I Spent £10,000 On Running Tech. Two Things Made Me Faster.

Summary

0:00–0:41 — The test for every gadget

Nick Hancock opens with the running equipment he has bought over six years—more than £10,000 in total—and says only two things genuinely helped him and his athletes get faster.

His test for every item is simple: What training decision would this change? If a gadget provides interesting numbers without changing what he does, it is a “mirror,” not a useful tool.

1:13 — Heart-rate monitors: useful, with limits

A heart-rate monitor can help keep easy runs easy, but wrist sensors can be unreliable. Hancock prefers a chest strap or a dependable wrist monitor.

Heart rate can also shift with heat, humidity, sleep, stress, caffeine, and terrain. He describes “cadence capture,” where a wrist sensor mistakes a runner’s step rhythm for their pulse. When a reading seems wrong, he recommends using the talk test: if you can speak in full sentences, the pace is likely easy enough. He also advises against chasing a target heart rate in hot weather.

Around 4:02 — Power, temperature, and sweat gadgets

Hancock is unconvinced that running power meters provide reliable enough information, especially on climbs and descents. Unlike a cycling power meter, he argues, running power is an algorithmic estimate. He has not seen it change decisions beyond what effort and pace already indicate.

He is similarly skeptical of wearable core-temperature sensors. If a runner feels too hot, they can slow down, drink, or reschedule without a device confirming it.

To measure sweat loss, he suggests weighing yourself before and after a run and accounting for what you drank or consumed. In his view, most runners can get useful information with a regular scale rather than a dedicated monitor.

Before 8:00 — Compression leggings

Hancock’s verdict on compression leggings is no for improving speed or health. Wear them if you like the feel or appearance, he says, but they are not a substitute for strengthening problem areas such as the calves.

8:00 — The unglamorous equipment that supports training

Treadmills, bikes, elliptical trainers, ski machines, and strength-training equipment pass Hancock’s test because they can determine whether a workout happens at all, or help someone train around an injury or other constraint.

Strength training is a requirement for the athletes he coaches. These tools may not provide compelling metrics, but they can change the training plan.

9:37 — The watch: useful for two specific jobs

The watch is one of Hancock’s two standout purchases, but not because of features such as performance status, recovery time, or race predictions, which he says he often ignores. He values it for:

• Setting an upper heart-rate limit on easy runs, rather than treating a number as a pace to hit exactly.
• Displaying structured workouts during training, so runners can follow intervals without relying on memory or negotiating with themselves mid-session.

Runners generally do not need an expensive watch. Hancock says a mid-range model that supports workouts and connects to a heart-rate monitor can cover the functions he uses most.

12:51 — Shoes and super shoes

Shoe rotation is the second standout. Hancock recommends reserving super shoes mainly for races and, if appropriate, tempo or speed sessions—not wearing them for every run. Using them too often, he warns, can leave calves unprepared when runners switch to less supportive shoes.

He also urges runners to test shoes in training before racing in them, so rubbing or poor fit is discovered in advance.

Most runners do not need a large collection. He suggests two or three pairs: everyday shoes, a race pair, and optionally a pair for harder training. He also says pronation is natural and believes stabilizing shoes may be prescribed too often.

15:40 — What he would buy from scratch

For a new runner, Hancock’s practical list is:

• A watch that supports structured workouts
• A chest or wrist heart-rate monitor
• Two or three suitable pairs of shoes
• Access to a gym

His central point is that useful training decisions matter more than collecting metrics or expensive gear.

Presenter/source: Nick Hancock, from the video. Products discussed include Stride power meters, Core temperature sensors, and watches from Garmin, Coros, and Suunto.