If you're thinking about getting into running, I'd say the first piece of gear to buy is a good pair of shoes from your local running store. Don't worry about fancy watches or gels or arm sleeves or whatever.
I did finally buy a smartwatch (coros) last year, after training my whole life with just a casio. It's made me a lot more adventurous as having the GPS tracking means I can run offroad and even off-trail without worrying about keeping accurate track of my distances and paces. This is probably the second piece of gear I'd recommend buying and I wish I had done it sooner. The numbers are useful, it makes it easier to do the hobby, and it means I can use Strava which is a fun way to stay in touch with my fitness friends.
Third piece of unsolicited advice is that you absolutely don't have to run marathons.
> t. slow, but ran the fastest mile of my life last year, good friends with many semi pros.
pertique•1h ago
On the other hand, and this is probably isn't right, the brandification and fetishization of gear doesn't sit right with me. I ackownledge it's unfair - there should not be any difference between being proud of some thrifted hat and some fancy running shorts. Yet it still tripped me up.
Regardless, I can 100% corroborate the meat of the post. Running is, by far, one of the best ways to explore a new or old place. There's something about the pace of it that helps you notice details that you miss on a bike or when walking. At least, despite biking, walking, and driving through my last neighborhood for years, I'd regularly pick up on new things during runs.