Walking and Running Gear

1. There are many essential accessories when taking running and walking for fitness seriously, many of which you probably already have. Be sure to look beyond shoes and socks and consider heart rate monitors, hydration packs, pedometers, reflective gear, and more.

2. It's not smart to simply run until you can't anymore - every body has a target heart rate at which maximum positive result from exercise is found. Running and walking with a heart rate monitor or heart rate monitor watch will keep you in tune with your body's rhythm.

3. Like every high-performance machine, your body needs fuel - hydration packs are the easiest and safest way to transport water, sports drinks, energy snacks, and anything else you need while out on the trail or road.

4. When you get to steppin' - make sure you get to countin', too. A pedometer is the easiest way to track your movements and energy during a workout or a workday. Many have automatic averaging, count storage, and calorie counters built in.

5. You want to keep moving forward, so injury avoidance is key. Shop for reflective gear to make sure you're seen no matter where you run. There are lightweight vests, LED-equipped clothing and headgear, and much, much more.

6. Running watches are a great way to help track your progress during a session or over time. After all, if you don't know where you've been, how can you see where you're going?

7. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. One of the biggest roadblocks tripping up runners every day is lack of hydration. Many of today's water bottles are easy to carry, compact, and made of environmentally-friendly plastics.