ATHLETICS: In the olden days everyone was happy wearing small split-leg shorts, but no runner would be caught dead in those now . . . and so it is not so simple anymore to 'just do it', writes Ian O'Riordan

I was just starting into another rant on the latest drug scandal about to hit athletics - Maurice Greene, tell us it isn't true? - when I received the following text message: "Ian, where's a good place in Dublin to buy runners?"

This stopped my fingers in their tracks, and got me thinking. Do we really need any more noise about the steroid pushers? Don't we know enough already about the needle and the damage done? To hell with all that. There'll be no more boring our readers to tears.

Time, then, for some practical advice. For reasons of confidentiality, the sender of the text must remain anonymous. (Here's a clue: he's not an athlete, has more in common with Shane McGowan than Eamonn Coghlan, and his drug of choice would be LSD, not EPO.) But his interest in running, I knew, was genuine. Of course he's not alone.

There's a huge wave of people starting to enjoy the benefits of running, and couldn't care less what drugs some athletes are still sprinkling on their cornflakes. They just want to know what runners they should wear, and anything else that will help them look the part.

There's a whole new industry now to reflect that. Not long ago, your running shoe was a simple mix of rubber sole, cotton upper, and long, white laces. Your running gear was a cotton T-shirt and nylon shorts. You'd want some nerve to go out running in that garb these days, apparently.

Dublin now has its own speciality running shop (Runways, 187 Parnell Street), there is also one in Cork (John Buckley Sports, Camden Quay), and both come highly recommended.

They have a range of runners to suit every size and shape of foot. If Bigfoot walked in they'd sort him out.

This can be a little overwhelming. While not actually qualified to determine which runners may suit your needs, I do have plenty of experience.

My mother once christened me the Imelda Marcos of running such was the vast collection of running shoes I'd accumulated over the years, almost all of which I got for free. My garden shed is now half stuffed with runners, some of which have never been worn.

For most people, the first thought when it comes to buying runners is not the model but the make. There is a ferocious brand loyalty in the running shoe business, which is not necessarily a good thing.

Just because it's Nike, Adidas or Asics doesn't mean it's the best.

Most people also think the top models are naturally better again: such as the Nike Air Vomero (€140), the Adidas Supernova (€102) or the Asics Gel Kensei (€155).

This means some of the other brands have to work harder to sell their shoe. The Saucony ProGrid Paramount (€165) boasts the first ever temperature-regulating material in a shoe, which it claims will keep your feet cooler when it's hot, and warmer when it's cold.

Brooks are the only true running shoe specialists on the market. Their problem is trying to convert the masses from the more popular brands, but once they do, they rarely go back.

The Brooks Trance 7 (€140) is an amazing shoe, and includes the first biodegradable midsole.

Whatever you do decide on, it's a good idea to try the gait analysis machine at Runways, which will determine whether you're an over-pronater, under-pronater, or perhaps even a neutral runner. Ask for Kevin and tell him I sent you.

Nike, in fairness, were originally a true running brand, started up in 1971 when Bill Bowerman, coach at the University of Oregon, began constructing shoes for his leading athletes, such as Steve Prefontaine. Bowerman famously used his wife's waffle iron to mould the rubber sole, and decided on the name Nike after the Greek goddess of victory.

For years Nike marketed itself on the slogan "Just do it!" - but these days, you can't just do it in a pair of running shoes.

Nike slowly revolutionised the running gear market, effectively making cotton redundant as a material.

Almost all Nike gear, such as the ClimaFit jacket (€70), is now made of synthetic material, and all other brands have followed suit, including Adidas, such as their ClimaLite T-shirt (€21.50).

Running shorts are no longer a simple affair either.

In the olden days everyone was happy wearing small split-leg shorts, but no runner would be caught dead in those anymore, unless they wanted to make some overt declaration of their sexuality.

These days, shorts have to come down at least two inches above the knee, preferably lower, such as the Adidas Supernova baggy short (€28), or the Nike Dri-Fit baggy short (€20).

Even when dressed in high-tech shoes and gear, you may not feel entirely secure about going running. You'll no doubt want to bring along your iPod, preferably the featherweight iPod nano 8GB (€189), which Nike has teamed up with to produce a range of running accessories.

The Nike iPod sport kit (€29) is a small device that fits into the sole of certain Nike shoes (look for the Nike+ symbol) and measures your distance and pace. The Nike iPod armband (€14.95) completes the package.

The new Nike+ Sportband (€59.95) goes a step further and measures pace, distance and calories burned. Nike+ even provide a list of motivational tunes to listen to while running. I read somewhere else that the first album from Rage Against the Machine (€14.99) was particularly brilliant to run along with.

Running belts are also popular these days. The Adidas Bottle Belt (€18.00) holds four mini bottles of water, with a separate slot for your mobile phone.

Clearly, some people can't go running without their mobile phone, the only purpose of which may be to look as if you're doing something important should you have to stop with a cramp.

Now that it's summer, running shades are vital, and they don't come much better than the Oakley Radars (€269.99), which boast hydrophobic lenses. Runners in serious training may also want to wear a heart-rate monitor, such as the Polar RS200 (€150), which will ensure you don't run too hard.

However, should we get another wet summer like last year, then an indoor treadmill such as the Reebok Premier Run (€2,999) may be the most essential purpose of all.

No one wants to spend all that money on fancy running gear and see it drenched in the rain.

But it's a holiday weekend and the forecast is not bad.

Time perhaps for the first barefoot run of the year down along Brittas Bay, in an old cotton T-shirt and nylon shorts.

And the only sound in my ears will be the wind and gentle crashing of the waves on the sandy shoreline.

Just try it.