Are you passionate about running? If so, you most likely spend as much of your free time as possible on Singapore running trails or tracks in your neighborhood or nearby.
Running is an excellent sport for achieving and maintaining glowing good health. However, all joggers, sprinters and marathon enthusiasts must be sure to warm up thoroughly before each run and end each run with “cooling down” stretches to keep muscles limber and avoid bodily stress.
By wearing appropriate running shoes and clothing for your climate, protecting your skin against sun, wind and harsh weather and staying well hydrated, you are practising good techniques to protect your health.
However, another essential step to safeguarding your health is to always take a first aid kit along when you go running. Important items to take with you on your runs include the following:
1. Highly Effective Balm, Spray and Socks to Prevent Skin Chafing and Blisters
Bodyglide Anti-Chafe Balm – This powerful anti-chafing balm is very soothing when used both before and after running. It maintains skin comfort, guarding against chafing, chapping and cracking of the skin surfaces. It also aids in preventing and alleviating hot spots on the soles of your feet. This protective salve penetrates the outer skin layers to form a sturdy shield against friction and accumulated moisture.
Trislide – This is the only anti-blistering, anti-chafing aid that is sold as an easy to carry, eco-friendly spray. This product is both easy to use and healthy to share. Trislide is quickly becoming the most popular ‘chamois’ anti-chafing aid for runners, without any greasy residue. It is waterproof, protecting your skin for hours. This product has a liquid silicone base and can be removed with soap and water.
Feetures! Elite – Light Cushion, Low Cut Socks. – These running socks provide a skin-smooth, close fit and Sock-Lock™ technology for highest levels of support and protection from chafing and blistering. They include the Power Arch for focused support and iWick® fibers to eliminate moisture. There is no bothersome toe seam.
2. Aids for Prevention of Abdominal Cramps for Runners
Elete Electrolytes – This natural concentrate of electrolytes (magnesium, sodium, potassium and chloride, all in ionic form) first extracted from waters of the Great Lakes in the U.S., is now distributed worldwide. MRI Ltd. in the U.K. is a major supplier of Elete concentrate to Singapore. Elete prevents and cures cramps of the abdominal and GI areas of the body for runners and is sold in cases of 12 bottles (24.6 ml each).
Hydrating Foods – Foods that support and replenish the body’s water supply are bananas (potassium) and whole-grain pasta and bread (carbohydrates). The mineral content in bananas supplies electrolytes, and carbohydrates in whole-grain foods energize the body, alleviating stress that causes dehydration during strenuous or lengthy exercise sessions.
GoFit Resistance Bands – Resistance exercise bands from GoFit promote repeated contracting and releasing of abdominal muscles and are good preparation, especially for long-distance runners, for preventing abdominal and GI cramps.
3. Quality Products for Muscle Strain Treatment
Topricin – This paraben-free anti-inflammatory healing cream provides excellent relief from soft tissue irritations and muscle strain in the legs, feet, neck, back and shoulders. It relieves pain from sports-related injuries like sprains, muscle pulls and contractions caused by stress. When used before exercising, it can help keep muscles relaxed and prevent the onset of cramping.
Pocari Sweat – This drink is helpful to runners due to its ability to replace electrolytes (sodium and potassium) in the body, which are lost through perspiration while running. Electrolyte depletion can cause dehydration as well as muscle contractions and pain. You should drink this liquid before and during a run whenever possible.
Bananas – Many runners recommend eating bananas in order to prevent muscle contraction and cramping while running. Bananas are rich in potassium, so they are helpful in replenishing lost electrolytes.
4. Joint Support and Care While Running
Futuro™ Sport Adjustable Knee Stabilizer – This wrap-around knee support with adjustable straps for strains and sprains provides dual stabilizers for lateral and medial support. Made of durable neoprene-blend material, it has open knee cap structure for better stability.
Futuro™ Sport Deluxe Ankle Stabilizer – This sleeve-style ankle support fits easily into a running shoe. It supports strained, sprained or weak ankles. Made of moisture-wicking material, this wrap-around, flexible ankle brace has straps to lift the arch plus sturdy stabilizers on the sides to aid in decreasing lateral motion.
5. Products to Prevent Shin Splints
Spenco Gel Insoles – Gel insoles in running shoes can cushion impact when running, alleviating or preventing inflammation of the tibia from muscle traction in the lower legs. This traction can cause painful shin splints (pains in the shins).
On Cloudrush Shoes – Advanced design Cloudrunner shoes for runners feature a series of 15 prominent clouds to cushion each landing of your feet when running, preventing shin splints. They thoroughly absorb heavy or jarring impact.
6. Running Support Aids
Halo Headbands – These comfortable, sturdy dryline headbands for runners absorb perspiration, promoting its evaporation to prevent sweat from clouding runners’ vision.
Louis Vuitton Style Fanny Waist Packs – These lightweight packs are ideal for carrying band-aids, gauze pads, tape, antibacterial ointments, cash, credit cards or cellular phones during practice runs or on the running trail.
7. Reliable Running Tapes
KT Tape Pro – This lightweight, durable athletic tape is made of water resistant synthetic fibers. It provides runners with multi-directional elasticity for continuous comfortable support of muscles, tendons and joints.
Elastowrap – This elasticised tape is highly recommended for strengthening weakened or previously injured joints and muscles during running.
Kinesio Tape – This pliable but very sturdy sports tape is excellent for reducing stress on the knee area and patellar tendon during running.
Singapore is home to many avid runners. In addition, numerous races are held on this appealing island every year. Singapore residents tend to be pragmatic, according to Dr. Benedict Tan, a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP). They like tangible results, like winning medals in races. However, Dr. Tan stresses the importance of enjoying running for the sake of good sport and exercise.
As a resident or visitor in this active, exciting location, why not catch the runner’s fever and become a member of one of the many runners’ groups or clubs? You are sure to benefit from this great form of exercise while gaining many new friends and fellow running enthusiasts.
Just be sure to remind one another to take along your first aid kits and other essentials each time you go for a run.
