56 MARCH 2017 womensrunninguk.co.ukBUDGET RUNNING
cause a few rows with your partner!
If you want value for money, enter
a parkrun, held on Saturdays at 9am
throughout the country and completely
free (parkrun.org.uk). If you want more of
a challenge and a great travel experience,
you can enter a fell race for less than £10.
“Expect to bag a pasty and orange squash
into the bargain!” says Rees. “If the expense
of getting to your race precludes any savings
made, forgo the obligatory medal and t-shirt
(which always adds to the organiser’s costs).
Also, for a bargain, try an off-road night
race, such as the Wild Night Run series
(wildnightrun.co.uk) in the south west.” Fell
races are not to be feared – anyone can try
them and, by the end, you will feel uplifted
by the stunning scenery they expose you to.
For the price of joining a running club
(often less than £20 per year) you can sign
up to a season’s worth of cross-country
races for free. Don’t be put off by childhood
memories of school runs; the mud is often
much more enjoyable as an adult, and these
races will see your fitness soar.GYM WON’T FIX IT
If you’re used to having a personal trainer,
it may be tough to give them up but
transitioning to a running club can bring a lot
of motivation at a fraction of the cost. “Ask
yourself, ‘Do I need a coach or a motivator?’”
suggests Rowell. “Personal coaches can help
you stick to what you need to do, but if thisisn’t key for you, then think about joining a
club or a running group; they’re cheaper and
usually much more fun.” Most clubs have
many different leaders and coaches – all you
need to do is click with one. You’ll find your
running will quickly improve and you’ll meet
lots of new running buddies, too.
Lisa Gawthorne, author of Gone in 60
Minutes (@Gonein60minutes) believes you
don’t need an expensive gym membership.
“All you need is a pair of trainers you can take
with you anywhere. I pack mine in my work
bag when traveling on business to either run
at lunch time or at the end of the day.” There
are also many effective bodyweight-only
movements you can easily put into a free
circuit at home or in the park.THE BEAUTY OF RUNNING IS
THAT IT CAN BE DONE ON A
SHOESTRING. IT’S
IMPORTANT TO PLAN WHERE
YOU INTEND TO SPEND