Welp it was bound to happen. Mike is sick. Fever, chills, achy the works. And he’s taking his temp every 5 minutes. <-so not joking. Me being a germaphobe and a nurse is a totally oxymoron.
It’s going to be a party all day. 
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Every now and then Mike will look at my “wall of Gaylord” and jokingly say how many thousands of dollars are on that board?
I don’t believe running has to be super expensive at all. To me all you really need are a great pair of running shoes properly fitted for you at a running store, a sports bra and workout gear. Nothing fancy at all, but I highly recommend a sweat wicking material.
Shoes usually range anywhere from $60-$115ish depending on style and brand. Price doesn’t matter as much as having the proper fit.
Running can become as expensive as you’d like. Throw in the Garmin <-(2nd must have in the book of Jacqueline), super cute Lululemon & Nike gear, race fees, BIC Bands, Pro Compression socks because we all want to get back out there ASAP, gels/GU/Jelly Belly sport beans, race fees, the list goes on. But, again you really don’t need these things, but they sure are nice to have.
Tips for cheap butts like me:
- Target, TJ Maxx, Marshalls have cute gear pretty cheap, a lot of times on clearance.
- I’m always on the lookout for my beloved Mizuno’s to go on sale in November/December because that’s when they release the newest model and discount last years. I’m pretty sure other brands do the same.
- Hit up outlet stores. There’s a Jelly Belly outlet close by where I pick up “belly flop” Sport Beans super cheap. Most outlets also have a few good sporting goods stores.
- Check out your local running store for fun runs and/or weekly running groups. Usually it’s free or low cost to join. Run nerds unite!
- When shopping online, Google a coupon code.
I really hope I’m not scaring new runners away. It really is a simple, low cost sport. I really dig it, heck I’d probably marry it if I could. Okay maybe that’s taking it too far. Maybe.
You may also check out my favorite gear here.
Spill it!
How much does running cost you annually?
Share your tips for cheap-o’s like me.
hmmm, i haven’t averaged out how much it costs me. I thankfully get some workout clothes as gifts each year and what i do spend is on shoes and races. races can definitely put a dent in the wallet that’s for sure, especially if it’s an out of town race and you need a hotel etc. but sometimes I really want the dang medal at the end. only rason I am doing RnR SF. I want the medal and the chance to say I ran across the Golden Gate Bridge. Twice
I haven’t really thought about it! Probably the only expensive thing I have invested in are a good pair of shoes (or if I score finding an excellent pair on sale!) Those are good tips!
I’ve never totaled how much running costs me because I know how much it’s GIVEN me! Sanity is priceless
Great post! When I first got into running I thought of it as a “cheap” sport, but once I got into realizing the benefits of moisture wicking clothing vs. old cotton T-shirts and the joys of racing, the price started to go up. I sign up for deal newsletters like Groupon, the Clymb and ACTIVE GearUp that occasionally have good deals on gear or your local sporting stores. I also check out TJ Maxx and Marshalls for clothing and realistically shouldn’t be left unsupervised in the Nike outlet.
I just created a folder in my learnvest spending account called “running” so I file all my running purchases there… I’ll let you know at the end of the year how much it has cost me! I’m interested to know, too.
I’m scared to know how much I’ve invested in running! However, I justify it because running keeps me sane, and even thousands of dollars is cheaper than therapy …
I buy my shoes on sale (after getting fitted properly of course), shop the clearance sections and factory outlets for gear, and always googling coupons!
I love to hit up TJ Maxx for workout gear, I never pay more than twenty bucks and end up finding some really cute stuff!
Definitely agree and think that you can get away with cheaping out on everything except a good pair of running shoes. Those are worth every penny!
I think the majority of my run money is spent on race registration. Going to be a lot of this year!