Blog: Feature Stories

From cereal to paper towels, potato chips to cat food; we’re getting less of it for our money these days. And please don’t get us started on gas prices. Lucky for us, running isn’t the most expensive of hobbies. But those shoes, gear, and event entries can add up. And no matter the economic state, there are plenty of ways to keep running fun – and frugal.

Register for your event as early as possible. This one’s a twofer. You’ll get in at the lowest entry price possible. Event directors will have a better headcount for ordering tee shirts and medals, That means less waste, thanks to fewer overruns.

Pass on the après-run latte and muffin. But don’t skip out on the post-run fellowship. The friendships forged over the miles in our run groups are the real deal. Brewery runs your thing? Keep it to one cold beer after the run. But still leave a proper tip.

Save on running shoes. Check into last year’s model running shoes before jumping into the latest thing. This is particularly easy if you’ve been running in the same shoe for some time. If you’re getting fitted for the first time, or getting re-fitted, ask your running specialty store if there are last year’s models that might still be in stock.

Use your running shoes JUST for running. We know, we know. When they’re so comfy and fit just right, it’s tempting to keep them on after our run. Next thing you know, you’ve logged another 10,000 steps at the home improvement store, the grocery, and every other errand. But using your running shoes solely for running will extend their utility for their intended purpose.

Stay local for races. Along with keeping the comforts of home, you’ll avoid the expenses that come with longer trips, like travel, fuel, eating out, hotel rooms, etc. Save the big trip for that bucket list event. It’ll mean that much more.

If you must go, don’t go solo. We totally get it. Sometimes you just want to get out of town. A goal race with all the trappings is quite the motivator. When you do go, double up on the hotel room, share the drive, bring car snacks instead of eating out along the way. You’ll quickly cut into the overall cost of the trip.

Be a pace team volunteer. Here’s another win-win. Not only will serving as a pace team volunteer get you into the event for free, but you’ll also be helping other runners reach their goals. New to pacing? Get some experience at smaller events before approaching those bucket list races.

Run to work. Or class, the store, a meeting, etc. OK, so this tip really doesn’t save you money on running, but could perhaps eliminate a car trip which creates a cascade of savings elsewhere. Start small, like running a package to the post office or to the store for a forgotten grocery item.

Consider homemade snacks v prepackaged (expensive) bars, gels, and goos. Yes, they’re convenient; no argument here. The interwebs are chock-full of recipes for homemade energy bars and such. If you really like a specific brand of gels, blocks, or bars and want to stick with them, buy them in bulk to save some cash.

Be your own sports drink bartender. Buy containers of powdered sports drink mixes instead of bottled. It’s much cheaper and better for the environment since you don’t have all that plastic. Plus, you can experiment with different flavor combos and mixes.

What did we miss? If you’re a runner with a penchant for saving money, let us know how you keep running on the cheap! Send us your tips to ed@runcharlotte.com If we publish your tip, we’ll send you some Run Charlotte swag. Another win-win!

Somedays we feel Mick was right. It is a drag getting old. But it doesn’t have to be. And the better care for ourselves, the better the years — and the miles are going to be the further we get down the road or trail. No matter your starting point, you really can run and age with grace.

For starters, you’re probably never really too old to start running. Or adopt any other healthy habits, for that matter. Like anything new, you’ll want to wade into it rather than diving directly into a marathon training program.

“Any new runner should progress very gradually, and an older athlete should consider progressing even more slowly,” adds Novant Health’s Dr. Keith Anderson. “As we get older, we seem to need to spend more time with strength training, core strength, and working on flexibility.”

Dr. Anderson knows a thing or two about being flexible. He’s a sports medicine and family medicine specialist and serves as the Medical Director for the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. He’s a father and husband, and still finds time to train. Let’s just say he practices what he preaches, hosting his own triathlon during the depths of the pandemic, and crushing Ironman(™) St. George in 91F heat this spring… but we digress.

You don’t have to be a triathlete, but varying your workouts keeps things fresh and challenging — in a good way — it also gives those running muscles a chance to recover, and gets other muscles in on the action.

We won’t “out” Judy Caswell’s age, but she’ll tell you she’s been running for some time now. She’s always been active; playing hockey, hiking, swimming, rollerblading, etc. You’ll see her at nearly every local race. Probably winning an age group award, too. Even battling cancer and the subsequent surgeries and treatments, she made every effort to keep moving.

“…in different ways, on different terrains, and surfaces,” says Caswell, “but especially running, since it gives you the physical fitness, the mental, and social pieces!”

Caswell doesn’t bother with split times, power meters, or other tech. She likes to keep it old school. Runners of any age or point along their running path can take a note here.

“I listen to my body,” she adds, “I run every day, depending on how I feel, I decide what route I’ll go, how long, road or pavement, leisurely pace, or whether to push myself a bit more.”

That’s solid advice, especially as we age. Dr. Anderson also recommends older runners pay more attention to hydration, nutrition, and recovery. Even a mild injury should be taken seriously to prevent it from becoming something more serious.

Tom Perri has been running and playing softball for more than 50 years. He’s working on running a marathon in all 50 states and DC — for the 7th time. He’s paced thousands of runners to the finish over the years, including ten years here in Charlotte. Over all that time, he’s seen events become more welcoming to runners and walkers.

“With events becoming more runner-friendly, almost anyone can go from a ‘couch to finisher,’ because many of the events are about the experience and not about the fastest time,” says Perri. “I see more and more people over the age of 50 completing their first marathon, then what became a bucket list item has now transformed them into a runner.”

It wasn’t so long ago that age group awards topped out at 60 or 65 plus. That’s all changed since cross-training, better nutrition, and just more knowledge of fitness and injury prevention have allowed more runners to stay with it longer or join the sport later in life. Along with the obvious upside of participating in a lifetime sport like running, there are social and mental health health aspects that can’t be ignored.

“I truly believe that exercise will help a person not only physically,” notes Perri, “but will also significantly improve one’s mental health state… and that plays a crucial role in one’s outlook on life.”

Naturally, it’s possible to get too much of a good thing. So be smart about how you’ll begin or continue your running as you age.

“If running is causing more pain than it is bringing joy or satisfaction or mental health benefits, then it may be time to find a different form of exercise,” reminds Dr. Anderson, “but it’s NEVER time to quit exercising.”

“Truly, age is just a number,” adds Caswell. “Don’t let the thought of getting ‘old’ hold you back!”