What happened to the freedom of running?

I admit it, I'm at fault here too.  I get caught up in the "I need all the new gear" and "what will make me recover faster" whirlwinds the same as anyone else.

But I've always said one of the reasons why I love running is because its so easy.  You just throw on some shorts and shoes (and a shirt if you are female) and head out the door.  Compare that to cycling where you've gotta make sure the bike is in working order, tires are aired up, you have your helmet and gloves, water bottles are filled, you have an extra tube and multi-tool, plenty of nutrition, put on your sunglasses and helmet, and you haven't even walked out the door yet.  And I don't even want to go into preparation for triathlon.

Running is freeing; its easy.  Yet, everywhere I'm reading its all about making sure you've got the right hat, compression sleeves, socks, shoes, a garmin, heart rate monitor, the right nutrition before, after and during the run, body glide, water belt, hand-held water bottle, arm warmers, and the right playlist on your iPod.  Don't get me wrong, all these things have their places (except maybe water belts...i kid...sort of), but part of running is listening to your body and connecting with your surroundings.  Its about feeling the breeze cool your skin as the sweat evaporates on a warm spring day.  Its about feeling the sun inject you with life.  Its about exchanging that understanding and approving look with the only other runner dumb enough to be out during a thunderstorm when no one else is crazy enough to be running--you know that look.  The list goes on, but when you are decked out with all the latest gear and worried about your pace and playlist, you miss these things that make running so great.

I'd never try to do a track workout without a watch or someone timing me.  I'd never run a marathon (again) without body glide.  I love my garmin.  Sometimes I run with music.  I can't do an ultra without a hand-held water bottle.  But sometimes its nice to just run.  Put on your shoes, shorts, and shirt and go run.  Leave the watch at home and don't take your music.  Just go out and run...and have fun.  It'll remind you why you started running in the first place or it'll change your perspective on running.  Try it sometime.