Once upon a time there was a 300+ pound woman who wanted to lose weight. She joined gyms, she enlisted personal trainers, she drank fancy shakes, she paid to count points...and then her money started getting funny and she had to be creative. One day this lovely lady thought, "what can I do that doesn't require a gym, doesn't require a trainer, doesn't require fancy equipment, and can be done at any time of the day??" (insert dramatic music) Alas! Our heroine discovered that to walk/run all she needed was a pair of shoes and the open road, er, sidewalk....and she lived happily ever after.
Well, sort of.
The thing that drew me to running was the cost. You really can run and/or walk without a huge investment of capital. I started this journey in a pair of used Nike running shoes purchased from the Salvation Army. When my toes kept going numb and my toenail fell out I realized that they were too small for running. My mother--not fairy godmother--bought me a brand new pair of running shoes (New Balance WR769 NBXs, orange). Oh, happy day for my toes! When I realized that I needed some way of timing myself I bought a stop watch on clearance at Target for $1.74--it just needed a new battery.
To this day, I keep my running fairly low-tech and search for deals on the gear that I really want--I save my money for race entry fees. Below are some of the ways I save on shoes, clothing, and gear.
Shoes:
You do NOT have to have the latest version of a running shoe. The running store will keep the latest on hand and of course they'll recommend it to you. However, once I'm fitted for a shoe and know the brand, I make my purchases online. And I score deals by buying the older versions of the shoe. I just recently purchased a pair of Brooks Ravenna 3s for $79 and a pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12s for $72. You can get a great pair of shoes and a price you can afford.
www.brooksrunning.com
www.amazon.com
www.zappos.com
www.runningwarehouse.com
Activewear:
Starting out I just wore a cotton t-shirt and leggings (fashion leggings, not fitness leggings). Now I know the value of driwick! Most of my activewear is purchased on clearance from Target (Champion is actually a pretty good brand), Old Navy (their stuff is so cute!), Wal-Mart (yes, I said it!), and JC Penny. If you can afford Athleta and Lululemon more power to you. Remember, you're basically paying for clothes that you will stinkup with sweat, just saying. People love my $5 "Super Girl" and $7 "Kiss My Sass" shirts.
www.oldnavy.com
www.target.com
www.jcp.com
Gear:
The most useful gear I've ever purchased has been my Nike pod (before the app was available on your phone), my weight lifting gloves, and my Pyle heart rate monitor. Unless you're an elite runner I don't see the value in other techy gear. You really don't HAVE to have the latest and greatest gadgets to improve your running. Only time and consistenty can do that.
Be sure to check Groupon, Living Social, and Amazon for great deals. I've also found things on clearance at local brick and mortar stores--like my Nathan dual hydration belt for $6.99 (normally $39.99). I scored my Pyle heart rate monitor (with chest strap and watch) for $22 and it works better than the one for which I paid full price. Go figure!
Race Fees:
Yes, I even save on race fees whenever possible. I'm blessed because my company offers a $25 reimubursement for up to five races per year, plus they sponsor a couple throughtout the year for organizations to which we donate.
Outside of that I've learned to register early whenever possible. Typically I plan for half marathons a year in advance and pay the entry fees in February. The only risk with that is if something comes up and you can't race; you lose that money as they do not offer refunds. You should be mindful of the price increase dates for races in which you're interested.
If you're traveling for a race, try to get a group to go so that you can split the costs. Also, search out group discount codes. Ask around for Friends & Family discounts on hotels. Register your credit card with frequent flyer programs and start earning points with your purchases. Volunteer with organizations that sponsor race entry (like Girls on the Run).
As a single-income single-parent I've learned how to stretch what I have and "make it do what it do." Don't let money or lack of anything be a deterrent to reaching your goals. Be creative and think of ways you CAN accomplish your goal instead of excuses as to why you can't. It's easy to give up and sit on the side lines. But it takes risk, effort, and faith to decide to be in the game.
No comments:
Post a Comment