Running is simple: just lace up some shoes and go, right?
Weve even told you thatyou dont need to buy expensive shoes.
Heres why, and what you’re free to do.
Cheap, in running shoe terms, means around $60.
you might easily pay over $100 for a basic pair.
One problem is that you dont choose shoes with your brain; you choose with your feet.
The one thats right for you might end up being a $120 pair.
Thats especially true if you want or needcushioning or motion-control features.
I know Im not the only runner with abandoned shoes in the back of their closet.
I cured that problem by simply switching back to my old shoes.
In total, thats about $170 wasted.
Running Clothes Arent Cheap
As a runner, youll get picky about clothes and socks.
Sometimes you could pick up the perfect item of clothing cheaply, but thats not a guarantee.
They found some items they liked, but also a lot that fell apart after a wash or two.
If you need a sports bra, thats an investment, too.
Then, either wash it every day or buy more than one.
When I head out in the wintertime, I wear an$18 pair of socks(worth it!
I also own a pair ofwater-resistant shoes, to keep the snow out.
Saving that money means trading off your freedom to run where you want.
It costs money to enter races.
But if you take a stab at expand your horizons, youll need to expand your budget.
Race feeshave been going up and up in recent years, as running and racing have become more popular.
Basically, race organizers have figured out that events can be moneymakers.
Theres a free t-shirt, of course, but its on theotherside of the expo.
By contrast, Ive had great experiences at smaller, local races.
Some of these races offer swag bags and free shirts, and others dont.
If you prefer not to race, then youll have an even easier time saving money.
it’s possible for you to test your fitness whenever you want on the route of your choice.
Fire upStravaand run a segment in your area if you enjoy competing against others.
And Theres More
As a runner, youre part of a target market.
Plenty of those products are genuinely useful, too.
But this sport isnt looking so cheap anymore, is it?
Theres one more aspect thats harder to put a price on: injury.
(A lot of those race fees arent refundable, by the way).
Theres no reason to give up running if you like it.
Running is worth it to me.
Its also cheaper than a lot of other sports thatalsorequire specialized equipment and can set you up for injury.
But now that I know better, I will never tell anyone that running is simple or cheap.
Illustration by Angelica Alzona.
