Whenever I run around Mitcham Common my mind drifts off to sudden forms of death. It’s a lovely and often deserted place to run but there is something about the vegetation and the lay of the land that makes me think I am exposing myself to a greater risk of an early and unseemly demise.

I have jogged into the path of teenagers and pitbulls and still lived to tell the tale but I feel just a little more comfortable now that I run with my In Case of Emergency shoelace tags.

Andy from ICEtags sent me a couple to try out recently. Although they aren’t designed to protect you from from potential muggers they could prove to be invaluable in the event of an emergency.

I tend to run with quite a lot of trammel but as a rule runners are generally minimally clad and don’t have a lot of ID. Should the worst happen and you find yourself knocked over by a car or laid low by a rabid pitbull, the ICEtag is designed to alert the emergency services to your next of kin and any pre-existing medical conditions you may have.

Another brilliant feature is that for the same price of £4.95, ICEtags will produce a second tag that holds your parkrun barcode on it. I’d order it for the barcode alone – never again would I need to hunt around for my laminated paper copy.

Excellent value for money.

If you have a runner in your life you have to class yourself as one of the lucky few when it comes to Christmas present choices – they are so easy to buy for. If they are gadget loving runners then life is even easier.

I imagine there will be thousands of people who have identified themselves as runners within the last month, as whimsical ballot entries have resulted in unexpected entrances into the London marathon. These people will be overjoyed to open stockings packed with running related gizmos.

Here’s my selection of the best gift ideas for runners with prices ranging from about £8 to £400 for the very lucky runners.

Garmin Forerunner 910XT (approx £100 – £400 depending on forerunner version)

The 910XT is the latest offering from the Garmin Forerunner series and is the ultimate watch for runners and triathletes alike. It now combines a swim specific distance monitor that will track your swim efficiency in open water or a pool. It combines this with all the usual features of the high end Forerunner series (specifically Forerunner 305 and Forerunner 310XT).

To be fair, if the recipient is a runner and never dons swimming gear it is probably an unnecessary expense and you should opt for the super cheap Garmin Forerunner 305 which has not been bettered yet as a run specific GPS watch.

(Garmin Forerunner 305 reviewed here)
(Garmin Forerunner 310XT reviewed here)

Adidas miCoach pacer (approx £120)

This is a great little device for those who like a little motivation and feedback on a run. It comprises an armband that attaches to your iPhone (or other audio device), a heart rate monitor and a footpod for measuring distance and pace.

The website enables you to select your goals which result in personalised training plan. Your sessions are prescribed and when you run you get a voice over that tells you how you are doing and whether you need to increase the pace or ease off a bit. The interval sessions a really intense and its hard to slack off when you have a virtual trainer in your head.

(Adidas miCoach reviewed here)

The Stick (£28 – £42)

Its hard to avoid run related injuries but The Stick and others like it are fabulous at both injury avoidance tools and recovery massagers. It’s a simple device consisting of a flexible pole with plastic washers and a couple of handles. Hard to explain but it enables you to apply controlled pressure to the trouble zone – calves, quads, ITB, hamstrings etc. I’ve experienced quite a speedy recovery from a painful muscle injury after using The Stick and now use it semi-religiously to relax my calves before and after a run.

(The Stick reviewed here)

Sennheiser headphones (approx £27)

I’ve always run with Sennheiser headphones as they do a fantastic range of sport specific headphones that stay in place as you run. I currently use the PMX680 model which was a Sennheiser/Adidas partnership that was released along with the Adidas miCoach system. I chose this particular model as it has a volume and microphone gizmo on the cable. I think this is a great feature as it means I can answer calls (hopefully motivational ones) when I’m out a run and can also invoke the voice control system to change the music.

North Face Enduro Boa (approx £77)

This is quite simply the best running rucksac available, it is also probably the most expensive. But hey ho, as they say, you get what you pay for. They currently do a men’s and women’s version and you absolutely cannot switch genders because of the yolk design. I read last month that they will not be continuing with the women’s model so use this as an opportunity to snaffle the last remaining stocked items before they are lost for good.

(Wiggle link to Men’s version of the Enduro Boa)
(Wiggle link to North Face Enduro Boa – Ladies version)

Marathon Training books (approx £8)

There are an assortment of running books available, I’ve linked to a load of the ones that I’ve enjoyed on my side bar so I will restrict myself to a couple of choices for new marathon runners.

The Non-Runners Marathon Training Plan – you need to be careful with this one, as it would be easy to insult a more accomplished runner. I’ve been running for years but I’m still useless and find no end of motivation from this tome. I’d recommend to anyone struggling to believe in their ability to run the full 26.2 miles.

A safer choice is Marathon by Hal Higdon, Hal Higdon has written the training plans followed by many of the successful marathon runners that have gone before me – he offers a tried and tested formula that can’t be refuted.

iPhone armband (£4 and upwards)

I find it hard to believe that the runner (and iPhone owner) in your life won’t already have one of these but I have seen people running with phones tucked in the waist band of their shorts and flapping around in trouser pockets. These folk need an armband!

I’ve reviewed a couple here and here and have been happy with both.
Link to: Armbands on Amazon

TRX Suspension Trainer (approx £120)

This isn’t entirely run specific but it has sneaked it’s way onto my Christmas gift list as it also appears on my Dear Santa wish list. It’s another injury avoidance gadget and quite popular at the moment with functional trainers and personal trainers. You may see people in parks suspended from straps of elastic as their instructors shout out guidance for improving their core strength.

KiFit and subscription (£150 – £200)

As seen on biggest loser. It’s the armband that monitors your calorie expenditure, workload and sleep levels. You combine this with accurate meal logging and the plans available on the website in order to shed weight steadily. This will be a great motivator for anyone determined to kick off the new year with a healthy and energetic New Year.

(KiFit Body Monitor reviewed here)

Petzl Head Torch (approx £30)

With the winter nights setting in, a head torch is great way to extend the running season and maintain safety while running along the streets. It is essential for country runners and those brave enough to venture into the park after sunset.

I love it and pull it out at almost every opportunity – camping, firework lighting, late night gardening but as yet I haven’t dared to run around the streets in mine.

If you are still looking for gear and gadget ideas for runners, check out my list of running gadgets and a list of all the running gear reviews available on this site.

My iPhone is bulging at the seams with GPS apps that get used once and then discarded as nothing more than interesting battery drainers. I’ve worked my way through Runkeeper, Nike+ GPS, Adidas miCoach and more.

My view is that GPS is best restricted to a specific GPS device such as the Garmin Forerunner, the iPhone battery is just not up to the task. I’ve been out on 2-3hr runs only to find that as my body is packing up and my head is thinking its time to call for emergency backup the iPhone starts it’s plaintive beeping because the battery is dead. The fear of being left stranded at the end of a long run has been strong enough to keep me away from GPS iPhone apps.

Having said all that I’ve just been persuaded to squeeze yet another GPS app onto my page of running apps. The Audiofuel Running App seems to offer something different. If you are new to Audiofuel they prepare running tracks that are perfectly suited to your running needs, providing a range of beats that target a specific cadence range. I’ve got quite a few of their albums and despite preferring audiobooks and podcasts to run to, I often choose an audiofuel playlist when I need a bit of extra motivation.

Within the app you can select your skill range – beginner, intermediate and advanced which loosely equate to jogging, running and fast running and from there you can select either timed, interval or marathon sessions.

I’ve downloaded a selection of the shorter programs which are ideally suited to my mid week runs where battery life will not be a concern. My particular favourite so far is the Pyramid 180 interval training session which includes coaching – it’s a killer program but the beat and voice over is so inspiring that you can’t help picking up the intensity.

The app plays your selected program, records your GPS route and then enables you to brag about it on facebook and twitter. The social interaction is something that sets the iPhone apps apart from the forerunner and the output is quite impressive although I might prefer to keep my incredibly slow pace a secret from the world.

The app is new and they are offering an introductory 14 day free download trial with access to all their programs free of charge, after that period you get to keep two 20 minute sessions or sign up to their subscription service for more.

I’m very impressed with how well it’s put together and love the motivational aspect of their pricing strategy. I normally avoid subscription based apps but I think the pricing for this one is very fair – £0.69 for a week pass, £1.99 for a month (+ other options). They also offer an audiofuel credit system that means if you run with one program at least 25 times it becomes yours to keep even if your subscription lapses.

The next release of the app promises to acknowledge previous purchases of audiofuel tracks so you won’t have to pay for them again.

Profeet is a custom insole, gait analysis and specialist footwear shop based in Fulham and as they have a marathon sponsorship package running at the moment I thought I would invest in their top of the range 3D analysis service and bag £20 for the Samaritans.

Profeet foot strike

The shop was bustling and seemed to be set up like a swanky gents barbers with it’s leather armchairs and one on one service.

Steve took me through the routine starting with a few treadmill runs alternating between my existing shoe and short barefoot jogs. Then I ran along a track landing on a pressure pad which displayed a moving hotspot as my foot moved through heel strike to toe off. I was fascinated to see that I had a normal arch – I’ve always felt that I’ve been as flat-footed as they come, but nope, I have normal feet.

Steve’s initial shoe suggestion was for a neutral shoe with some minor cushioning but after trying on ten different pairs of shoes with ever increasing stability elements, we finally arrived back at the shoe I came in with – the Asics Gel Kayano 17, a heavyweight in the stability running shoe arena. It was only then that video gait analysis showed a stable foot without excessive movement through the heel.

Having settled on shoe we moved on to the insole formation, which was quite a pleasant experience involving warm foam and a little sit down with a cup of tea.

An hour and quite a bit of running later, I’m ready to leave the shop with my frighteningly white shoes, chunky insoles and very much lighter wallet. I hope they are good for my feet – I’ve had some considerable success with my plantar fasciitis recovery program but I’ve been keen to play things safely as I gradually ramp up the training runs. I’m up to 5k individual runs now so I’ll soon be ready to knock out some proper distance runs and put the custom insoles to the challenge.

I’m a big fan of running gadgets and every now and again I’m fortunate enough to be sent free stuff to try out and review. The marketing craze of the moment seems to be for iphone armbands and I am now the proud owner of one for each arm.

I was very happy with my existing armband and given that my requirements were simple and met, it’s hard to see how the design could be improved upon.

Design requirements for larger ladies iPhone running armband:

1. Large enough for larger ladies ample armage
2. Sufficiently waterproof to protect iPhone during hardcore British training sessions
3. Cable gizmo to prevent irritating entanglements with headphone cable

So when the new action sports iPhone armband arrived in the post I was very pleased that it met and surpassed the existing model on points 1 and 3. Not yet sure about number 2 as I haven’t been very hardcore recently and neither has the British weather.

It’s extra comfortable and I have to admit that the simple velcro flap is an excellent, if low-tech, way to handle the excess cable from the headphones.

Yet again I have been won over by the new and shiny stuff.

I’m taking a softly softly approach to this years attempt at the London marathon. No early heroics or ambitious time targets. I need to make it to the start line this year and that means, at the very least, that I have to still be capable of running when the proper marathon program starts at the end of December.

I started my preliminary marathon training schedule this week.

An 8-week program that will hopefully drag my aching plantar fascia through to a 10k standard without me needing to hobble to work on crutches.

While I may be easing may back into the running, I’ve gone full steam ahead with the research and planning. As befits my gentle approach I’ve opted to follow the non-runners marathon trainer. It’s not exactly lightweight, no successful marathon plan can be, but despite having run for quite some years I do still identify with it’s target audience of non-runners and I’m happy to build up slowly. If I ever get into double digit training weeks I may be tempted to amend the plan slightly as it never gets beyond 18 mile long runs and I think that is leaving too much unexpected pain for the big day.

I am also reading more hardcore running material. Marshall Ulrich, the ultra runner almost as famous as Dean Karnazes, has just released a book called Running on Empty. It gets a huge “must read” recommendation from me and has already provided much inspiration and encouragement to get on the treadmill.

By his own refreshing admission, Ulrich has had something of a flawed character, not the best of husbands or fathers, and has spent much of his running life running away from his emotions. I identify with him to a point but unfortunately haven’t developed his skill of zoning out of the pain and maintaining the relentless “one foot forward” maxim to life.

Ultra runners are a funny breed but I do enjoy taking inspiration from them. He reminded me of Eddie Izzard with his crazy multiple marathon feat. It seems that if you run far enough, for long enough, your body breaks down and then re-emerges from the ashes as a runner.

Hard to moan about plantar fasciitis when you read about an ultra runner’s woes.

The distances were taking their toll. The tendons in my upper and lower legs had begun to throb constantly, as if someone had cracked them both with a hammer. My muscles were so tight that they felt like guitar strings strung over the bridge of my aching bones. My achilles tendon was giving me no relief, and my bones and joints hurt from the incessant pounding.

Unfortunately I am unlikely to run the necessary 2000 or so miles to convert my grumbling body into a finely honed, injury proofed, running machine between now and April 2012 but I can enjoy the read along the way.

Apologies in advance for much whining to come.

I’ve been using The Stick ever since I suffered with a painful muscular injury to my hamstrings.

It has a very simple design – a slightly flexible plastic stick around which a set of plastic spindles can independently rotate. It is these spindles that work on your muscles to ease out knots and release tension.

It’s extremely effective and a superb substitute for daily massages for those not lucky enough to have a full time masseuse on hand.

You can use it almost anywhere on the body but I have found it particularly useful for the larger muscle groups such as the calves, quads, hamstrings and buttocks. It can be incredibly painful when you first start using it but you can control the pressure and it’s amazing how quickly the muscles loosen up and stop screaming.

I came across the Posture Pro and Footeez at the The Running School, I was just preparing for a high intensity blast on the treadmill but I was suffering from a niggling cramp in my calf. I was quite concerned that I was going to do myself a mischief so the running instructor had me sitting on the floor with the blue nobbly gadget under my calf. The trick is to roll back and forth using your body weight to apply quite forceful pressure to a defined spot. I found it to have a miraculous effect, clearing the knot within a minute or so. I bought these two the very same day.

I find that The Stick is ideal for routine treatment as a preventative measure while it is worth rolling out the Posture Pro when rapid remedial action is required. The Posture Pro does take a little bit of getting used to and is tricky to use without giving you carpet burns on your buttocks as you roll to and fro.

The Footeez is similar to the Posture Pro, another knobbly hard plastic cyclinder but is specially shaped for foot rolling. I use the two interchangeably to relieve the pain of plantar fasciitis. The podiatrist recommended the use of a golf ball for focused massage of the PF which is a far more economical method but I find it quite irritating. It’s hard to apply sufficient pressure to the heel region without the golf ball shooting out from under your foot and scuttling across the room. I soon get bored of retrieving it.

I was encouraged out on today’s run by the arrival of some new socks for me to trial and review.

I’ve been sent a fascinating collection of running specific sports socks from the Japanese manufacturer Tabio. Today I tried out the Tabio Racing Run Toe Sock but I also have the lovely lobster styled Tabi Socks and the more conventional Racing Run Sock yet to trial.

The first thing that struck me about the socks was the price. At £28 a pair they are the most expensive sock I’ve ever worn. The last sock I bought also had that accolade but at £21 for a twin pack it was a snip at the price.

I got over the price fairly quickly but that might have something to do with them being a free gift.

They generated rather a lot of excitement in the house, which can’t be said of the other socks I own. Quite the opposite actually.

The Tabio socks have a host of design features, the most obvious in this pair is the individual toe compartments like the Vibram Five Fingers. This supposedly improves balance and push off. I think they look rather snazzy. They’ve also got arch support by way of some nifty weaving and extra large heel compartment to prevent the sock riding up or down. The most useful feature as far as I’m concerned is the skidproof patches on the soles.

I have quite a large middle toe and it tends to get bashed mercilessly on the end of my shoe, after 5km I’ll inevitably have a bruised toenail and by 13km the nail may have pulled completely away. With the non slip design I felt as though my feet held in place and I certainly didn’t feel any impact pain from my toes.

I’m going to try these socks out with a variety of shoes and longer distances so I will soon know if they are toe savers.

Now for the giveaway.

I have two pairs of Tabio Socks: Racing Run and Racing Run Toe Sock size 4-6.5 that I can give away to readers of this blog.

Nothing two onerous, I’ll give one pair to a random commenter on the blog and I’ll give another to the commenter who pleads their case most impressively. Good luck – they really are quite exciting socks.

Having just returned from 6 hours wandering around the Westfield centre we weren’t terribly eager to go out again and foolishly felt a treadmill mile showdown might be the perfect low energy Juneathon offering.

I was sent some really interesting Tabio sports socks to try out today but unfortunately they were about 4 sizes too small and I had to watch jealously as Lynn nicked a pair for the evening run.

She took the intriguing lobster model and opted to run barefoot or sock-footed for the mile. Apparently the Tabio socks were a huge improvement on the usual sports socks and showed no signs of causing blisters which tends to happen quite quickly with a standard slippy sock and a rough treadmill track. I’ll do a proper review when I’ve had to chance to play with my own. I might also have a pair that I can give away on the blog – more on that later.

The cat was mesmerised by the repetitive pink flash and almost caused carnage in her attempts to grab the lobsters mid stride.

Lynn set the bar at 11mins 51 secs for the barefoot mile and although I had the advantage of going last I had to damn near kill myself to break the barrier by another 5 seconds.

Day 4 Tally
Runs: 4/4
Run Distance: 1.6k / 9.06k total
Runs where I beat Lynn: 4/4
Stella Pint Equivalents: 1ish in the form of champagne

I have so many wrist and arm gadgets that I am holding out for an implantable chip so I can discard some of the clunky adornments. A chip for blood glucose levels, body temp, steps walked, calories input, distance travelled. It will be ANT enabled and my body can spill it’s beans when ever I switch on my computer.

In the meantime I have to get used to being called the household Lab Rat.

A new gizmo arrived yesterday for me to try out – The Trion:z Double Loop Bracelet.

It’s one of those magnetic bracelets typically associated with chronic sufferers of arthritis but re-styled for the athletic world. The Trion:z brand has managed to deeply embed itself within the sporting fraternity and you’ll see the coloured bands on the wrists of triathletes to golfers.

As with most of these “alternative” therapies, you’ve got to tread incredibly carefully when making any health claims. In fact I couldn’t find any on the leaflet that came with the bracelet. There was an emphasized quote, stating that Michellie Jones wouldn’t race without her Trion:z but it didn’t explain why.

Why won’t she race without it? I am puzzled.

What am I supposed to feel now I’ve put this thing on?

Reading the techy section of the website suggests that the bracelet is going to release negative ions which will inhibit the effects of the positive ion producing technology all around us.

I haven’t noticed any problems from the positive ions so far so I decided to check it out on the treadmill. Fan on, treadmill turning, iPod on – I must have been in positive ion hell or at least I might have been if it wasn’t for the bracelet of wonder.

It was an uneventful run but quite pleasant, no headaches but then that’s normal. No epiphany but maybe I wasn’t looking hard enough.

It’s quite a nice bracelet though and as it’s designed for sporty types it might not get a stinky as my Link of London friendship bracelet. I think it can stay for a while and take up valuable wrist real estate until the next must have gadget comes along. Who knows, the negative ions might surprise me.