The cost of running races, especially ones like the World Marathon Majors, is really adding up. Instead of draining your bank account, here are some tips on how to train and race on a budget.
Running is a cheap sport, they say, but very quickly things start to add up.
You buy a pair of shoes.
Start filling your pantry with gels.
Realize you need better socks, and then a new GPS watch.
Oh, and you probably should follow a training plan of some sort. Plus, there are additional costs if you’ve picked a destination race.
Suddenly, this supposedly inexpensive sport no longer feels that way.
We’re here to tell you that you don’t need the fanciest gear, experience races, or high-end technology to be a runner. On an episode of the Tread Lightly Running podcast, Amanda and Laura chat about all the ways you can save money while still training and getting ready for your race.
How to Save Money When Signing Up for Races
Race registrations can add up fast, especially once you start signing up for longer distances or racecations.
If there’s a race you know you want to run, pay attention to when registration prices increase. Signing up during an earlier pricing window can mean paying less for the same race. Just don’t use that as an excuse to register for a handful of races because they’re “on sale”. Your body will thank you not having to race every single weekend.
Some races will even open up registration for the following year during race weekend. They’ll promote it as being the “lowest registration prices” if you register that weekend.
Local races can also be a great way to save. You still get the race-day experience without adding all the extras, like flights, hotels, and other expenses that can come with a destination race.
Be picky about the races that you add to your calendar. Despite what you see on social media, you don’t have to race every month (or weekend) just because it seems like everyone else is doing it.
Choose races you’re really excited about and put your race budget toward those.
How to make your running gear last longer
Running shoes are probably one of your biggest recurring expenses, but there are also shorts, sports bras, socks, hydration vests, sunglasses, watches, and all those other little things that somehow make their way into our closets.
The first thing to remember is that you don’t need to replace something simply because a newer version came out.
If your watch still does everything you need it to, keep using it. If your favorite running shoes are three years old but still fit perfectly, keep rocking them.
The same idea applies to shoes. A new model coming out doesn’t suddenly make the ones you’re wearing bad running shoes. In fact, when a brand releases an update, it’s often a great time to look for the older version on sale! 
Taking care of what you already own can also help it last longer.
Don’t leave sweaty running clothes sitting in a pile for days. Make sure to read the care instructions and be mindful when drying your technical fabrics… this is when they tend to shrink! There’s even special hampers out there to help keep your running clothes from stinking up the place!
Keep your gear out of direct sunlight or heat so they don’t warp or the material doesn’t break down.
If your running shoes get dirty, clean the dirt off and let them air dry rather than throwing them directly into the washing machine or dryer. Just because they start to look dull or collect dirt doesn’t mean you need to go out and buy a new pair.
When it comes to your hydration gear, clean it and let it dry properly. Don’t let those bottles or bladders sit around with old electrolytes, as it’s just a chance for mold to build up. Get into the habit of washing your gear as soon as you get home.
The same goes for your running hats and hydration vests too!
You paid good money for this stuff. You might as well get as much use out of it as you can! We’ve all had pieces of gear that we just love and have had for many years because we take care of it!
Where to look for affordable training plans
Not everyone can or wants to spend the money on 1:1 coaching, and that’s totally okay!
There are plenty of free and low-cost training plans that can provide guidance and help you figure out what your training weeks should look like.
- Nike Run Club and Hal Higdon are two places to start.
- We have a whole library of free running training plans that you can download and modify for 5K to Ultra.
- We also put together a list of free running apps worth downloading!
Especially if you’re newer to running, a simple plan may be all you need to get started and feel a little more confident about what you’re doing each week.
Just remember that any training plan is a guide. If a workout feels like a big jump from what you’ve been doing or you’re more tired than usual, it’s 100% okay to adjust.
You don’t have to follow every workout exactly as written for the plan to work for you.
Keeping a simple training log can help with this too. Write down how your runs felt, how you slept, and anything else that seemed off or really good for that training day.
The more you pay attention to your body, the easier it becomes to understand what works best for you.
We could go on and on on this topic, but we kept it short here. Listen to the full episode to hear more tips on how to train and race on a budget.
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