It's a commonly-used phrase among sports shop sales staff - "all the gear, no idea".

It refers to the amateur sportsman, usually with more money than sense, who walks into a shop and buys the most expensive kit without even knowing what it does.

In cycling terms, he (it's usually a bloke) will buy the latest carbon fibre technology, full gore-tex suit and super-expensive shoes.

The chances are he's never ridden a bike for sport before.

In running, it's the same. The most expensive shoes, regardless of whether they're the most suitable fit, all the trappings and probably some special sunglasses (costing £100 or more) for good measure.

On the other side of the coin, you have the guy who is actually a brilliant runner but who realises that all he needs is a decent pair of training shoes.

My coach, Dave Bird, falls into this category. Not for him the gore-tex outfit - Dave just runs in a pair of old white gym shorts and a normal T-shirt.

But then, having run a half-marathon in a shade over 65 minutes and a 1,500 metres race in three minutes 46 seconds (that's Roger Bannister pace), Dave can where what he wants. He certainly doesn't have anything to prove.

Not at all like "all the gear, no idea" man.

Me, I'm somewhere between the two. I'm of the opinion that training for a marathon is usually a pretty grim thing to put yourself through, so it's worth doing it in as much comfort as possible.

Running's never going to be fun but it certainly doesn't need to be miserable.

So when Moti offered me a high-tech Gore running jacket to try, I jumped at the chance.

It's actually amazing - it's water resistant, windproof, breathable, lightweight and warm at the same time.

Comes at a price, mind, of £80-odd, which is quite an amount to fork out for a running top.

But then if you're going through four months of training every day in the wind and rain, it's a small price to pay.

And I've got to admit I often go running in lycra tights, as well. Yes, they look a bit silly, but they keep your legs warm and dry.

So I like the gear, but usually only get one bit of kit in every couple of years. If you buy some decent stuff, it will usually last you.