Happy Tuesday! It’s time for another edition of Tuesday Topics. This week’s Tuesday Topic: How do you save money on running gear/races? You can write about this or any running related topic. Remember to link-up with Kim and Zenaida and the bottom of this post.
Join loyalty programs
I am a member of loyalty programs for various airlines and hotels. Accumulating points when you travel is a great way to save money when you travel for races. For example, in 2019 I flew to Charlotte to run a half marathon and I got my Delta flight for free by cashing in my Delta Skymiles rewards. You can also receive discounts for being a loyalty member for certain programs as well.
Use your credit card rewards
Both of my credit cards have a really great rewards program. I get points for every dollar I spend which really adds up over time. I’ve been able to cash in my points for hotel, airline and restaurant gift cards – all things that help to bring down the cost of racecations. I can also cash in points for gift cards to Target, Walmart, Under Armour, Nike, etc to stock up on running gear.
Look for Coupon Codes
I am the queen of looking for coupon codes! It’s as simple as doing a google search and takes only seconds. Totally worth it to save money, or shipping, on a purchase. For example, if I’m looking to buy something from Kohls, I’ll simply write “kohls promo code” or “kohls coupon code” in Google and see what I can find.
Online Consignment Shops
You can now check out consignment shops online, such as Poshmark. They have items from tons of brands, including Under Armour, Old Navy, Lululemon and Nike, just to name a few. in just doing a quick search on the website, I found many brand new items listed for 40-50% off their original price. You can also sell items on Poshmark to get some extra cash!
Shop Off Season
I love when the seasons change because that means I save money on clothing 🙂 For example, right now I’m seeing some really great deals on summer running gear as we move into the Fall/Winter season. This would be a great time to buy some shorts to stash in your closet for next year. The same applies to purchasing sneakers. It’s not really “off-season”, but when a brand releases a new version of a sneaker, stock up on the older version at a discount. I say this as I’m still waiting for the newest version of the Brooks GTS Adrenaline sneakers to go on sale, lol.
Tell me: How do you save money on running gear/races?
Join the Link-Up!
Topic for next week – how to fit in fitness over the holidays. Feel free to write about this or any running related topic. We hope you’ll link up with us!
Those online consignment shops sound great! We don’t have that sort of thing in Switzerland.
Another tip just came to my mind: I use my running outfits until they nearly fall apart… that way, I don’t need to buy new clothes very often. If I do, I usually get them from outlet stores in South Africa where the “big” brands are (Nike &Co.)
Good point! I do the same thing – I will have workout gear for years as long as it still looks good and doesn’t stretch out.
I do a lot of the same things as you. Athleta has a great rewards program–they have for years! I also wait for my beloved Brooks to go on sale. Although i did pay full price for those Ghosts with the beer glasses, lol
Totally agree about the Athleta rewards program!
I also mentioned buying off-season shoes (via Brooks, of course!). I’m about due for a new pair of Adrenalines myself 😉
I really wish the new Adrenalines would go on sale since I’m coming to have to retire my current ones soon, but paying $130 would hurt, lol
I will definitely shop off season! The only hard part of that is that you have to wait so long to wear your finds.
Oddly I look at Poshmark and yet I never buy anything from it. Probably because for the most part I have enough clothes, I guess.
That’s definitely the hardest part, or I buy the stuff and put it away and then forget about it when that season comes up in a few months lol.
I LOVE off season shopping because Texas is usually entering summer part two when the rest of the country is getting fall weather lol. We get shorts and tanks on sale and we can still use them for a bit longer in the year! I need to step up my credit card rewards game but I know that’s a great way to travel to races!
LoL at summer part 2 but that’s so accurate for the Texas heat!
I was hoping for a sale on the Ghost 13s, but I also couldn’t resist the NYC-themed 14s, so I really am my own worst enemy
Otherwise totally agree.
LOL! I totally understand because I’m very close to just purchasing the sneakers I’ve been eyeing for months but they are still $130 – ugh!
I love the idea of using loyalty programs and credit cards rewards. Great tip!
I use my credit card rewards and points for so many things – it definitely helps with bringing down the cost!
Great tips. Consignment shop is interesting but here we don’t have such high discounts. I also buy on line but if the discount is minimum I prefer to help the local shops.
In the past I also was member of loyalty programs for various airlines and hotels but I never used them for races because I prefer to run near my home town (Rome is 1 hour driving from here).
If I lived where you do I would totally opt for more local races too!
All great tips. I’ll post mine next Tuesday.
I try to stop looking online because truthfully I have more than enough clothes.
I hear ya! I definitely have more than enough workout clothes yet I always find a “reason” to purchase something online, especially if it’s a $10 shirt, lol
Shopping off season deals is a great way to snap up some sweet deals. I also love the loyalty programs from Road Runner sports and Athleta
I didn’t know that Road Runner had a loyalty program. I will have to check that out!
Yes! Taking advantage of loyalty programs is a great tip. I have a Gap credit card, and I get rewards which can be redeemed at Gap, Old Navy or Athleta. All the pieces I own from Athleta, I got with my rewards points.
I also wear my running clothes for years and years. I don’t put them in the dryer, and I think that makes them last longer. Overall great tips here!
Same here! I use my GAP rewards to buy activewear at Old Navy!
I already have 3 pairs of shoes but am still stalking the Brooks website to see if more shoes are on sale. 🙂 I am trying not to buy more running gear since I already have enough but sometimes they’re all too cute and I need to have it.
I go to the Brooks website every week to see if the sneakers have been marked down yet, lol
I do many of the same things though I always forget about Poshmark.
I’ve been stalking the Brooks website too hoping for the next sale 🙂
The Brooks website it letting me down because they haven’t had any sales in SOOOO long lol