Running gear can be affordable

I've mentioned this before, but just so you know where I'm coming from, I work part-time. I don't make much at my job, so when I purchase something I really have to look at the price. I either pay cash or put it on my credit card and pay it off every month. I've been lucky enough to be able to do this since June 2009. Due to how little I now make (I was let go from my very well paying job in 2009 and had to adjust), I am very conscious of what I spend.

I am sure if you're a runner, you know how pricey items can be. For me, Lululemon, Athletica, Brooks, etc. can be just out of my price range many a time. I honestly own no Lululemon or Athletica. I own some Brooks items, I wear Brooks Adrenaline sneakers and will occasionally grab a shirt or a jacket when I hit a running store (especially if they are on sale!).

So, what do I do to get items that allow me to train and to be excited about it? I seek out affordable pieces. One of the biggest I've found lately is Fila at Kohl's. Seriously. Fila makes some great stuff and if you purchase at Kohl's you know all about their sales and coupons. It can take an out of price range shirt/jacket into I've saved enough to get two.

Fila jacket at Shamrock Half Marathon March 2013

Fila shirt at the 2012 Baltimore Women's Classic 5k

The other part of the running equation is all the "extras." There are so many things - GPS systems, belts, water bottles, on-the-run nutrition, etc. Some items I can't help bring the cost down on. I pay what they cost and suck it up hoping that the money I save on other things make the costs even out.

This past weekend I was at TJ Maxx looking for something totally unrelated to running. But, I wandered over to the athletic area and found two items that I picked up. I grabbed a new water bottle I can use on a run that had a larger pocket than my current one for less than half of what I paid for my Nathan one.

That pocket is at least double the size of my old one, which I have a hard time keeping my car key, phone, and sports beans in. I picked this up for $12.99 rather than the ticket price of $24.99, which is less than the Nathan one I purchased several years ago for $30.00.

The other item I picked up was a utility belt. I have one that I've used for several years, again a Nathan because Nathan brand was cheaper than Spibelts. My Nathan is more of a pouch belt whereas this one is flat like the Spi.

I picked this up for $9.99 rather than the ticket price of $16.00, which again was less than my Nathan at $20.00, which was less than a Spibelt. I wore this yesterday for my run and really liked it, it is flat against my back and I didn't feel it bouncing around like the Nathan one I was using. I used the middle section for my phone and put my car key in a side section. I was very pleased with it and feel the bright green color will be good for visibility.

The last tip I have for you that I use a great deal is for my Sport Beans. This is what I use on a long run for energy and a package of them can be upwards of $1.50 each. I know that's not a lot, but... While wandering through Wal-Mart one day I saw they have Sports Beans. Now my favorite flavor is watermelon, which is somewhat hard to find. They do not have watermelon, but they have several flavors including assorted, which is what I will use when I don't have any watermelon. Oh did I mention they are 99 cents each? Yea. Fifty cents cheaper than other places.

There's my experience in saving money on running gear. You may already know all these things, you may have better ideas. If so, share! I'm always in need of saving money on my running habit equipment.

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Road ID

I've been running for several years now and each year I seem to acquire new "running" specific items.  Of course, the first item was running shoes.  I wasn't just using the same ole sneakers I used for everything.  I had running specific shoes.

At Christmas two years ago, I received a long sleeve cold weather shirt.  The idea is that when the weather is cold it helps keep the heat in so you stay warmer while you run.  I use it a lot in the winter.  I layer it under other clothes and rarely am I chilly from the waist up even with the temps in the teens or below!  And it sure came in handy when training for a half marathon with temps below 20 and snow on the ground.

Yesterday, I received another running (though it can be used for any outdoor athletic activity) item.  My hubby ordered me a Road ID bracelet to wear while out running/biking.  He decided that with the addition of biking and riding it on the roads, rather than just running on the sidewalks, he thought it might be helpful in case I fall off my bike and get hurt.  Basically, it is a bracelet that has important information about you and emergency contact information in case something happens.  I bought hubby one for Christmas since I knew he would running more throughout the winter, training for his marathon.  So, now I have one too.  I think it will take a bit of getting used to wearing it, but I'm ok with that.  It'll be good to know that if (ok, more like when) I fall whoever finds me will know who to call.

Oh, and that Warrior Princess?  I wondered too.  Hubby took the names of my first half marathon (Disney Princess Half Marathon) and my first duathlon (Keystone Warrior Memorial Duathlon) and put them together.  :-)  Nobody better mess with me!