Keeping The Reins Tight….

For an average hourly cost of less than 2 dollars, you too can experience the following:

1. A 33.4 mile, 5+ hour fun run through the forest
2. At least 3,350 calories burned.
3. Multiple blisters on your toes and heels.
4. A mouthful of dirt when your quads give out going down hill.
5. Item 4 repeated multiple times.
6. All sorts of awesome battle scars from steps 4 and 5.
7. Sliding through the mud because you forgot to pack your trail shoes for a trail run.
8. Massive amounts of swelling in your lower appendages.
9. Chafing in all sorts of places you don’t want to chafe.
10. Griting it out and making it to the finish line, all the time knowing any sane person would have pulled them self out of the race a long, long time ago.

Another ultra marathon in the books; this race was rough as I’m still jet lagged from flying across the country and the course was deceptively hard.

For another $10, I get to do it all again in May!

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Note: The author is male. I don’t have the slightest clue about the apparel needs of females.

Target, is your one stop shop for running apparel.

Champions C9’s active wear is well made, can sustain heavy usage, wicks away moisture and is ridiculously cheap. C9 has a wide variety of appareal products; running shorts, tops, socks, and everything else underneath the sun.

I take a minimalist running attire philosophy. Running shorts are a must, the built in support prevents chaffing and wicks away the sweat. Plus, I like short shorts (Cue the Royal Teens).

When it’s hot, I go shirtless. There’s no need to spend $25 on a moisture whicking shirt when the wind and sun have the same capabilities. For more bashful runners, Target sells their brand of moisture whicking shirts for $10.

In the winter, I’ll throw on a long sleeve cotton t-shirt and grit life. On those really cold mornings (15-20 degrees Fahrenheit) I’ll layer up with an old cotton hoodie, a cheap walmart headband, and a pair of running gloves. If you live in a more severe climate, you’ll need to invest in more appropriate winter wear.

During the spring, I buy gloves upcoming winter. Most online retailers want to empty out their stock and slash prices dramatically. I’m partial to Brook’s Vapor Dry Running Gloves. The medium’s fit like a charm, a handy magnet keeps them together in the wash, the reflective material keeps me alive, and then there’s the soft fleece for wiping your snot. An often overlooked but much needed feature for cold weather running.

Many new runners will spend a fortune buying the latest,greatest, and color coordinated running attire. If you’ve got that type of money to spend, great. But, I’ll let you in on a secret; races are for running!

The rest of us don’t care how you look, what you’re wearing or what fancy gadget you’ve got. If you show up, toe the starting line , fight the beast, you’ll experience instant camaraderie from the running community.

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Note: This is the first in a series of post outlining how to a healthy lifestyle on tight budget. Keep in mind that the ‘advice’ comes from a person who regularly runs 50k’s and above.

Why can’t I run in my cheap tennis shoes?

Running shoes: Body :: Shock Absorbers: Car

Running in poor shoes can cause a myriad of injuries. The lack of absorption, cushioning, stability, and extra torque will stress your body and increase the amount of torque on your muscles, joints, and tendons.

In other words, crappy shoes make you a race spectator.

The Cost?

A good pair of running shoes will cost anywhere from $65 - $130. Spending more money will not get you a better shoe, as the best running shoe is the one that fits your foot / body / running mechanics. People have high, low, or no arches, neutral, under prontation and over pronation in their gaits and prefer different amounts of cushioning. You also have the whack jobs (me) who would run barefoot if we could.

Completely lost?

Go to a running store and have them fit you. Get multiple opinions, running shoes are not to be taken lightly. Be nice and buy from the shop that fits you; the added cost is worth it on your first pair.

Test the shoes, and test them some more. Run around the parking lot, try on multiple pairs, keep coming back to the one you like, do side by side comparisons. Do not buy a pair simply because it looks wickedly cool.

This is the most important thing you can do to keep yourself healthy and enjoying running!

When do I have to replace them?

Plunking down $100 for a shoe that won’t be worn that much can be a shock, but it will keep you running. Most shoes tend to lose their bounce around 300 - 400 miles. For a recreational runner averaging 20 miles per week, a pair of shoes should last almost 4 months. Keep a running log online, most sites will track your shoe milage.

DO NOT wear running shoes for anything other than running!!!!!!!

How can you tell if your shoe’s are dead?

Look at the sole of the shoe, if it has significant creases, the shoe is becoming worn. Try placing your shoes on the table and see if the shoes lean to either side, leaning is yet another sign of wear. Twisting the shoe is another give away; if it is easy to twist, your midsole is worn down.

Your body will send you signals. Pay attention to them!

If you’re not doing the proper prehabilitation, start! Then you can accurately pay attention to your body’s signals.

Enough about the shoes, I want them for cheap!

Find the cheapest local shop and get another store will price match. My local Fleet Feet price match and then take another 10% off the price. Most stores will not advertise this policy, so you need to ask! The mark up on running shoes ranges from 300 - 400% which is plenty of room for negotiating.

Buy last years model. Again, ask your local running store when the new models are coming out and then scour the internet or in-store sales. Nike updates my Skylons sometime in November / December and the prices drop significantly.

Buy in bulk off the internet. Combine a rewards program such as Ebates, cash back credit cards, coupons (google them), with sales and you can save a significant amount of money. I was able to snag five pairs for $300 using this method. Retail value of one pair at the local shop? $103.95.

Summary Please?

Find a shoe you like. Find a sale. Buy on the internet.

Three easy steps that will save a lot of money in the long run (pun intended).

Technorati Tags: Frugal, Running

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There’s nothing quite like lacing up the shoes and heading off for a training run. Yesterday’s run was a wee bit different. I was without vehicular transportation so I ran to work.

My commute took an hour and thirty minutes longer than usual but it was extremely enjoyable. The miles quickly passed and I used the time to plan future ‘run to work’ days. I think y’all should join me in this weekly endeavor. After you read the following list you may be inclined to jump in on the fun.

Seven Reasons to Run Commute.

1. Training Benefits - To become a better runner, you have to run. If going to work requires a commute, why not combine the to? My commute is a great way to get in a bunch (16.5) of miles logged.
2. It Will Clear Your Head - Having adequate time to process your thoughts is almost impossible, running creates the necessary alone time to maintain mental sanity. Running allows you to decompress after a rough day at work and can increase your productivity.
3. The Health Benefits - Running allows me to stay in shape without having to think about it. Running improves my cardiovascular health, improves my bone density, develops my fat burning capcity, increases the size and shape of mitochodria, and increases my aerobic capacity. Running also strengthens my muscles and joints.
4. Money Saved - My commute uses exactly one tank of gas; one run commute saves $3.14 for a yearly savings of $163.28. Run commuting also reduces the wear and tear on your vehicle. Running should reduce your medical bills as you get in shape (assuming you use injury prevention measures).
5. A Longer Life Span - Researchers have found burning 1000 calories per week by exercise can reduce the risk of premature death by 20%. Most experts agree that burning 2000 calories (via exercise) on a weekly basis will extend a lifespan by 1.3 to 1.7 years.
6. It’s Better for the Environment - I emit fewer gases than my truck. One run commute per week will reduce my annual greenhouse gas emmissons by 1.73 tons! Brake fluid, anti-freeze, or transmission fluid does not drip from my undercarriage. Running also reduces noise pollution; unless I have Journey blaring in my headphones, runs are stealthy.
7. You’ll Become Sexy - Need I say more?

I plan to run commute at least five times in April. Care to join me?

Technorati Tags: Budget, Car Expenses, Running

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‘Only those who attempt the absurd…will achieve the impossible’
-M.C. Escher

Over at Early Retirement Extreme, Jacob compared ultrarunning to programming. Switch out programming with being an educator, and you can get the gist of why I love running really long distances so much.

I see some real similarities between in my own ultrarunning and the financial path I have embarked on. Both are mediums with immediate, intermediate, and long distance goals. It is the the journey of reaching these smaller goals that allow me to keep reaching for the carrot at the end of the stick.

The whole idea of a final goal is a foreign concept to most ultrarunners. While many people run marathons with the goal of completion or qualifying for Boston; ultrarunners are a different breed. We shoot for going past the stars. There’s always a longer course, a course with more elevation or different terrain, there are races of time instead of distance, and of course, there’s the race from hell. If that wasn’t enough, we can always choose to run across our native land, compete in fabled races or simply run past 26.2 on every continent. The possibilities are endless and it is up to each individual to dream big, push to the limits and see what we can accomplish.

Personally, I hope to run the historic Western States 100 before I reach the age of thirty. From there, I’d like to run Hardrock (with it’s 33,000 feet of elevation gain) and complete the 72 hour version of Across the Years. My preparation for those races started yesterday. Well not so much yesterday, but on that fateful day in high school when I laced up running shoes for the first time.

To reach those lofty goals, I have to take baby steps; for 2007 and 2008, my focus was / is on running 50k’s and laying down a solid foundation. Each ‘race’ is a training run for the next run, creating a cycle that will repeat itself over and over, snowballing into years worth of quality training that will help me achieve the next level of success. There are no shortcuts in running distances of this length. Days like today, when I’m running a 101 degree fever and mucus is free flowing out of my nose, I still hop out of bed at 4:00am ready to rumble. 3:05:41 and 21.6 miles later, I know I’ve hit an important training run for my next race, the race after that, and all the way to the fateful day when I WILL run Western States.

The most exciting part? I get to do this all again come next saturday. In fact, outside of regular race tapers, I’ll be running 15-35 miles every Saturday or Sunday morning for the rest of this year, the year after and so forth. The end result of this journey will be the personal satisfaction of continually pushing exceeding my limits.

This same pattern of goal perpetuation is evident in my very young financial journey. By developing a sense of thrift, frugality, and savings to be my core financial habits, there will be no limits to my success. Right now, my focus is getting the emergency fund funded. After that it will be time to move on to funding a down payment, then rental properties and developing a large nest egg. Each goal is a piece of my financial puzzle; they have to fit together, in proper order, to reveal the final picture.

Setbacks will happen. My ultrarunning career has already been delayed by injuries. Last February, I tibia cracked after it was hit by a line drive in fast-pitch softball. This put me on the sidelined for over three months. Rather than wallow in my misery or throw away my hard work, I maintained my aerobic base by swimming and rigging up a way to use the stationary bike that would have made McGyver proud. Still, it took over four months of solid training to build get back to my pre-injury training levels. Throughout the whole experience, I never failed to make the most of what I could control.

So far, I’ve managed to avoid any unfortunate financial events. Hopefully my luck will continue but should I experience car issues, unexpected health costs, or emergency vet bills; the manner in which I handle the situation will influence future successes. As long as I suck it up, try prepare in advance, and not deviate from my good habits, I can recover from any obstacle.

Within both journeys, there is a focus on the future. Goals are defined as an stepping stones to reach the final nirvana. Similar to infinity, the nirvana will never be reached and the process of continuation is what’s important.

As long as I stay the course, trucking on day by day, and set goals to act as stepping stones, I will experience success.

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