Good afternoon and happy Friday. I hope that everyone who reads this is having a great week 🙂

My ‘True Cost of Running’ in 2018 and in 2019 posts both turned out to be incredibly popular, so I decided to review and to share how much I’ve spent on running-related purchases this year. I’m aware that the year isn’t over yet and that it’s only November, but as I won’t be spending any more money on running this year, I decided to publish this post now.

After working out that I’d spent over £1300 on running-related bits and pieces last year, I unsubscribed from several email distribution lists. My theory was that if I didn’t receive loads of emails I wouldn’t be tempted to spend my money. The reality was a little different; I blame some of the more random purchases I made on lockdown.

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As I didn’t enter many races this year, when I started adding up my purchases I was reasonably confident I would have managed to spend less than I spent last year; £1302.26. I was aware I’d made a few what I’d describe as one-off purchases but hoped these didn’t push my total above what I spent last year.

As always I found going through my expenditure spreadsheets a slightly uncomfortable process. Working how much money I’d ‘wasted’ paying for a place on the Marathon Talk Weekend I wasn’t able to attend due to work and on trainers I can’t wear was not my idea of fun.

I’m aware that I’m repeating myself, but I really hope that my family don’t read this post! I’m meant to be saving and not spending my money.

Running clothes and trainers

• Hoka trainers – £73.98 (I’ll be aiming to sell these)
• Equalizer sports bra – £13.99
• Reflect360 arm warmers – £11.99
• Huub ‘Stay Inside’ t-shirt – £34.98
• Soar t-shirt – £16.99
• Columbia fleece lined jacket – £16.00
• M&S lightweight gilet – £12.00
• M&S long sleeve base layer – £12.00
• Brooks Adrenaline GTS19 trainers – £80.00
• Stance running socks (3 pairs) – £20.97
• Marathon Talk hoodie – £36.50
• Tribesports parkrun jacket – £35.00

TOTAL: £364.40

Running accessories

• Visor, compression socks and headband (RMR second hand) – £20.00
• parkrun running cap – £10.00

TOTAL: £30.00

Running related books

• The Jungle Marathon (eBay second hand) – £4.10
• My Life on the Run (eBay second hand) – £7.90
• Let Your Mind Run (eBay second hand) – £8.80

TOTAL: £20.80

Race entries

• Vitality Big Half – £39.00 (DNS, again)
• Cathedral to Castle 10 mile – £25.00 (event cancelled)
• Market Drayton 10k – £21.40 (event cancelled)
• Richmond Half Marathon – £34.00 (event cancelled)
• Vitality London 10,000 – £15.00 (event cancelled)

TOTAL: £134.40

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Virtual races

• Virtual London Marathon – £20.00

TOTAL: £20.00

Travel and accommodation

• Hotel for the Vitality Big Half – £135.00

TOTAL: £135.00 

Running holidays

• Marathon Talk Run Camp – £185.00 (unable to attend due to work)

TOTAL: £185.00 

Running club

• Change of Club transfer fee – £10.00
• Royal Sutton Coldfield AC annual membership – £65.00

TOTAL: £75.00 

Miscellaneous

• Run3D gait analysis and treatment session – £93.60
• Pulseroll massage gun – £149.99
• Fitbit Charge 4 – £149.99
• NutriBullet – £59.99
• UFIT strawberry protein shakes – £12.00
• More water bottle – £10.95
• Fitbit Aria Air scales – £39.99

TOTAL: £516.51

GRAND TOTAL: £1481.11

I think it’s fair to say I was embarrassed when I worked out just how much I’d spent on running this year. I mean, it’s not like I took part in any organised events. I ‘DNS’ the Vitality Big Half and the rest of the races I’d entered were cancelled. To me, running is all about making memories and I don’t feel like I made many memories this year. The total I spent could have been even more embarrassing if I’d included the cost of entering the 2020 Chicago Marathon. Fortunately, I received a refund from the organisers.

As in previous years, my most expensive purchases were what I describe as one-off investments; for example the Pulseroll massage gun and the Fitbit Charge 4. I hopefully won’t need to replace any of these items any time soon. I don’t regret any of my most expensive purchases as I’ve continued to use them, even when I’ve not been able to run due to my left knee. I just need to make sure I avoid the National Running Show next year as I didn’t manage to leave the NEC empty-handed.

I’m determined to leave the National Running Show empty handed today. I don’t need any more running gear 😀

— Emma Neachell (@thephdrunner) January 26, 2020

It’s not all doom and gloom as I managed to sell some more of my unwanted running gear at the start of the year. I stopped selling online in March but will hopefully resume when life starts to return to some sort of normality. I’ve had a look at my ‘eBay and Facebook sales’ spreadsheet and I made approximately £150.00 selling my unwanted running gear online during January and February.

I’ve decided to repost some information I included in last year’s post. If you have the time to sell online, Facebook selling groups such as the Run Mummy Run – Pre-Loved and Secret Sales group and the Running Gear Buy and Sell groups are a great place to start. And you don’t have to pay eBay’s ridiculous selling fees.

I’m going to end this blog by saying that 2021 is going to be a less expensive year. In fact, with a few exceptions, I’m aiming to spend nothing on running next year. I’m going to provide more details in a separate blog so I won’t go into much detail here. I don’t need to enter any organised events next year as several of my 2020 race entries have been carried across to 2021. If I find myself getting serious race #FOMO, I’ll just go for a run.

Have you ever worked out how much money you spend on running in a year? I’m aware that I’m repeating myself but I’m nosey and I’d love to know how much other runners managed to spend in 2020.

Do you set yourself a running budget? I’m setting myself a running budget of £0 in 2021. Yes, that’s right, my aim is to spend nothing on running next year. If I want to spend anything, I’ll need to raise money by selling some of my unwanted running gear. Ideally, I want my running hobby to fund itself.

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