Running’s Not Free Anymore And It’s Costing Young Australian Men More Than They Think
- After gear, flights and recovery takeaways, running can be an expensive passion.
- ShopBack’s cashback options give Australian runners real money back on their purchases.
- It’s free and easy to sign up. No dodgy sign-ups and no spam emails.
I’ve just flown back from the Noosa 10K. I went for a PB in the Queensland sun, so my quads are screaming, my skin’s feeling a touch dry, and my bank balance has taken a deserved hit.
It was a great race, don’t get me wrong. I took the first opportunity to trade in Sydney’s fluctuating weather for the sun-drenched streets and salty air of the Noosa event. But somewhere between booking the flights, upgrading my runners, and ordering a post-run Grill’d via Menulog, I had a moment of financial clarity. Running is not free anymore.
The Noosa 10K might be behind me, but between the gear, flights and recovery, the real marathon was my card bill. Image: Hastings Street Association
It certainly used to be. Chuck on a pair of old gym shoes, run until something hurts and go home, probably via the pub. But now, you can’t even show up to a race without your carbon-plated shoes, compression socks, fitness tracker, magnesium tablets, race gels and full recovery routine. If you’re not in Lululemon split shorts or rocking the right Oakleys on the Gram, do you even run?
I’ve got City2Surf and the ASICS Sydney Marathon still ahead of me this year. And honestly, I don’t know what’s going to be tougher: shaving 10% off my time or finding a way to fund it all.
Why Aussie Runners Are Spending More Than Ever
A decent pair of race-day shoes will set you back around $200–$400. I’m not saying that it’s expensive; as runners, we need the correct gear.
But then flights to Noosa or even Auckland for a bucket-list run? That’ll set you back a further $250–$500. Entry fees are more than $100. Add to that recovery thongs, lucky socks, nipple tape, sunblock, plasters for your toes, and a pack of Red Frogs from Coles… it all tends to stack up quickly. But here’s the thing: if you’re going to spend it, at least do it smart. That’s where ShopBack comes in.
Save Money on Running Gear with ShopBack Cashback
It might be ShopBack’s birthday, but, naturally, we’re the ones getting the presents. ShopBack is offering 10 days of upsized Cashback from 1-10 June. It’s not just full-price items either: ShopBack often stacks with existing sales. So if a pair of Nikes is already 20% off and ShopBack’s offering upsized Cashback, you’re effectively double-dipping. During their Birthday event, this happens often… and that’s where the serious savings kick in.
If you pay $220 for the Nike Vomero 18s at THE ICONIC, runners will get $39.60 back with ShopBack. That’s the kind of split I like to see. Image: THE ICONIC
If you’re not already using ShopBack, it’s free to download, tracks your purchases automatically, and gives you real money back into your bank account after your purchase. Not points, not store credit, not “mystery rewards.” Actual dollars in your pocket.
Personally, I’ve been using it to get Cashback on runners from THE ICONIC and Nike and race-day gear from Lululemon. That means if I buy a pair of Nike Vomero 18s for $220, ShopBack’s 18% Cashback offer would give me $39.60 back, just for ordering through the app.
I’ve booked Virgin Australia flights to and from Sunshine Coast and picked up sunscreen, plasters and Vaseline from Coles and Priceline, all with Cashback. Even my Oakleys from Sunglass Hut earned money back, and I’m not even going to pretend I needed those.
Running may not be free, but Cashback on sunscreen, sneakers and Sunglass Hut Oakleys? That’s real money back with ShopBack. Image: Sunglass Hut
After a race, I’ll often fire up Menulog, where Cashback can go as high as 100%, which makes that post-run dinner feel like a reward in more ways than one.
If you’re already serious about running and spending money on the gear to match, not using ShopBack is like training for a marathon and forgetting to carbo-load. You’re just leaving easy gains on the table.
Cashback on Travel, Tech & Recovery Too
Beyond the obvious, ShopBack covers more than just retail. I’ve got mates using it to book entire race weekends, flights, hotels, rental cars, all through Booking.com, Agoda, and Virgin Australia, with money back on every leg of the trip.
Ice baths hurt. Paying full price for them hurts more. ShopBack takes the sting out with Cashback on recovery essentials. Image: Amazon AU
You can even earn Cashback on recovery gear such as massage guns, wearable tech, gym supplements, in addition to cold plunges and at-home saunas, if you live in Bondi. If it’s part of your running routine, it’s probably on ShopBack.
How to Use ShopBack
If you’re new to the Cashback game, here’s how it works:
- Download the ShopBack app (free, quick, no spam)
- Browse or search for your brand. They’ve got thousands
- Click through from the app before you buy
- Shop like normal
- Cashback tracks automatically
- Once confirmed, withdraw to your bank account
That’s it. No hidden extras, no paperwork, no chasing customer service for a rebate. DMARGE readers will also score a $20 sign-up bonus with the code ‘DMARGE’.
Running has always been about small gains. Training tweaks. Shoe swaps. Mental tricks to squeeze out an extra k. ShopBack helps you recover some of the money you’re already spending, and with the Birthday event in June, it’s the best time (short of Black Friday) to stock up, save, and earn Cashback without changing a thing. It seems the only thing better than setting a new PB, is getting paid for it.
T&C’s apply. Approximate Cashback, excludes taxes and fees.
