Originally posted by: Bateluer
Originally posted by: sgrinavi
In 30 yrs of doing this stuff I have never met a healthy runner.... Our joints just are not ment to take the constant, steady, pounding.
Sounds like the words of a non-runner to me. Running is one of the best exercises you can do.
The human body is a naturally evolved running machine. In fact, our ability to run upright for greater distances is one of the key factors in human evolution.
To the OP: It would depend on the ankle injury you suffered. I'd start off slowly, possibly on an elliptical glider. If your ankle feels alright, then transition to shorter runs, progressively moving to longer runs.
Clothing, meh. For most casual runners, the simple clothing you can get anywhere is fine, so long as its light weight and breathes easy. No need to spend a ton of money if you're just running local 5Ks.
Socks, on the other hand, get some good socks. I used to get serious blisters on my feet, often multiple blisters on top of each other. Then I purchased some Thorlos running socks, one of the best items of running gear I've bought in a long while. They've got more padding in the ankles and around the balls of the feet, very beneficial.
On the subject of shoes: The best thing you could do is seek out a professional running store and have them fit you. Bring your old shoes in so they can analyze the wear patterns, they'll have you run on a treadmill so they can observe your stride, etc. They'll hook you up with a good pair of shoes for your unique feet. Most shoe makers have dedicated lines of shoes for pro runners that you usually won't find at your common shoe stores.