Too much gear?

You see some runners and they look like one man bands with all their accessories and extra kit attached all over them. Do you think there's such thinking as too much running gear?

Only if you don't need it! Personally I'm a phone and keys in my pocket and an MP3 player clipped to my t-shirt kind of runner. I might carry a small bottle of water. 

Some prefer a camelback, some like to carry a running belt or bumbag so they can carry extra fluids or gels. It's all personal preference. I don't see many, if any runners like you describe running locally.

Surely depends how far you're going and where you're running. If you're doing 20 miles through the Scottish Highlands you need to be equipped for survival, just in case it all goes wrong, that's quite a lot of kit. You wouldn't carry that stuff for a quick nip around the block though. I'm sure people carry what they feel is appropriate for them. If they're commuting to work by running, there could be quite a bit of gear to carry for that too.

I'd love to be able to run with less 'add ons' but I need my key, inhaler, tissues (I get awful hayfever!! Pathetic I know!), water and phone to plug my earphones in. I just want to GO! And not have all these extras.

Ok, 6 "extra" items there.

Stay well hydrated throughout the day, drink 1/2 a pint or so of water in the hour or even 1/2 hour before you set off for run. No need to carry water (unless it is a long run, even then you can stash a bottle in a hedge or something somewhere along your route), and have a drink of water straight away when you get back too.  -1 .

Earphones? Really? You might even find you enjoy your running more if you listen to the birds tweeting, enjoy your surroundings, hear that car coming thats about to knock you over, be able to engage in short but pleasant conversations with other runners, walkers, cyclists, horse riders, dog walkers etc etc. Or maybe you'll find something extra if you tune in to your body, rather than using musical distraction to tune out. Try it, you might like it, you might not, but find out.  -2 .

Tissues? Might be a bit gross, but can't you press on one nostril while you blow out the other side? Obviously only when you're a safe distance from those other people you're now talking to. If its itchy eyes, you don't really want to be rubbing them with anything do you?  -3 .

Sometimes I stash my key in a safe place rather than carry it with me, but I live where no-one sees where I'm stashing the key. Could you do the same? If someone else is in the house, don't need to carry a key anyway.  -4 ?

Always wise to carry your phone in-case of emergencies, likewise your inhaler, but hey, we don't you to end up feeling like you're naked now do we ?

You could also get a little arm band for your phone and stash your key and tissue into a pocket of your shorts / bottoms?

Yeah you don't have to ditch your stuff, you can get jogging bottoms with zip pockets.  Carrying your tissues aren't going to weigh you down so I don't think there's any need to ditch them.  I've used a camelback for my walking mainly, it's really good, some have little zipped pockets in and other are just the water carrier.  You could always put everything already in your bag so then you can just pick it up and go, no faffing and you have extra peace of mind knowing you have everything with you.

I'm with Rob_Barber!

The less (weight of) gear you have, the easier the run will be.

I'd never have an mp3 player, for the safety factor and am going to try not to get in the habbit of relying on gels, tablets or large amounts of water from my first training runs, so just won't take them.

Never had all that malarky 'back in the day'!

Hi there!

I run with an armband for phone but if i'm doing a long run (and need water) i run with a lightweight waist pack that has space for your phone, keys, tissue and inhaler should you wish/need all of them. You can run in the rain also as can just wrap phone in sandwhich bag and put in pouch, stays perfectly dry! Again for long runs it also has 2 small bottles with it, (170ml each) which works for me as I don't drink loads while I run, just sips. My jacket is also v lightweight and packs up into a tiny bag that can be clipped to the belt.

All works very well together for me :)

Sounds good to me, as I need all of the above! I don't tend to run light!

The armband sounds really useful. I have a running coat with good pockets too. A cycling top can be handy because the backs have elsaticated pcokets

Does your stuff bounce around too much in the pockets?

I can never keep my ipod in my pocket it always comes out, I don't have any zips so that might be why! the armband thing sounds really cool 

I always have to hold my ipod (and anything else I take with me) as I'm always paranoid they'll fall out my pockets, so the armband does sound like a good idea.

Really i don't want too much thing on, I find it irritating and hassle when I do my running habit.

I'm with Moe, the more I take with me the harder it gets, so I try to keep my gear to the minimum that I need.