Running in 2026 Could Cost You £1,000 Before You Even Start

With New Year’s resolutions just around the corner, a new survey has lifted the lid on how much it really costs to take up running in the UK.

Research from credit card brand Aqua suggests that becoming a runner in 2025 could set people back more than £1,000, with many feeling pressure to spend on kit before they even hit the pavement.

The true cost of getting started

The study, which surveyed 2,000 UK adults, found that the average cost of starting running is £1,029. This figure covers essentials such as clothing, running shoes, nutrition products and tech.

The most expensive item by far is a sports watch, averaging £545. Running shoes come next at around £125 per pair, followed by headphones at £133. More basic items such as anti chafing balm and running gels or electrolytes cost around £13 each.

In total, a typical starter setup includes:

• Anti chafing balm: £13

• Running gels or electrolytes: £13

• Running top: £45

• Running trousers or shorts: £55

• Training app annual cost: £100

• Running shoes: £125

• Running headphones: £133

• Sports watch: £545

Annual spending adds up too

Beyond the initial outlay, UK runners spend an average of £189 a year on running gear. People aged 25 to 44 spend the most, averaging £223 annually.

More than half of runners, 51 percent, said running shoes were the most expensive item they buy, with an average spend of £138 on trainers in the past year. The research also found a gender gap, with men spending 22 percent more than women each year, £203 compared with £164.

At city level, Norwich recorded the highest average annual spend on running equipment at £278, followed by Leeds at £262.

Manchester named the UK’s running capital

The research also looked at where running is most popular. Manchester topped the list, with 40 percent of residents described as active runners. On average, runners there spent £203 on gear in the past year.

Belfast ranked second, also with 40 percent of residents running regularly, while London came third at 38 percent. Despite busy lifestyles, London runners spent an average of £199 a year on running equipment.

Search interest reflects this growing popularity. Searches for “running club” now exceed 94,000 a month in the UK, a 13 percent increase over the past quarter. Social media is also playing a role, with 24 percent of people saying they have been influenced to buy running gear after seeing content online, including trends such as #RunTok.

Why people are lacing up

Improving physical fitness is the main motivation for running, cited by 52 percent of runners. Mental health and stress relief follow closely, with 37 percent running to clear their heads. Weight loss and body transformation rank third, mentioned by 26 percent.

Despite running being seen as accessible, 57 percent of runners said they feel pressure to spend money on gear.

How to run without overspending

Sharvan Selvam, Commercial Director at Aqua, said:
“Our research revealed that well over half of the country’s runners feel pressured to spend on running, from having the latest tech to a stylish kit. However, this is one of the most financially accessible ways to stay active, and it doesn’t have to come with a heavy price tag.”

Sharvan shared several ways to keep costs down, including buying second hand or discounted gear on platforms such as Vinted, eBay and Depop, using free training plans from YouTube, Strava, Nike Run Club or Couch to 5K, joining free or low cost community events like parkrun, and opting for low cost nutrition alternatives such as honey, dried fruit or homemade electrolyte drinks.

The full research can be viewed on Aqua’s website in their report on the true cost of being a runner.