Nipguards - £9
Protection against painful nipple abrasion and chaffing, a must for those training for a race.

Balega Socks - from £9
Essential protection for your feet, recently reviewed and proven to help prevent blisters

Soleus Running Watches - from £31.50
Track your pace, distance and heart rate with one of our excellent Soleus running watches

Dermatone Spot Protection Stick - £7
Waterproof & sunproof SPF protection against chapping, sun, windburn & cold for sun-sensitive areas including nose, ears, face, lips, forehead & shoulders. Bonds to skin on contact (doesn't run into eyes).

Camelbak Delaney Plus Black & Yellow Running Waistpack - £29.70
Ideal for a 10K, the Camelbak Delaney Plus Waistpack includes a 24 oz Podium® bottle and one 5 oz gel flask, as well as space for other essentials (MP3 player, keys, money, etc) leaving no excuses for not setting personal bests!

Kinetica Energy Gel 60ml - £1.50
Kinetica Hydrating Energy Gel is a super convenient, easily absorbed tri carb blend with additional natural, high quality Sea salt to maintain hydration. Replenish energy quickly during training or competition by taking one sachet (with water) at 20/30 minute intervals. 

2XU PERFORM Compression Calf Guards - £28.80
Engineered for active use with powerful fabrics offering unparalleled breathability, moisure management and flexibility to keep the wearer comfortable and focused. 

Sunwise Running Sunglasses - from £21.60
Keep your focus on the road and the sun out your eyes with a pair of Sunwise running sunglasses - durable, lightweight, comfortable and secure. Choose from a range of interchangeable lenses to ensure the very best visibility whatever the light conditions.

Bodyglide Anti-Chafe Skin Protection - from £6.30
Bodyglide Anti-Chafe balm is the recognized leader for comfort and helps prevent and relieve hot spots on feet, and chafed, chapped and cracked skin from head to toe. Hypoallergenic, non-petroleum based, easy to apply, no mess.

Running Hats, Caps & Headbands - from £9
Keep sun and hair out your eyes while maintaining a cool temperature with one of our lighweight running hats or headbands.

Clif Shot Bloks - £2.25
Great for eating on the move, Clif Shot Bloks come in chewable 33 calorie cubes, making it easy to customise and track caloric and electrolyte intake during races. Easy to chew with a choice of flavours including Mountain Berry and Orange.

Isostar Powertabs - £5
Isostar Powertabs (10 x 12g dissolving tablets) make 2.5 litres of refreshing lemon Isotonic sports drink - high in energy & low in calories (44kcal per 250ml).

Are you training for a big race? Let us know your essential race kit!

My experience of running socks to date has been fairly typical: I buy multipacks of cheap sport anklets, and use/wash/reuse until they pretty much fall apart. My belief to date has been that since running socks offer relatively little scope for improvement, there's not much point in spending more than the bare minimum.

I decided to challenge this view after signing up to the Balloch to Clydebank Half Marathon, eager to avoid a recurring toe blister which could potentially cripple me. After speaking to the helpful staff at achilles heel I decided on a pair of Balega socks, and specifically the Merino Wood Enduro Socks - the merino mix particularly appealed, as I'm a big fan of merino sports clothing (keeps you cool/warm, stays fresh and is long-lasting).

Balega (pronounced "Bah-Lehh-Gah", a Zulu word meaning "To move with speed") is a South African/American company which specialises in quality running socks, with stockists across the UK. The independent company produce a range of mens, womens and kids running socks - find out more on the Balega Facebook page.

First impressions of trying the socks on are their smooth feel; the fit is snug (I'm a size 9.5 shoe so went for large) and the socks come up to just above my ankle. When out running the socks kept my feet at a nice temperature, with no abrasion at the seams (often a cause of blisters). I usually have to use foot balm to prevent blisters but had no need with the Balegas.

These socks have performed exceptionally well on short and long runs (often without the need to wash between runs!), and I'll be buying another pair soon. I've quickly realised that spending a little more on a few pairs of good running socks makes far more sense than having to constantly buy large packs of cheap sportsocks.

Balega Merino Wool Enduro Running Socks (£10.80)
Free UK delivery or collect in store.

• Woolen fibers for lasting durability
• Handlinked toe closure for comfort
• Reinforced heel and toe ensure a Natural moisture management; can be worn as weather warms up
• Balega's Performance Wool Technology (PWT) provides natural temperature regulation and insulation
• Medium volume construction

'The adiStar BOOST is a running specific trainer, with the additions of a continental outsole and formation unit, ‘D coupled’ heel block, make the shoe a more stable/neutral rather than Energy BOOST which is an ‘out and out’ neutral offer.'

'1000s of special energy capsules are melted together into one midsole that will change your run forever. The black and yellow Energy Boost is designed to show off the high energy return and the extremely soft cushioning. When you try this trainer on, you'll know your way of running has changed for good. The Energy Boost is the first running shoe that is equipped with the revolutionary BOOST technology, but it will not be the last. This is only the start of the running revolution...'

In the Nike Free continuum, the lower the number in a shoe’s name, the closer it comes to barefoot running (on the spectrum, 10.0 represents conventional footwear while 0 represents the bare foot).

Nike Free 3.0 - The closest Nike has come to delivering a truly barefoot experience for optimal foot strengthening and flexibility. With a 4mm heel-to-toe drop and a light-weight 'Nanoply' upper this really does offer a natural fit and feel. Nanoply is a micro-layer of engineered composite material that is laser-perforated for a skin-like fit that moves with each stride.

Nike Free 4.0 - A seamless, laser-perforated Nanoply upper and modified arch flex grooves, the Nike Free 4.0 running shoe provides a great fit and a wide range of motion. The 4.0 offers a 6mm heel-to-toe drop and weighs in at 232 grams (gents).

Nike Free Run (5.0) - An ideal model for the runner looking for their first step into natural running. It provides the strengthening and natural gait management benefits associated with barefoot training, along with the cushioning, traction, and underfoot protection of a traditional running shoe. Nanoply overlays are used strategically throughout the upper to offer flexibility and support where needed. This time we have an 8mm heel-to-toe drop.

achilles heel Nike Free Sale - Buy Online Now!

Sarah Ridgway - Mountain runner from Polished Project on Vimeo.