womensrunninguk.co.uk MARCH 2017 55
BUDGET RUNNINGhe New Year is the most exciting
time to set goals and start
chasing your dreams. What do
you do when you’re completely
broke after Christmas, though, and can’t
even afford a new pair of trainers, let alone
a series of races to take you up to your main
goal race?
Firstly, don’t fret! The beauty of running
is that it can be done on a shoestring (sorry,
couldn’t help myself). It’s important to
plan where you intend to spend, as well as
shopping around when it comes to races and
essential new kit.
GET KIT SAVVY
American runner and blogger Hollie Sick (@
FuelledbyLOLZ) works in a running shop.
“Always ask to see if a running specialty
store has older models on clearance,” she
advises. “Most do and you can cut costs that
way. Many local running stores also have
discounts for races.”
Do your research online, too: “Savvy
shoppers can find the latest products at
the lowest prices on online sites, so you
don’t need to break the bank,” says Tom
Goode, head of marketing at MandMDirect
(mandmdirect.com). “As online sites have
all the kit you need in one place, it takes
the stress away from shopping around.
We offer up to 75 per cent off the
RRP (recommended retail price)- a massive saving, especially for
newcomers.”
Sarah Rowell is the author of
Off-Road Running (Crowood Press). She
competed for the UK in the marathon in
the 1984 Olympics, going on to become
an acclaimed fell runner. “Once you know
which type of trainer suits you, use websites
such as SportPursuit (sportpursuit.com) and
Start Fitness (startfitness.co.uk) to buy ‘old’
models. New models are sometimes just a
colour change. I last bought two pairs of my
current favourite road shoes at half price –
so tip two is, when you can, bulk buy.”
Think about where you need to spend
your money, advises Rowell. “Shoes, a good
sports bra and a waterproof jacket are the
top of my list. After that, look at online
websites where quality brands sell off their
end-of-season ranges.”
Do you really need the kit you are
thinking of buying? And, if you do other
sports, could you cross over your kit? “I have
t-shirts and running tights that are at least
six years old and are
still going strong,” says
Rowell, “and I cross
over tights, gloves and
tops to go cycling, hill
walking and skiing;
my winter cycling
tights are old Nike
thermal running ones
from 20 years ago –
they are brilliant!”
Buying
t-shirts at the end
of summer and
winter kit at the end of winter will ensure
you get more for your money, as well.MAP IT OUT
Running, and racing, off-road has historically
been cheaper than road running. Founder
of Wild Running (wildrunning.co.uk) and
experienced mountain marathon runner Ceri
Rees believes the most important piece of
kit to invest in is two pairs of off-road shoes,
which you can rotate. “This way your feet
won’t get too molded to one shoe design.
Get a minimalist pair if that suits your gait
and feet, as well as one pair with a bit more
cushioning for those days when your joints
might ache. Minimalist shoes are also great
to take travelling as they can fold over in
your holdall or hand luggage.”
Rees warns newcomers not to bother
investing in a GPS or heart-rate monitor until
much later down the line. “You’ll only end up
transferring one addiction (whatever that is)
for another (Strava, GPX uploads etc).”
Next on your list should be buying a map
and learning how to use it. “At the outset, if
your navigation is wonky, invest in a course
map so you’ll be all tooled
up. Then you won’t need
a guide (I may be doing
myself out of a job here!).”RACE SPARINGLY
It’s so exciting when
running comes in to your
life and you’ve done a
few races and just want
more, more, more!
This can quickly
end up being very
expensive – and mayT
ALWAYS ASK
TO SEE IF A
RUNNING
SPECIALTY
STORE HAS
OLDER
MODELS ON
CLEARANCEBUY A
MAP AND
LEARN
HOW TO
USE IT