Amen to that. I've been running in my Saucony Grids for years and they've been solid. Yeah, they might not be the trendiest shoes out there, but they're reliable and get the job done. I think people need to focus on their form and training rather than dropping a small fortune on 'evolutionary' technology.
Yeah, you can definitely start with the bare minimum. I mean, who needs all the bells and whistles when you're just starting out? A good pair of shoes and some comfy clothes will get you moving. Don't bother with a watch or anything like that, just focus on putting one foot in front of the other. You can always add more gear later when you're hooked 😉.