Gear

Jack Carr is a gear nut—a gear fanatic. Pick up any of his novels and you will hardly find a page that doesn't sport some highly detailed gear portrayal, usually a firearm or bladed weapon. I grew up spending much of my time outdoors, hiking to fishing ponds, hunting, camping, etc.—all the while fantasizing about some day being Delta Force or an Airborne Ranger or whatnot. Ah, youth. Jack relates, and I know many more love the gear we need, use, collect, and admire involving our hobbies, pastimes... our beloved endeavors.

The outdoors is still among my first loves. Nowadays it's mostly about running, with a sprinkle here and there of camping and fishing. I long to return to hunting, and still love to shoot. But my non-negotiable love is running. It is easy, it is freeing, and it is (relatively) cheap (unless you veer too often into injury world—been there, got the T-Shirt). 

The gear is minimal and uncomplicated. I like that. Shoes, watches (or not), water bottles. And of course not to forget the adornments of shirts and shorts: the complete "uniform" of a runner could be fit into a grocery bag and weigh hardly a couple of pounds. Easy peasy.

I have run in many brands of shoes over the years. Sadly, I don't have the first pair from my first race (in an effort to not become a hoarder and remain as much a minimalist as I can). I wish now that I'd kept a lot of the previously worn items of gear, if for no other reason than the cool factor to show to future grandkids and generations to come. I love that Barry Roberson of Breakaway fame has done this for his running stores. I love that about Breakaway, that there is so much memorabilia shared for all to enjoy. 

In this post I've included shoes from the years. It is, again, not complete. 

Closing advice: careful about what you save and what you toss. Pass on to those in need. Don't pawn the guitars or the guns; you will regret it. And keep some shoes if your heart is in your running. It will be fun to share down the road!