Spring is on its way, which means marathons should be following shortly after. If this is your first year of marathon running, then you may be a little stressed out about affording your current hobby. There’s no reason to fret your choice in activity though as there are many ways to work around the expensive price of your first marathon. Of course, if you’re a seasoned runner, you may still want to find a few ways to take away the high price of your marathon season. So, don’t skip out on the training because you’re afraid you won’t make the financial requirements. With these ten tips, you’ll be ready to get past the expensive bump in the road, so you can show the world what you’re made of.
1. Sign Up Early
They always say, the early bird gets the worm, which is certainly the case when it comes to registering for your marathon. You want to try to keep an eye on any marathon you’re interested in and then sign up and pay your fees as soon as the marathon takes submissions. Generally, the price of early admissions is much lower than it is when the race nears, so you’ll be saving some major money here. Sometimes, it can be hard to keep up with all of the dates, so you may want to come up with your own special marathon calendar, so you’ll know just when you need to start up the sign up process. You should also sign up for newsletters for every race you’re interested in. This will help get you the guidelines and prices well before the race, so you can decide if you’re going to participate and enjoy the early pricing. Plus, if you pay the fee ahead of time, you’ll be more likely to actually go through with the race.
2. Do a Charity Run
Charity runs can be a lot of fun because they aren’t all about winning, but earning money for a good cause. This can really be a great motivator when it comes down to it because it will allow you to feel inspired while running. Of course, it’s also great if you’re looking to save some money. Sure, there is still a fee during charity runs, but if you can find a sponsor then you may not have to worry about this fee at all. It does help if you already have a great running record though as this is sure to inspire more people to donate more money to your cause. However, if you’re just staring out then you should still be able to get some sponsors, but it may take a lot more work. Generally, if you take some time to walk around to local businesses and pitch your cause, you may be able to get a few people on board to help you with your charity run. Networking is key here, so make sure you make friends that may be able to lend a helping hand in the future too.
3. Make Sure You’re Ready
One major problem people run into is not being ready to take on a marathon. These races can be intimidating, especially if you’ve never run one before or if you’ve never seen one. One of the best things you can do is measure your progress while training and setting goals. If you’re nowhere near where you need to be when the race opens up for submissions, then don’t sign up. Instead, take the time to keep training like you’re going to the race. You should also attend the race just to see what it’s like. Generally, if you’re not on track for the race and you try to run it anyway, you may get discouraged and throw in the towel when it comes to marathons as a whole. So, ensuring you’re prepared for the challenge will save you some money and prevent you from giving up a healthy activity. You also don’t want to feel bad about wasting money if for whatever reason you find yourself unable to get through the race, as this may make you feel discouraged too.
4. Race Bags Are Awesome
When you sign up for a race, you usually get a race bag at the beginning. Typically, these are filled with crucial things you’ll need for the race; such as your number! Generally, the bags tend to be forgotten after the main course goodies are taken from it, which is no surprise considering most athletes would prefer to spend the time stretching and getting physically ready for the race. However, you may want to revisit your race bag when the race is over. You can usually find some amazing coupons that will help further your hobby. For instance, many race bags will offer coupons for other races, so you won’t have to pay full price on the upcoming races. You may even be able to get an early discount on next year’s race, which might leave you feeling pretty pumped up. Apart from race coupons, you may also find a few coupons for running accessories or trips to the spa to help you recover from your trip. Last but not least, some bags will even include hotel and restaurant discounts for those traveling for each race.
5. Fundraise
Don’t feel like you have to pay for your marathon fees out of pocket. In fact, one of the best ways to help you beat the price of the marathon is to run a few fundraisers. Make sure you let everyone know why you’re running the fundraiser, so they will feel more apt to want to help give to your cause. The fundraiser can be for just about anything too. If you’re into baking, then hit the kitchen and whip up some of your favorite recipes for a bake sale. Crafts are always a great opportunity to earn a bit of extra money. In fact, if you make t-shirts for the marathon promoting yourself then you may find the giving spirit will rise as many communities love to support their local athletes. Of course, coming up with your own race may also help bring in money, if you sell tickets and t-shirts. Your community’s school may even be willing to allow you to use their track if you go through the proper channels.
6. Join a Running Club
One of the best things you can do with any hobby is find a club to join. Of course, when it comes to running clubs, you may get more for your money if you take part in this social club. Often, running clubs can offer discounts on marathons, which will help keep your budget much lower. Not to mention, if you travel with your running club, you won’t have to spend as much on travel costs or accommodations, which will make your marathon even sweeter. Apart from reaping financial benefits, a running club can inspire you to get more out of your running. With seasoned marathon runners in your inner circle, you’ll be able to get all sorts of helpful advice to improve your running capabilities. Not to mention, you’ll have more motivation and fun when you have others to stand by your side in this often trying hobby.
7. Minimize Takeout
Many runners tend to think takeout is the solution to their calorie burning hobby. Since fast food can be cheap and it’s certainly fast, a lot of runners take these restaurants often, especially when they’re out of town for a marathon. Fast food can be a fast track to financial problems though. Sure, the calories in the food are pretty high, but after eating takeout more than once a day, the price tag will add up substantially. Also, these foods aren’t good for you in the slightest bit, which could lead to health problems down the line. This could end up running you even more money, which won’t help you out when it comes to your marathon budgets. Instead of eating take out, try to find wholesome snacks and drink protein drinks. When you’re traveling, make a point to head to the grocery store instead of a restaurant. You’ll find that you’ll save a lot more in the long run if you follow this method.
8. Volunteer
If you don’t mind stepping up and helping with the big event, then you may be able to reap some major benefits. In many cases, but not all, offering to volunteer to help kick off an event can help you get your marathon fees waived, which will cut down substantially on the cost of your marathon expenditures. If this is your plan, you should talk to the organizers of the event well in advance to help make this a reality though. Sometimes, volunteer slots fill up quickly, while other times the organization needs to discuss allowing you to waive fees for your services. All the same, if you can get the fees waived by putting in some work it could do you some favors in the long run. Plus, you’ll already gain a presence at the marathon, which could earn you sponsors in the future.
9. Train at Home
Don’t spend a fortune on a gym membership or a personal trainer when you can simply train at home. One of the best places to start your training is in your own neighborhood. You can easily begin by running around the block or a nearby park. This is also a great way to get a support team as neighbors make great running partners. As far as tips are concerned, you can easily look online to find most of the information you need. Some forums may even give you a personalized response to some of your problems, so you can improve with every run you take. Apart from using websites to customize your training and improve your skills, you can download a wide assortment of apps to help you keep track of your progress. From pedometers to calorie trackers, you’ll feel like you have a professional team helping you out.
10. Splurge on Supplies
A lot of people think they can get away with buying a cheap pair of running shoes or run in clothing that they already had lying around the house. Before you know it, you may find that you’re uncomfortable, covered in sweat and the clothes are pretty much ruined. Running accessories should be bought with quality in mind, rather than price. A good pair of running shoes won’t just last you a long time, but they’ll help support the body and encourage you to run faster and further. Another must have item for women is a good sports bra. This can make or break your run. Apart from that, running clothes should be designed to wick away sweat in order to prevent chaffing when your body begins to heat up. Also, you should think about items that offer compression to help with blood flow and convenience. When you have the right clothes and shoes, make sure you care for them properly by washing in cold or adding anti-bacterial and anti-fungal powders to the shoes.
Marathon running can be a lot of fun and can leave you feeling like a success. However, the price of these big events might make all of this dwindle away. These ten tips should have you running your way to happiness, while saving a pretty penny on your hobby. Before you know it, you’ll be a veteran in the marathon world and may even have a few tricks of your own to share with newcomers.
