*Note: If you are a returning athlete who ordered team gear previously and it still fits, you are not required to order new warmups. It is recommended, though, that you order the new t-shirt at minimum each season.

Shoes:

• There are two types of running shoes for cross country athletes: training and racing.

•  Do not predicate your decision of which shoes to get on their aesthetics. Few people like ugly shoes, but the most important factor in purchasing training shoes and racing spikes is that they best fit your body and running style so that you incur the least risk of injury.

Training Shoes

• If you have never been fitted for training shoes, Road Runner Sports or RNJ Sports are great places to start. At no charge, Road Runner Sports uses a treadmill with a slow-motion camera and a pressure pad; they will analyze your gait and foot strike to help you select a shoe that best suits your physiology and running style. RNJ does not use the same tech, but their employees are very knowledgable.

  • Road Runner Sports will also create a custom orthotic (insert) for your shoes. You should try the shoe both with and without the orthotic. Many athletes do not need orthotics if they are in the right shoe, and you should not feel obligated to purchase the orthotic if you don't want it. Some athletes, though, may benefit from the orthotic. Trust the way your body feels during your test run.

• Most stores allow you to take a “mini-jog” to test the shoes. Road Runner Sports lets you do it on their treadmill. Take advantage of this opportunity to make sure the shoes feel right. You will be living in these shoes throughout the season.

• Training shoes should be changed regularly - use the following as guidance on when to change them:

  • If your current shoes are from the previous season, change them.

  • If your current shoes have more than 300 miles on them, change them.

    • If you have the means to purchase two pairs of shoes and alternate daily, you can often extend the life of the shoe by about 33% without increased injury risk. And if you still change them out at 300 miles apiece, this Runner's World article from 2013 references a study showing a 39% decrease in injury risk to athletes who alternate training shoes.

  • If your big toe is touching the end of the shoe, change your shoes. A good "rule of thumb” is to have a thumb’s width of space between your big toe and the end of the shoe. Your feet expand as you run and require space to spread out to prevent blisters.

Racing Shoes

• Racing shoes, or "spikes," are used on race day. While athletes are permitted to race in training shoes, it is recommended that each athlete have a pair of racing spikes in addition to their training shoes. Spikes provide traction in adverse racing conditions and improve power and speed in ideal conditions. Additionally, racing spikes are significantly lighter than training shoes, further aiding the athlete’s performance on race day.

Note: There are two types of spikes: track spikes and cross country spikes. Track spikes, which have no cushioning in the heel for sprints and minimal cushioning for distance, generally have plastic on the bottom and are meant for track use. Cross country spikes, which have minimal cushioning in the heel, do not have plastic on the bottom, which would get mangled on many cross country courses, and are meant for longer races run on uneven terrain. Make sure you get cross country spikes.

Watch:

• All cross country athletes need a watch as most workouts will be time based.

• A simple watch with a chronometer (i.e. stopwatch) function is fine. I would prefer you invest more into good shoes and socks than to purchase a top-of-the-line GPS watch (unless you really want one).

  • Coach allows athletes to use their phones to track time/distance during runs, but athletes should not be holding them in their hands as it can alter their running form. If you plan to use your phone, purchase an arm band so your phone can be on your arm rather than in your hand.