Marathon runners beware: 9 unexpected costs to keep in mind before signing up

A marathon costs more than its registration fee. Depending on what you need to pay for, unexpected purchases can quickly add up.

I ran the Marine Corps Marathon in October 2015. I chose to run a marathon while I was still in college, which resulted in some additional costs, and the experience ended up being more expensive than I thought it'd be.

While I picked a marathon with a relatively low entry fee, additional costs ranged from expensive running sneakers to non-monetary ones like losing free time on weekends. Small purchases, such as extra granola bars and boxes of Band-Aids, added up over six months of training.

Keep reading for a look at some of the unexpected costs I encountered while training for a marathon.

New sneakers

This was an item I knew I needed to invest in from the start, but I was surprised by how much a decent pair of running shoes actually costs. I wanted to make sure I used the same pair I’d wear for race day during my training and went to a running store soon after signing up to get properly fitted for a new pair.

While some people always splurge on sneakers, I typically bought running shoes on sale for US$50 to US$60, which was really all I needed to spend for the light running I was doing before the marathon. After visiting a legitimate running store, getting my feet measured, and talking with seasoned runners, I quickly realised the unexpected cost of sneakers.

Sources recommend replacing your running shoes roughly every six months or every 300 miles — both of these metrics correspond with training for a marathon, so it’s worth investing in a new pair soon after signing up.