Frugal Runners - share your tips and tricks

Here are several money saving ideas for running, cycling, working out.

- I buy shorts without liners for $10-$15 from TJ Maxx. Then, I add a performance brief (3-pack for $12) at TJ Maxx. It's so frustrating to find a short that looks great only to discover that the liner doesn't fit, scratches, or sags after a couple of washings.

Once I find a brief that's comfortable, I buy several pairs. It also has the advantage of letting me cut out the old liner in an otherwise great pair of running shorts and keep them in the rotation for several more years.

- Recently, I've bought my running tops from Temu for $5-$7. The ice silk tops are cooler in hot weather. A comparable brand name top costs around $70.

- Recently, I've bought ice silk running shorts from Temu. They are four-way stretch, cool, and fine for summer. I wouldn't wear them in winter. Cost is about $8-$12.

- Long tights, half tights for $7-$10 from Temu or AliExpress.

- Loose long running pants from TJ Maxx or similar for $15.

- Prescription polarized glasses from Zenni Optical for $50-$70 or so.

- I watch for year-end closeout sales to get running shoes I like at 25%-50% discount, although this step is a bit iffy. My size is often sold out.

- I make my own orthotics by adding crafts felt to the underside of an aftermarket insert to get the perfect amount of arch support in the just the right place. Typical cost is maybe $3/pair of inserts.

- Instead of buying K-Cups, I buy coffee beans from a local shop, grind them, add them to a reuseable K-cup, and make my usual two cups of morning coffee that way.

- I no longer eat at fast food places or even restaurants after running. I carry a small ice chest with a protein drink and bring my favorite energy bars.

u dont need fuel for a half marathon brah.

If you don’t run so much, you might be able to make more money in life.

Well if you don't change what you're doing, you can't expect to NOT be poor if you are already poor. You know, it really fascinates me the amount of poor people who complain, yet are not actively pursuing changing their situation. It's not going to magically change. Luck is a matter of opportunity meeting work.

- get your gear on ebay and poshmark. People sell stuff with tags still on it for significantly below retail.

- this goes doubly with shoes. And you can save even more getting last year's discontinued models on these sites.

- enter track meets and xc races over road races. The entry fees are usually cheaper and they almost always have free parking.

- fueling and gels are bunk below the marathon. You don't need them and they don't help.

-timex ironman $30. Hundreds of savings over gps watches.

-learn how to get into your local state parks for free. More often than not there is a way to do it.

-bananas. Great diet staple and they are cheap.

-check your hometown races. You probably want to travel for a vacation more so than actually racing. If you aren't even going to be near the front in your hometown races, you might as well just peak for those and take a vacation seperately - which you could save hundreds on with proper planning

- when you do buy gear from the big sites, go with the cheapest high quality brand. No one cares if you wear tracksmith or puma.

-gym membership - you prob don't need one. A set of adjustable dumbells, a mat, and a headlamp (bc you will run outdoors not on the treadmill duh) are much cheaper than a year of gym membership. If you must join, see if your local college or comm college has some community membership. Can prob save a lot of money.

If you buy shoes on eBay, how can you be sure you're getting your money's worth

Is there anywhere I can get your book apart from Amazon

No, but it doesn't have photos or charts so the ebook from Amazon is very similar to the book itself and you can read it on your phone or laptop if you don't have a Kindle.

You can join Active and Fit Now to get discounts at many gyms. Some insurance plans and some health care plans get an additional discount. I have a Gold's Gym membership for $28 through USAA with Active and Fit Now.

I collect the "gu" i use for race fuel at the 6 - it's free, just takes some work to get it!

Cam Levins it with instant lemonade

You only need one pair of shorts. When you finish your run, wash them in the shower and hand them out to dry. Wearing finisher's shirts instead of buying shirts/singlets. I still have some from 10+ years ago and they are just fine for a morning run.

Don't run Boston, Chicago or NY. They are money pits. Vermont City, Houston, Twin Cities, CIM, etc. are great races with affordable hotels and easy race day logistics.

Go to youtube for PT exercises for injuries. Even if you have good insurance (and no one does), you still end up paying copays for PT which can add up.

Don't spend money on races...

don't buy any clothes or shoes and just run between the hours of 2am and 4 am so no one's around so you don't get arrested but still get your low budget runs in

Run on soft surfaces so your shoes last longer.