Marshalls | Not Unless I'm Being Chased...

Good call

May 11, 2010 at 8:53 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments
Tags: 10K Training, Champion, cheap exercise clothes, Marshalls, outlet stores, peaceful run, Target, thrift shopping, TJ Maxx

I think I made the right choice in skipping my run this morning. After work, this familiar site came peeking through the trees.

Well, hello Mr. Sun. Haven’t seen you around here lately. 🙂

Sam met up with me for a quick three-miler on the ol’ bike path. We followed a familiar route from our half marathon training days and ran free of iPhones or GPS trackers. It was awesome. I read in Runner’s World a while back that you should aim for one run and make it a free, peaceful run. Ditch the heart rate monitor, leave the Garmin behind and tell your iPod to take the day off. I had a fabulous run today and I think it was because I wasn’t concentrating on pace or song or anything other than keeping up a slightly breathless conversation with my hubby.

Good running partners motivate you ;). Towards the end, Sam started speeding up, then I sped up to keep up, then he started sprinting, then I busted it out full force and we tore across the “finish line”. What a nice way to end a run.

Notice my outfit? We all know I can be a little (okay, a lot) thrifty. Hello, Aldi is a regular on my grocery shopping route. My running clothes are no exception to my desire to save a buck. When I started running regularly, the possible cost of clothes overwhelmed me. My eyes bugged out at the price tag on a DryFit t-shirt or (in the winter months) a pair of compression tights. I want to pass on my “secrets” to finding inexpensive running (and exercise) clothes:

🙂 Check TJ Maxx and Marshalls for good deals on moisture wicking shirts and running shorts. I scored a NikeFit cold compression top for $17 at TJ Maxx and I know it was probably originally $50-60. Score!

🙂 Target carries the Champion line of clothes at pretty reasonable prices. My cold weather running tights are from Target (yes, those sexy hot-pink striped leggings — you know you’re jealous!) and they carried me through 17 degree-weather runs. I think they cost $25. That’s like a quarter for every run I used them. My pocketbook loves that.

🙂 Check outlet stores. My favorite running shorts are from the Champion outlet — $15! Sam got a Nike top at the outlets that was basically 75% off. My regular running socks were another score at the outlets. Bingo.

🙂 It’s not all about name brands. The shirt I’m wearing in this picture (from our run tonight) was bought at Walmart.

It’s moisture-wicking (obviously — check out that belly sweat!), has a shelf bra built in, a racer back that mirrors my sports bra lines (so I’ll only have ONE set of weirdo tan lines come summer ;)) AND…

a media pocket, perfectly sized for an iPod shuffle. Now, if only I had one. 😉 I feel like that shirt is an awesome deal for $7. Yep. Just 7 tacos. You can afford more than one at that price. I bought two.

🙂 Finally, if this is something you’re going to stick with, buy out of season. Shop those “end of the summer” clearance racks. Grab a pair of shorts to tuck away for next year or get a cold weather top when it’s starting to feel more like spring. It will be like Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa for you in the coming months when you open up those boxes and say, “I forgot I bought that! AND I got a great deal!”

Just a few tips I thought I’d pass on — from my cheapskate wallet to yours. It’s not rocket science, but it’s helpful. 🙂

Tonight was one of those nights where you come home, look in the fridge…

and decide you’re eating oatmeal for dinner. Sorry, it’s kind of an uninspiring night food-wise. We’ve all been there.

I ate a double batch of Trader Joe’s Quick Cook Steel Cut Oats with half a can of blueberries (rinsed of their “light syrup”) and a tablespoon of PB. Mmm. Melty.