athletic wear that won't slim down your wallet

Warm weather has arrived and it has brought with it both a collective panic over the imminence of swimsuit season and a desire to be active outside. Last week I signed up for what will be my first 5K in several years (!!!) and have found myself with about 3 months to get in shape. Most of my athletic wear is from when I was a varsity athlete in college, so the first step in my training program was to buy updated pieces that fit me at my current size. 

My favorite place to shop for affordable and flattering workout clothes might not even be on your radar. Surprisingly, it is Old Navy! I didn't even know they carried an activewear line until a friend told me about it last summer and I'm impressed with their selection and the prices. 

I stumbled upon an amazing sale at Old Navy today, but even without additional discounts, they offer a great value. It might not work for someone who needs high performance clothing, but I am always thrilled to get a good deal on something that will spend most of its time drenched in sweat. If possible, you should shop in store. Two of the pieces I got are listed at full price online, but I found at 50% off in the clearance section and the rest of the items were on promo.

My shopping total for two tops, two pairs of running shorts, and a pair of full-length compression tights came to under $60. That's equal to the cost of ONE pair of running shorts from Lululemon! But my favorite part of today's shopping trip was seeing all the options. I prefer my athletic tops to be long and loose and I found plenty of pieces that fit those criteria. But there were also tops that were short and fitted. There appeared to be something in any color, pattern, and style that you could want. 

Here's what I bought today (prices shown are full retail):
Burnout Tank $15
Strappy Tank $15
3.5 Inch Pique Mesh Shorts $15
Compression Ankle-Zip Leggings $35

Here are a few other pieces that I love:
Mesh Top $15
Half-Zip Pullover $25
Patterned Compression Capris $27
Tricot-Fleece Running Jacket $37