So, they say that all you need to start running is to have a pair of shoes? Have you heard that?
While it’s true that you don’t have to purchase a mountain bike or another piece of equipment to become a runner, I have found that it is a bit more involved than just having a good pair of shoes. Running can become a very expensive sport, I’ve found. However, I’ve discovered some tips to help you become a runner for less.
Friends, something you don’t know about me yet is that I’m an Olympic-class bargain shopper. I love the thrill of the hunt … for a bargain! Let’s get these tips going!
First Agenda Item: Tops
For inexpensive technical shirts with great wicking qualities, I’m a huge fan of the C9 by Champion Activewear at Target.
Above is the C9 By Champion Women’s Endurance Tee. I usually buy the sleeveless, V-neck version. The shirts come in a wide variety of female-pleasing colors. They wash well and hold their shape well. It’s a great all-around utility running shirt. It comes in a wide array of sizes from XS to XXL. Price: $12.99
Here’s where the bargain hunter in me comes out. If you watch the sales racks at Target, especially when the seasons change, you can find many pieces of C9 by Champion Activewear on the clearance rack for 30%, 50%, and sometimes as low as 70% off. Totally amazing!
I once bought a C9 running skirt on the clearance rack at Target to give it a try. It was $2.58. Turns out, I didn’t really like running in a skirt. I love my running capris. Oh well, no big deal. It only cost me $2.58 to figure that our. I would have been quite irritated if I spent more, and did not like the running skirt.
For the guys, Target also carries a wide array of fitness apparel (again, with the C9 by Champion brand).
I also have a great resource to recommend to follow the deals at Target. There are a few blogs that track this, but I think the best one by far is TotallyTarget.com. The author of this blog, Kerry, does a fantastic job of pulling together all of the bargains, and anticipating/predicting when sales will be. She also has an army of loyal followers who report bargain sightings at different stores throughout the country.
Second Agenda Item: Bottoms
I’m a running capris kind of girl. I love my compression capris for running. If I could wear compression capris 24/7, I would do it. While I have seen running capris from C9 by Champion Activewear at Target, I never felt like I was able to get them at the bargain-basement type of price I wanted.
I have, however, found them easily at Academy. Academy is a large sporting goods retailer in the Southern US. They have a store brand called BCG. I have no idea what that stands for … but maybe I’ll need to find out.
The running capris I wear are the BCG Running Capris from Academy. They run about $16.99. However, just like Target, if I check routinely, I can usually find something on the clearance rack for $9.99 or $7.99.
My capris have been through a lot, but they’ve held up very well!
Third Agenda Item: Socks
Unless you are a barefoot runner, you need socks, right? Academy to the rescue! But wait – I’m not buying the socks off the rack at Academy.
Apparently, at Academy, there are shoppers who pull apart perfectly good packages of sets of socks. I’m not sure why or what exactly they do with them. As a result, though, Academy has a big bucket in the back of very nice running socks for 99 cents each.
This is perfect for me. I haven’t narrowed my preferences down to one particular kind of socks. I want to try out different socks until I find what I like. So, I can buy a pair for 99 cents (yes, 99 cents!) and give them a try. If I like them, then I go back and buy more.
Running Items To Invest In
Despite these great bargains, there are two items that I strongly advise against skimping on.
First, your running shoes. I have always known that running shoes are pretty expensive – being married to a runner for so long dulls me to the sticker shock, I guess! Go to your local running store and get properly fitted for an excellent quality pair of running shoes. If you don’t have a running store in your town, get in your car and drive to one in the closest town. Seriously, it is that important.
We all have different brands we like. I’m a Mizuno Girl personally. And pink, if you have it – because that’s my signature running color.
Recently the running gods were smiling upon me, and I won a pair of Mizunos from another blog’s giveaway. Yahoo! I’ll review those as soon as I take them out for a spin. But I’m such a fan, I’m sure I’ll love them!
The second item – for the ladies – is your sports bra. You simply cannot skimp on this item. Read my post from earlier this week on my favorite sports bra, the Enell Sports Bra.
Do you have favorite bargains for running apparel? Share your sources with the rest of us in the comments section!
Enell Sports Bra Giveaway Continues!
Don’t forget! There’s still time to enter to win the Enell Sports Bra of your choice by entering in my drawing. Enell also has their own giveaway going on, so you can actually enter twice to win a sports bra! The details are on the same page.
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I really like Target’s tops. I’ve also found a lot of great running tops and shorts at Ross. I don’t like them much, but there is usually a huge selection of Nike running shorts there also.
Shoes you can get good deals on, it just takes patience, usually waiting until a newer model is released and the current one is on clearance. The shoe I’m running in right now I bought on sale for $70, but it’s now on clearance for $50. The same holds true for sports bras, and well, any running clothing.
Those are great resources, Steph! Thanks for sharing those. Do you have any favorite websites you like to watch for shoes? My sense is once you get a good pair of shoes fitted, you can buy other shoes at a discount online.
Thanks for sharing!
Online, I love Running Warehouse. They have an entire section dedicated to clearance/liquidation and two day free shipping.
I didn’t know that about socks at Academy. I’m notoriously hard on socks – I’m gonna have to try that out!
For a good deal on shoes, I have 2 suggestions … (1) our local running store does an AMAZING JOB of discounting last year’s models when the new ones arrive! I got a pair not 2 weeks ago for a price you might find at Academy and my running feet have never been happier! (2) I highly recommend becoming a VIP member at Road Runner Sports (roadrunnersports.com). You get some really nice discounts. They have a special “set price” for VIP members and then will periodically offer discounts on top of that. They have free shipping and their return policy is AMAZING! They will ship you new shoes (if you need to return/exchange a purchase) even before you send back the ones you need to return. And to top things off, they have a promo going right now for new VIP members – you can get your first year membership for $1.99. Normally it costs $24.99 and even at that price, I’ve always found it worth while.
Great post, Wendy! Thanks for sharing!
Oh- That is an awesome tip for the $1.99 VIP membership at Road Runner Sports!
I love C9 shirts. They really do hold up well. I have two that I wear and wash on a weekly basis and they still look like new.
I am so glad to hear that others love the C9 shirts. I felt a little sheepish, but I really do love them! Sounds like I need to contact them about getting a prize package together for the OneToughMotherRunner.com readers!
Here in the Northeast, we have a store called Marshalls. You can usually find pretty good deals on tops and bottoms. Last year my friend picked up Tri-tops and shorts for $9 each, then our group had matching outfits. We also have New Balance factory outlets which has regular deals on clothing and footwear. At the back of the store they have clearance racks, last year I picked up a pair of trail runners for $20 and I just bought a new pair of runners for $35. The trail runners are great when running in the snow. I’ll have to check out the C9′s.
Great suggestion about Marshalls, Anne! We have those in larger cities near us, like Houston. (I once lived near a shopping center that had both a TJMaxx and a Marshalls! Heaven!) How great that your friend was able to pick up things to have matching items for your group. Love that! Talk about team spirit!
Your comment reminded me that I got a pair of trail runners (Montrails) to use as my daily “mom-about-town” shoes. I found a great deal on them at Gander Mountain. Gander Mountain is an outdoors store, kind of a combination of Academy and Bass Pro Shops, and they have exceptionally good clearance items. I don’t go there enough!
Yes, it became an expensive sport… watch, shoes, winter clothes, summer clothes, registration fees… although it never hurts to wait for a good sale. I just bought Under Armour (outlet store in Hershey, PA) Cold Gear compression top and bottom for $49 for both items, they are normally $49 ea. There’s also a Reebok store at the same mall and a few times a year they run 40% off sales so I usually end up with another 1 or 2 pairs of shoes.
Great tips, Augusto! Do you find that the outlet stores have good prices?