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Monday, October 11, 2021

A Few Tips to Save a Few Dollars


Running, one would think, it's the most inexpensive sport out there.

Really, all one "needs" is a good pair of shoes and the desire to lace them up and hit the road. Sounds so idealistic, simple and primitive.

But, runners know differently, am I right?

The shoes are merely the starting point. There's more to running than just the shoes, and it doesn't take long to drop some serious coin on such a simple sport. After all, if we're going to do this running thing, most of us want to do it all proper. 

Shall we discuss a few creative ways to save a few dollars on this running gig?


First off, let's talk about the shoes. It's well worth your time and expense to get fitted at a reputable running store. Having worked in a shoe store (many, many moons ago LOL), it's a fact that not all shoes within a brand (or even a particular model) are created equal. You're taking a gamble buying shoes online, my friends, especially if they're brands or models you have not worn before. At least if you've been fitted for a specific model within a brand, you're taking much less risk buying shoes without first trying them on. 

That being said, if you can find the exact model within a favorite brand, you'll most likely be alright. Hence, a few years ago, I had four pairs of Brooks Adrenaline 18's in my possession. I had purchased the blue pair at my favorite running store (spring 2018), then spotted a second pair (the pink ones) on the Brooks' website, marked down (early Fall of 2018). Just before the holidays, the shoes were marked down further, so I snagged the red ones. And, wouldn't you know, just after the new year, they grey ones were still available (and the price had been reduced further). The pink and the red shoes were still in excellent condition, so the grey ones sat in my closet, unopened, for several months. So, here's a hint, a lot of "updated" models are released in the early part of the new year...so the previous season model(s) will often be discounted. 
 

Something to consider, if you so choose to search for discontinued models, or previous seasons' shoes, your color selection may be limited. In other words, most of the prettier shoes may no longer be available. We all know, it's the shoe (and not necessarily the color) that matters...but a plain pair of shoes can be enhanced with a change-out of the laces or some Sharpie magic. But please, don't let a boring pair of good shoes distract you from snagging a great bargain!


How about running clothing? Some of that can get pricey, especially if you're looking for quality name brand gear. You probably know that many races have branded items like track jackets, 1/4 zip pullovers and hats/caps. Some events, though, also sell patches with their logo for a much lower cost. I have a nice collection of patches, and I'm planning on enhancing some basic pom-pom hats this coming winter. 


 
I have gotten some inexpensive items from a discount store (like Old Navy or Target) and sewed a patch over the brand's logo and - PRESTO! -  my own customized gear for much less coin. 


Let's not forget about race day! With the cooler weather, it's handy to have a few things on hand (that can be discarded) for those first couple miles of a race (or even a training run). A great place to find inexpensive items is your local dollar store. We're talking gloves, headbands, and knee socks (often times in seasonal colors and patterns). The gloves and headbands can be throwaways, and the knee socks can be cut into makeshift arm warmers.



Anyways, these are just a few ideas on cutting some costs with running gear and accessories.

There's even more ideas on these posts:

Talk to me! What are some tips and/or tricks you've utilized to save a few dollars with your running? 

I'm linking this with Kim and Zenaida for the Tuesday Topics Link-Up

I'm also linking with Debbie, DeborahLisaLaura and Jenn for the Runners' Roundup

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28 comments:

  1. What a great idea with those patches, Kim! It doesn't take much to upgrade regular shirts or sweaters. Genius.
    I like to hunt for deals online, but our options are limited in Switzerland. In South Africa, we have found outlet stores with the big brands (Nike, Adidas, Asics, etc.). I found some great deals there. I need to go again!

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    1. It's only recently (when my Air Force patch arrived) that I got the idea to sew it onto a hat or cap. I've done the patches on jackets and 1/4-zips before, though. I like having unique stuff LOL

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  2. A very interesting post with smart tips.
    Shoes are the most important expense. Since I have a hard time finding the shoe that fits my foot (I have a wide sole), when I find a perfect pair I immediately buy another one.
    As for the t-shirts I have no problems because they are usually part of the race swag.
    I also put aside sweatshirts to discard after a few minutes of running in case of cool weather or to leave near the finish line to cover myself immediately after the race.

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    1. I try to stock up on the shoes when I can, also. My feet can usually tell the difference between the "current" model vs. the "updated" one, so I try to snag a pair (or two) before they all disappear.

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  3. Definitely hit up the cheaper stores for throwaways before a cold race! Although I also have a stash of old sweatshirts (bought from travels, no longer worn) that I keep. The only problem with that is they take up a lot of space!

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  4. The more dollars that we runners save, the more we have to spend on running;-) Goodwill has a booth at my hometown marathon's expo where they sell throw-a-ways. I've always thought that was a brilliant idea on someone's part.

    I've had really good luck with ThredUp for running clothes. A lot of their stuff looks brand new and the prices are really great.

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    1. That's a great analogy about "saving more so we can spend more" LOL Total truth!!!

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  5. I did the Dollar Store idea the year I ran the Chicago Marathon! That was a wet and chilly year so I used cheap socks for arm sleeves to get me by. I'm also a big fan of buying older shoe models. Yes, it's a gamble but it's always paid off for me!

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    1. I've bought some of the cheap socks, cut off the foot part, and kept them for arm warmers instead of tossing along a race course. Especially the fun holiday-themed ones ;-)

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  6. I love your tips, Kim... esp. the ideas to spruce up gear with laces and patches to make them your own!

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  7. the dollar store is my best friend. I love your idea of customizing cheaper brands.

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    1. Our dollar store is kind of hit & miss on seasonal items (like for socks). But I did score some fun ST. Patrick's items and Elf socks at Christmas time last year ;-)

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  8. I love it when I find my favorite shoe on a sale. Always a great idea to stock up on them when we see them. Snagging the current model on sale right before the new model comes out is great too. And- of course Black Friday is coming :)

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    1. I'm due for some new (distance) shoes, but the current model hasn't been a perfect fit this year. Not sure if I should try to find another of these at a great price (although there's not any left on the Brooks site) or if I should wait for the new one...

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  9. I've saved my boys' old sweatshirts for throwaways on cold race mornings. I had a Northern Iowa university one that I couldn't seem to throw away for the longest time!

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  10. I totally stockpile sneakers when they are on sale - it's really the best way to save money.

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    1. I had such great luck that one year, but I haven't been able to find much recently. The Adrenaline 20's have been good but not great for me. Haven't tried the 21's, though, since I had other shoes I was rotating through and didn't need another pair of shoes to store.

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  11. Whenever we go through our clothes to get rid of stuff we don't wear any more I save a bunch of Rob's shirts like long sleeve t-shirts, sweats, and even old race shirts to wear as throwaways at future races. Its always nice to find those good deals on running shoes!

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    1. I need to do a major purge on my running shirts. I have a lot of 1/4 zips that I don't wear, but they all have significant sentimental value so they're hard to part with.

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  12. These are great tips! You're definitely the crafty type, with those patches and sharpies! I like to buy shoes from Jackrabbit, they periodically have sales, but more importantly they have a great rewards program- so I'm frequently saving $20 on a pair of shoes. BUT, one thing I learned the hard way is, when the updated model of your shoes comes out, it may not be the same! I wore the same shoes for years and then they updated them to be much more narrow, ARG! Jackrabbit does take returns, but it was a pain to send them back and I had to pay the shipping charges. So yes- ordering online works best if it is the exact same shoe. And you might end up with some wonky colors :)

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    1. Yeah, my feet can usually tell a difference when the updates come out. Some work alright, and some not ;-(

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  13. This is awesome! I also like to buy last year's model at a discounted price. Once I bought 4 pairs of Brooks PureFlow for around $50.

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  14. I always check last year's shoe models before I buy. In fact, I just got a great deal on my Brooks Glycerin 18 since the new models just came out. 30% off is nothing to sneeze at!

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  15. I often buy previous models of shoes. I signed up for Saucony's emails and texts and wait for special deals - recently I got 20% of sale shoes!

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