In a live Q&A session that somehow managed to be both deeply practical and existentially philosophical, running experts Kieran Alger and Sarah Marsh took to The Guardian's comments section to answer pressing questions about footwear, training, and - yes - the optimal underwear for support.
One reader, going by the handle "comradest," kicked things off with a query about the future of running as a sport, touching on tech, races, and the broader subculture. Kieran responded with cautious optimism, noting the boom in running clubs and communities - from parkrun to Friday night run club raves (apparently a thing, and not just a fever dream). He predicted that AI-powered apps would democratize coaching, but also wondered aloud if we might eventually rebel against the tyranny of data and return to a simpler, more intuitive approach to running. "A bit of a backlash to the Strava generation," he mused, "where we tune into our bodies rather than judge everything based on what a watch might say."
Sarah, identifying as a 1990s kid, confessed her love for Eminem as running motivation, while Kieran revealed his playlist swings from cheesy house music to The Greatest Showman soundtrack. He also recommended the Shokz OpenFit Air headphones - lightweight, clip-on, open-ear style that let you hear some of the world around - and the Beats Powerbeats Fit for those who prefer in-ear buds. The session remains open for further questions, provided you sign in or create a Guardian account.