Let’s face it, running is not a cheap sport. There’s the old saying you’ll hear, something like “all you need is a pair of running shoes” but we all know that is far from the truth. First off, who has just one pair of running shoes?! Let’s be real…
Beyond the shoes there’s all the gear, the apparel, the gadgets, and of course, for endurance events, there’s the fuel. Everything from electrolyte drinks to fancy gels, chews, bars, etc. Slap on race entries, travel, and lodging fees and ultrarunning quickly becomes a sport for the wealthy, or at least those of us willing to eat ramen for months on end.
While there are ways to save in all of these areas, one place I have found fairly easy to save on is the fuel. When you think about it, for the most part we are just buying expensive candy, carbs, etc. I by no means knocking any brands here as there are many amazing products out there! However, unless you are sponsored by a nutrition brand or have disposable income, it can be tough to afford. To make it even more difficult, you should be training with the fuel you’ll use on race day, so that means that much more you need to buy.
We often hear that the most important thing is that you train your gut to digest the fuel you will be taking in during the race. The other key is that you should be fueling with something that sounds good to you! There will come a time when nothing sounds good if you run far enough, but it’s better if it at least sounds good at first! I started experimenting with “regular” food and have had great success (fewer stomach problems than I’ve ever had). Below I will share some of the foods that have worked well for me:
Pop-tarts
Gummy bears, worms, etc.
Snickers
Oreos
Croissants
Chocolate chip cookies
Pizza
The bottom line is, experiment with foods that are more easily attainable on a daily basis and see how your body reacts, you might be pleasantly surprised! I generally still carry a few gels and/or chews just in case, but for the most part my pack is stuffed with tasty food.
*Disclaimer, I am not a nutritionist, doctor or anything like that. I’m just an endurance athlete who has a fair amount of experience experimenting and hope I can help you find a way to fuel on a lower budget and still have a great run, race, FKT, adventure, etc.!
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