To read the first post I wrote on running the Couch to 5K challenge and runners' resources, click here.

Okay, you got me - I haven't run one step since I swore up and down to you that I was going to get back in the figurative saddle.  I even finally managed to get my boyfriend running, something I've been trying to do for a year now, and he hasn't managed to budge me from the couch.  So: renewed commitment, I promise.

Running is an appealing sport because it doesn't take a lot of stuff to get into it and enjoy it.  In fact, while magazines are generally struggling to keep ad pages and sales up, one title that's doing quite well is Runner's World - people don't have a lot of extra cash right now, but they still want to get fit, and running's a great way to do that.

The one thing you do need is shoes, and I don't mean just any shoes that have a swoosh on them.  You can run in the shoes you have for a few weeks until you're sure you're going to stick with it, but at that point you'll need to get some real running shoes.  Good running shoes should be properly fit to you in an actual running store, not a sporting goods store or a big box mega-emporium.  If you run in poor quality shoes or even shoes that just aren't right for your feet, you can get seriously hurt.  You really need to go to a store that sells nothing but running stuff and have their experts fit you, especially if you've never run before and don't know what kind of feet you have.

For more information on running shoes, we've got a lot of publications to keep you current on the new models.  Of course, we have the magazines dedicated to running which I discussed in my last post, but you can also find reviews and comparisons of shoes from a lot of other sources.  Did you know that you can search some of our library databases specifically for product reviews?

If you haven't used our library databases, you're really missing out.  I'm going to give you some steps now on using EBSCOHost Masterfile to search only for reviews of running shoes.  You can print these steps out as a guide or keep them open in another tab or window while you try it out.

1.  Go to the Research Tools link on our Web site (from here, you can click the link I just made for you or the one at the top of the page.  When you're on the main home page, you can hover over "Research & Learning" on the left side of the page and click on "Research Tools" from there.)

2.  Pick your subject - we're going to News and Magazines.  Check out all the cool databases we have on so many subjects! 

3.  Scroll down to EBSCOHost Masterfile.  This is a big database that has millions of magazine and newspaper articles.  It's a great start for periodicals research on any topic.

4.  To the right of the screen, you'll see that each database has links for "Home Access" and "Inside the Library."  If you're at home, you'll click the "Home Access" link and then put in your library card number and PIN.  If you're inside the library, you won't have to enter that information. 

5.  Now you're in the database.  Under the search box, you'll see a link for "Advanced Search."  We'll need that, since we only want product reviews, not just any articles about running shoes.

6.  On the Advanced Search page, look for a box towards the bottom right of your screen that says "Document Type."  Select "Product Review" there, and in the main search box at the top of the screen type "running shoes."  You don't need to put it in quotes.  Click the "Search" button, and you'll see a list of results.

7.  If a specific article is available in full text in this database, it will have links under the title that say "HTML Full Text," "PDF Full Text," or both.  These are the links you need to click to actually read the article.

8.  If the article is not available in full text, we might have it in the library!  You can check our print holdings at Periodicals at Main with the library catalog.

Of course, the big running publications do a lot of articles on shoes.  The Runner's World Fall Shoe Guide appeared in the September issue.  

Of course, there's more to gear than shoes.  You don't need to spend a lot of money on running clothes, but I really suggest that you avoid cotton at all costs - it chafes, and it doesn't stay warm when wet.  You need wicking fabrics like Cool-Max and other technical fibers to keep you dry and comfortable.  Surprisingly inexpensive technical shirts, shorts and pants are available at many stores.  Runner's World has a story in the August issue on good cheap running clothes.  (Women: even if you're looking to save money, do not scrimp on your sports bra.  Save money elsewhere.  It is not worth it.  Trust me here.)

And that's all you need to get started in a sport for a lifetime - some good shoes from a real running store and some inexpensive non-cotton clothes.  Of course, you can be a real gear-head like me and get yourself a whole wardrobe of amazingly silly-looking tights to match your huge GPS watch, but you don't have to.  In fact, you'd look a lot cooler if you didn't.  (I know, I look like a huge idiot when I run.  Please don't tell me you saw me running if you recognize me - it's embarassing.)  Have I convinced anybody to start?  Let me know!