ultrarunning for less

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One of the attractions of running is that it’s quite cheap to get started.  Until you start ultrarunning and running on trails when your cheap hobby can start to be more costly with mandatory kit lists, race fees, travel and the need for nutrition.  

We know these costs can mount up but getting into ultrarunning doesn’t have to break the bank.  Here are some of our top tips on how to ultrarun on a budget (and sustainably too).  We’d love to hear from you on your best ideas so that we can expand this. 

Race local: there are so many ultras around the UK now that most of us don’t have to travel far to do an ultra.  Racing locally not only saves on travel and accommodation costs but reduces emissions, means that race day is less stressful and also makes it easier for your friends and family to support you. A great resource to find a local ultra is runnersretreat.

Volunteer: if you volunteer to help at a race, they often provide a free place in return. Volunteering also allows you to learn about how others manage their races and meet the community.  You’ll probably love it too.

DIY ultra: rather than running an organised race you can run an existing course or create your own 50k or 50 miler.  Follow a National Trail or create your own route – the Slow Ways path network routes through towns so you can refuel.  Anything goes though some navigational skills are necessary.  Or Skamper has thousands of running routes across the UK for you to try.  

Less kit, less costly kit

• initially choose races that don’t require lots of kit – typically longer races, in mountains, in winter, with few checkpoints rightly have lengthy kit lists (the winter Spine Race has 33 mandatory items).  However, most races have much more limited kit lists – check the kit list when choosing a race.
• can you borrow rather than buy.  That way you can figure out what works for you.  Or hiring might be much cheaper if the need is one off
• go for kit that is suitable for a range of races and adventures: for instance, a 10 litre vest rather than a 3 litre one; or a medium-weight waterproof jacket that is good in winter as well as summer.
• buy second-hand.  Here’s some good places we know: prelovedsports, Running Gear Buy and Sell, Used Gear Exchange, vinted, UK Running Shoes
• buy what you really need: as with many products you can often pay quite a bit extra for the latest feature or the version that’s a few grams lighter.  If these things matter less to you then do your research, shop around and look for ‘value brands’ such as Harrier and Kalenji.  Remember, nobody will think worse of you for having older kit: rather the opposite – more worn gear has great kudos on the trail.  And there is no such thing as ‘this season’s colours’ in ultrarunning!
• take care of your kit – a little care, maintenance and repair will extend the life of your kit.
• it’s a bit of a myth that you should retire running shoes after 300-500 miles.  Many runners wear their shoes injury-free for 1,000 or 2,000 miles keeping a ‘best’ pair for races or a newer pair with good tread for rough mountain terrain.  Look for shoes with tough uppers, harder soles and don’t put shoes in the washing machine.
• you can extend the life of shoes with repairs: Pair Ups have kits and advice on how to repair uppers and many cobblers resole running shoes (search on google)
• And if you don’t need some of your kit any more pass it on: kitsquad and prelovedsports will both find good homes.

Lift share: buddy up with someone local to get to and from the race.  You can often organise this via a race’s Facebook group.

Low cost nutrition: in shorter distances, expensive gels and specialist nutrition are widely used.  However, for longer races unless you are trying to podium you can satisfy most of your fuelling needs with regular food and of course you can use the checkpoints as a free buffet!  Take a sandwich bag for a take-away.  Test different approaches and work out what works best for you perhaps cooking up your own fuels – runners’ groups on social media have some great recipes for home-made gels, flapjacks etc.

Buddy-up: by joining a running club (look here) or a social run group (try Maverick and Run Together) you can meet like-minded runners and also you can get tips and support on races, kit, routes and training.  Some of these are free.  

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