You could say that running is a minimalist sport.
At the extremely minimal end, all you really need to get started with running is a good pair of running shoes, and you can be good to go!
But the key here is that you get yourself a good quality pair of running shoes.
Shoes are not an area you want the quality to suffer in order to save a few dollars. Quality is important here!
Your feet experience a lot of stress from all the pounding from running, so it’s important to take good care of them.
One way to do that is through good running shoes.
Buy your first pair of new running shoes from your local running store
If you are a beginner runner new to buying running shoes, it is probably best to avoid buying running shoes online.
Instead, you are better off going to a local running specialty store.
It may be more expensive than running shoes you can find online, but head to the running store in the name of staying healthy!
Buying the right pair of running shoes for your feet type can help to avoid common running injuries.
The way you can buy the right pair of running shoes is with help from shoe experts.
And you can find these shoe experts at your local running store!
Local running stores are usually staffed with knowledgeable and experienced runners who can help to get the right pair of shoes for your feet.
If you go into the running store to buy your shoes, it’ll be expensive because the running stores will usually sell the latest model.
But once you’ve found shoes that work for you, based on the expertise from your local running store experts, that’s when you can start to save money when you replace your running shoes!
Do you run with your dog? How hot is too hot for dog paws on hot pavement?
Side note!
See about the best shoes for hiking in Hawaii and what to wear snorkeling in Hawaii! And for Hawaii vacation ideas, see the best things to do in Waikiki that will give you Hawaii vibes!
How to save money when you replace your running shoes
Now, it’s always nice to support your local running store, but of course you want to save money too.
Once you do find running shoes that work for you, you can just keep buying the same brand and type of shoes.
And for that, it’s usually not necessary to go back to the running store for and pay full price for shoes.
You can get it for cheaper online by buying last year’s model of your running shoes. Last year’s model will naturally be discounted compared to the current year’s model!
So for example, if you bought Mizuno Wave Inspire 13 running shoes and spent a season running in them feeling great, you can go online and search for Mizuno Wave Inspire running shoes.
If the next season of the Wave Inspire has come out, the Wave Inspire 14, or it’s nearing the end of the running season, you may be able to find the Wave Inspire 13 at a discounted price on sale.
Or if during the middle of the running season you are loving the Wave Inspire 13, go online and search for the Inspire 12, or even see if the Inspire 13 has gone on sale yet.
The key with this is finding the running shoe in your size.
Your size might already be sold out everywhere.
So that’s why it’s best to snatch up those shoes when you do find them on sale!
How much of a discount can you get when you replace your running shoes with last year’s model?
Remember that new running shoes for top brands in the current year typically cost around $100-150.
So if you find a previous year’s running shoes at $60-70 it can be worth it to buy it while it’s available!
It’s usually harder to find the top brands for less than $60, even if they are last year’s shoes.
This can be even more so if you wear a popular shoe size.
That is usually the biggest challenge.
Finding last year’s shoe at a discount in your size.
And more specifically, the color you want in your size. Because of course, color is important. 😉
You may even want to buy the running shoes if you find them for $80.
The last year’s running shoe might not be available in your size when it’s time for you to replace your running shoes.
This means you may need to buy the current year’s shoe at full price.
Although, you could see this as supporting your local running store by making the purchase there. 🙂
If the shoes you’re wearing right now are working for you, don’t mess with a good thing! Keep buying those same shoes.
Again, in the name of preventing those common running injuries!
When it does NOT work to buy last year’s running shoes to replace your current running shoes
There is a word of caution on using this method to save money on your new running shoes.
There’s a reason it’s best to try on your running shoes before you buy them, which makes buying running shoes online less than ideal.
The caution is that each year, brands do come out with an upgraded model, so there is a chance that there’s been a drastic change to the design of the shoe that is no longer to your feet’s desire.
This works both ways for getting a newer model or older model.
But most of the time, if this year’s shoe worked for you, last year’s will too. And if this year’s shoe worked for you, next year’s will too!
So consider that risk in buying the upgraded, or downgraded, model of a running shoe.
When do you need to replace running shoes?
The generally accepted number of miles at which you should start to look more carefully at replacing your running shoes is once you’ve gotten around 500 miles on your shoes.
You are recording your mileage, right? 😉
This means that if you’re running around 25 miles a week, look to start replacing your shoes after you’ve been running in them for 5-6 months.
If you’re running around 40 miles a week, you want to start paying closer attention to the wear and tear of your shoes at around 3 months.
There are a few extra factors to consider that could make your shoes last longer or shorter than this general guideline of 500 miles.
If you wear your running shoes more than just for running, like for casual outings to the park or grocery store, consider the extra walking you do in the shoes.
It may not seem like much here and there, but it can add up!
Another consideration is your weight.
Naturally, someone who is 220 lb strikes the pavement with more force than someone who is 120 lb.
How long running shoes last can be different for different people! The quality of your shoes can also make a difference.
Breaking in your new shoes
As with all footwear, it’s best to break in new shoes.
And that applies even more for running shoes with the number of miles you run at a time and the force applied to those shoes compared to a casual walk.
In order to best break in your new replacement running shoes, consider buying your new running shoes at least a month or so before your old shoes need to be retired.
By getting your new shoes ahead of time, you can alternate the days in wearing your old shoes with your new shoes on your runs.
This gives your feet time to adjust to your new shoes.
Then when the time comes that your old shoes need to be retired completely, your new shoes are good to go and pretty much completely broken in!
Where to find discounted running shoes
Amazon can be a reliable place to find last year’s running shoes.
Go ahead, check right now!
Type the brand and model of your current running shoes into the search bar below and see how much of a discount you’ll get by planning ahead and buying your next pair of running shoes before it becomes a necessity.
HAPPY RUNNING!
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🐠 Here are things you must consider packing!
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- rash guard: swim set for women and swim shirt for men
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case (so you can capture pictures of fishies underwater!)
- cheapo phone case OR waterproof camera
- I also have this "camera" wrist float to attach to my cheapo waterproof phone case so my phone won't sink to the bottom of the ocean in case I somehow let go of it. (Mine does stay afloat - test this for yourself before completely trusting it!)
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask set
- Reef-safe(r) sunscreen
- lightweight travel towel:
- walking sandals:
I also don't go snorkeling without a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.
Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.
There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.
see more:
- What to wear hiking
- What to wear snorkeling