Inspired by the London Marathon? Here’s how to get started with running and exactly what kit you’ll need

Whether you trekked into the city centre to cheer on a friend or tuned in from home, there's no denying that there's something magical about the London Marathon. Watching those running line up at the start line, hearing the emotional stories behind their chosen charities and then seeing the camaraderie throughout, followed by the elated celebrations at the end. So it's little wonder that so many of us - even those who haven't thought about going out for a run in months - suddenly find ourselves Googling ‘how to get into running’ or ‘marathon training plans’ in the days and weeks afterward.

At its best, running can seem graceful and elegant, flying along with a sense of freedom a simple stroll could never bring. At its worst, it’s an undignified slog of sweat, chaffing and trudging up hills with a face the colour of a particularly ripe tomato. But, it’s clear that there’s more to it than a mass desire to wear lycra and the glory of crossing the finish line in front of cheering crowds. There are the proven physical benefits of improving cardiovascular fitness and helping to maintain healthy bones, muscles heart and lungs. Even more importantly at a time rife with anxiety and loneliness, running can help to keep you mentally well, too. A 2018 Glasgow Caledonian University study found that a staggering 89% of Parkrun participants said running had had a positive impact on their happiness and mental health.

And, who knows, take it up now and you may even kickstart a life-long love affair with running that takes you well past the date of the next marathon - though, of course, you don't need to sign up to such an event in order to reap the benefits, it's important to remember it's not for everyone.

So, before we all lose momentum, here’s what you need to know before you get started.

1. First things first: let go of the bad memories from school PE

Unless you found sports easy, PE classes were likely to rate somewhere on the scale between ‘please make it stop’ and ‘hell on earth’. Being picked last for a team? Not being able to hit the ball in rounders? Feeling self conscious in the changing rooms? Tick, tick, tick. But as grown-ups, we don‘t have to feel beholden to team sports and competing against others: running is great because it‘s all about you, and that means you‘re always the winner.

2. Get a great sports bra

For those of you blessed in the breast department, you’ll know that amazing as they are, big boobs don’t make exercising any easier. In fact, a study by running underwear brand Runderwear found that 25% of women choose not to undertake high-impact exercise because they’re concerned about breast bounce.
So before you attempt your first run, invest in a great sports bra. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Make sure they’re sized by traditional cup size rather than small/medium/large.
• Padded straps will help to avoid shoulder chafing.
• Make sure the fabric is super soft and sweat-wicking – this has to sit comfortably on your skin.
• A bra with a double rather than single fastening at the back will even out the weight distribution.
• Choose a bra with a high neckline, so the breasts are fully encased.

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3. Wear the right trainers

Usually, the first step toward finding the right running trainers would be to go to a specialist running shop such as Runners Need for a gait analysis. Nick Newman, manager of Runners Need Camden, says: “If you’re new to running I would opt for a neutral shoe – such as the Hoka One One, this will allow your body to move in its preferred motion – rather than stability shoes (such as the Asics GT-2000), unless you’ve been recommended a stability shoe by a physio.”