How to Trail Run On The Cheap

It’s funny, for a sport as simple as trail running, things can really add up. If you’re like me, you were probably drawn to the sport for how simple and accessible it is. Just get some runners on, find a trail and a friend, and go! And yet over the years as the sport has grown, there is more and more to experience, and along with that, so much more to buy and budget for. You can buy trail shoes with carbon plates in them, you can get a treadmill for the winter, and you can run races all over the world. All of these things are amazing, but it all adds up, with shoes costing over $200 a pop, race fees costing hundreds of dollars, not to mention travel to get there. Nutrition products have emerged that cost over $4 a gel in Canada, and new supplements for athletes are cropping up that cost hundreds of dollars every year. With more attention on the importance of recovery, there are also lists of expensive devices that are far fancier than the old foam roller, like the Theragun, and Normatec recovery boots…

When did trail running suddenly get so expensive?

I’m not saying this is a bad thing, as in many ways, it’s exciting. I think it’s natural for products and marketing to mature as a sport does, and trail running is getting more and more mainstream. In my mind, the influx of new (high-end) products means that more people can work in this industry, and it’s overall a really healthy and positive thing. Also, if you have the money, it’s fun to experiment with these new experiences we’re being sold. The real issue, is if you’re someone who is attracted to the shiny new objects, but really shouldn’t be spending the money on them. And above all, these new products and experiences shouldn’t be used to put up barriers to our sport…

Here are my tips on how to save money, but still have an amazing life as a trail runner!

1. Indulge in used gear!

Rather than buying things new, check out your community’s Facebook Marketplace groups or Craigslist, to find great gear that people are ready to pass along. Buying things second-hand is an awesome way to save money: you can find things at huge discounts, and with none of the taxes. If you decide you don’t like the item, you can also often re-sell it again for the same or a similar price! Another perk is that often the people you meet through these grassroots sales are truly great. I’ve had some amazing conversations through Marketplace!

2. Volunteer!

Race fees are expensive, and some races offer an option to get a reduced-price or free entry if you volunteer for a different event in their series. This can be an awesome approach, because you not only save money on race fees, but you also get an equally-awesome experience at another race, as a volunteer. Often I actually meet more people, and feel more inspired as a volunteer, and it’s a totally different experience from racing. Another great alternative is considering some adventures instead of races. These can be equally challenging and rewarding, and incredibly creative, because you get to be the Race Director. The main thing they lack is the community aspect, and the support, but these are things you can fulfill in other ways.

3. Pace a friend at a race!

Another great way to participate in a trail race on the cheap, is through pacing. Many long ultras (especially 100 milers) allow runners to have pacers, who can usually join the runner for portions of the race, totally for free. This is such a fun experience, as you get to run the route and experience the course, and you usually even get to eat all of the aid station snacks! I’ve paced friends at HURT100, Cascade Crest100 (twice!), and Bigfoot 200, and it was even more enoyable than running the race myself. The highlight for me, is spending quality time adventuring with a friend, and having that bonding experience. It’s also a great way to “try before you buy”, so that if you do decide to invest in the race, you’ve had the chance to try it out beforehand, and make sure that you’ll like the course.

4. Make your own nutrition products!

It’s tempting to buy all the fancy nutrition products we’re being sold, like Maurten and Spring Energy gels, and fancy granola bars. For some of us, it might be worth it, just for the time savings. (That’s me! I’ve started forking over lots of money for Spring Energy, as it’s a huge time saver, and with a little one-year-old at home, that’s really key for me right now.) But when I can, I try to make some tasty homemade snacks that are tastier, more nutritious, and much cheaper than the packaged products. For example, last weekend I fell in love with Skratch Labs’ Crispy Rice Cake, which are basically a fancy, far-less-sweet adult version of the classic kids rice krispy treat. However, they are almost $4 Canadian a bar, and so I decided to try to make a “similar version” at home, with ingredients I had in the pantry. I combined Nature’s Path Kamut puffs with melted marshmallows, butter, and peanut butter, and tried to get a consistency that was heavy on the Kamut, lighter on the mallow, aiming for a lightly sweet taste. After about ten minutes total, I had a whole dish of this stuff, and it was so good that I had to hide them from Julien. (I was unsuccessful, some of it disappeared in seconds, and I was told that the recipe was a keeper!)

5. Buy the most durable shoes, and last year’s model if you can!

It’s safe to say that no matter what, shoes are the one thing you will need to enjoy trail running, and a cost that you can’t really avoid. If you can stretch more kilometers out of a given pair, then that means you’ll be able to stretch your budget farther. I run for HOKA Canada, so I only wear their shoes these days. Within the HOKA lineup, I’ve found that the big, beefy shoes like the Speedgoat, the Tecton X, and even the Challenger and Clifton are incredibly hard-wearing, and long lasting. To salvage shoes in the past, I’ve even taken them to the local cobbler, just to re-attach little parts that were failing faster than the rest of the shoe. Another tip for saving money on shoes, is buying last year’s shoe model. Often brands will discount their current model to clear-out the inventory when they’re introducing a new year or version, so you can get last year’s shoe at a steep discount.

We’re all human

It’s hard to resist some of the new products that claim to increase our performance and enjoyment without many downsides. To some extent, we don’t need to fight it. If it makes you excited to run, it’s healthy, and you have the budget, then go for it! But for most of us, it’s really healthy to exercise a bit of restraint, and remember that our sport is simple. We need some good shoes, some good miles, and some good food and recovery… and that’s pretty much it!