The Cost of The Half-Marathon
Posted on August 01, 2007 by Him and tagged health
This summer our posting has been pretty low-key due to all of our extracurricular activities. I've personally been occupied with training for an upcoming half-marathon. Little did I know of the associated costs with training for a 13-mile jaunt. While running is one of the most cost-effective ways of staying in shape, long-distance running (at least for me) requires a little more than just a good pair of shoes. Here are the associated costs for 12 weeks of training for the half-marathon.
Shoes - $75
I'm an overpronator - meaning my feet roll outward too much when I push off. In order to get my feet in alignment, prevent injury, and maximize efficiency, I need a good pair of running shoes. If you're looking for the perfect shoe for you, go to a specialty running store where the people there can watch you run and get you properly.
Moisture Wicking T-shirts, Underwear, and Socks - $150 total
These pieces of clothing wick away moisture to keep me cool and dry. Cotton sticks to my skin and doesn't breathe well when soaked in sweat. Target and Wal-Mart and great places to get these for cheap.
Sports Drinks - $8/week X 12 weeks = $96
Essential for putting back carbs, electrolytes, and fluids into my body before and after a run. I don't drink this stuff any other time.
Sport Beans - $15
I eat Sport Beans during runs over 6 miles. I find that I just run out of energy near the finish if I don't have any during-run nutrition. I've also tried other products, but these seem to work best for me. They're $1 a a bag at Target.
Body Glide - $10
Body glide is like mana from heaven. Prevents chafing. Saves lives, cures cancer. Or not.
Nipguards - $10
Never in my life would I ever think that I would need any form of nipple protection. Then I experienced nipple chafing associated with long runs. For the love of god did they hurt. Then I found out about Nipguards. Slightly weird, but at least my nips don't hurt.
Race registration - $45
I need one of these to run the race.
Race training - $90
Since I'm a beginner, I thought it would be a good idea to sign up for a training program that would connect me with other runners. Turns out this was a pretty good decision, as I've found a group that is going though all of the rookie stuff that I'm going though. They're also a huge asset for my motivation. Who wants to run 12-miles all my themselves?
TOTAL COST - $491
Much of this cost isn't just going to be for this one activity only - the running shoes should last another 6 months and possible another 5K race. The moisture wicking stuff I'll keep for at least a few years. Plus I've gained some running buddies from the race training.
<rationalization>
Besides, the health benefits that I'm getting from all this running should pay off in future reduced healthcare costs, right?
</rationalization>
Comments/Trackbacks
Trackback URL: http://www.makelovenotdebt.com/MT/mlnd-trackbacks.cgi/1132
Michael | Aug 1, 2007
You can definitely save some money here. I run 40-50 miles a week, usually including at least one run of 14 miles or more, so I've had to spend some time figuring out how to reconcile this with my inner tightwad. You're right - the nice shoes and moisture wicking clothing are essential for training. The other stuff, not as much.
Sports drinks are typically little more than glorified sugar-water. Studies have shown that the most effective post-run replenishment drink is actually chocolate milk (not that it's any cheaper than sports drinks these days...). Personally, I mostly drink water and rely on food that I was going to eat anyway to replinish my electrolytes/carbs. A big bowl of oatmeal with some chopped-up fruit in it and a glass of orange juice seems to do wonders immediately after a workout.
Sports beans aren't a whole lot more effective than some cheaper alternatives - regular jelly beans, hard candy, and pretzels are all fairly effective. If it seems to bother your stomach quite a bit, just make sure to stop and walk for a few steps whenever you have to burp.
Body glide is pretty helpful. Personally, I use vaseline instead, and it works fine for me.
Nipguards can be replaced with band-aids, at least once you have healed from your initial chafeage. I typically take a generic band-aid, cut off the adhesive ends on each side, and stick the adhesive directly onto my nipples. If you run every day, it would cost you $1/month. The circle band-aids are even better, but cost a little more, so I don't use them. Alternatively, you can skip the shirt altogether and save yourself the cost of the shirt AND nipple protection. Out of concern for the eyes of any passers-by, I don't typically do this. Also, with the wicking shirts, you may be able to get by without nipple protection on about half of your training runs.
One additional cost that you didn't mention - all the extra food that you have to eat to maintain weight. If you're just starting out, this won't be much of an issue. For me, I consume about 50% more calories each day than I would need to if I didn't run at all.
A couple other money-saving tips:
If you decide to continue running over the long term, you may want to have two pairs of shoes and alternate between them for each run. The shoes will last longer if the midsoles have time to fully recover between runs, and this can take 48 hours or so.
Once you've laid out your initial investment in moisture-wicking shirts, try to use your race registration money on runs that will provide you with new moisture-wicking shirts (often called "tech shirts" or "technical tees" or something in the race flyer). If you do this right, you may not have to ever buy any more shirts.
Ariella | Aug 1, 2007
As a marathoner and tri-athlete, I think that the use of sports drinks is really over-rated. It's just sugar water, and the effects can be mimicked by drinking, literally, sugar water with a little salt, and eating a banana. Much less expensive.
As a woman, I don't generally worry about nipguards, but my marathon friends usually use cloth sticky bandages, of the type usually found in first-aid kits. Let's hope you don't have hairy nipples -- ouch.
I do agree that the moisture wicking stuff is great. If you have never heard of it, check out www.campmor.com. They have an excellent and inexpensive selection of wicking apparel. I have gotten 3-packs of wicking shirts for around $15 there, which is awesome.
I am an overpronator and I've had knee surgery. I'm consequently really vigilant about my shoes, and have three pairs with custom orthotic insoles.
Anyway, the sports beans can be exchanged for packets of honey (free at certain restaurants!) or regular jelly beans. All this "sports specific" stuff is just another way to get novices to spend money.
Thanks for the great advice, everyone! I hope to someday join the ranks of triathletes, so I know where to turn for advice on training for those. Keep it coming!
It looks like I should just forget about the nipguards and go with band-aids. Ditto on getting regular food in place of sport beans.
I like the sports drink for one reason: it helps me both hydrate and get some calories in me in the morning before a run. I don't feel as if I have to digest so much.
Jill | Aug 2, 2007
If you're attached to sports drinks, and it sounds like you are, buy the can of the power and mix it yourself. I've run 7 marathons and am still using the same canister of Gatorade mix that probably cost me $8 at Costco!
Oh come on: that is not COST, it is CAPITAL OUTLAY! $500 is A)a bit steep (why not run races that, as part of the fee, offer up a technical shirt?), i.e., you CHOSE to buy that stuff; and B)good for miles of smiles. Your shoes, shirt, etc. will last a long, long time.
Compare that with the cost of a bare-bones tri-bike: something along the lines of $3,000 these days. Then there are all the other neat gadgets.
Also, what is the cost of a "health club?" (which, btw, would STILL require that you spend $$$ on the clothes and whatnot!).
So, seriously, in the long term, the cost/benefit ratio of running versus almost any other sport--indeed, maybe ANY other sport (I mean, how much is a POOL?)--is pretty high.
Unless you are a "one and done-er". You're not a one-and-doner, right? No, I didn't think so.
Lastly, as addictions go, running is the cheapest and the least damaging. Wine collecting, now THAT is a downright dangerous hobby, my friend!
Michael | Aug 2, 2007
I saw this post on The Simple Dollar today and wanted to say that I had a great experience using brown rice syrup as an energy source on my long runs. I picked it up from Whole Foods.
I fill a small water bottle half full with the syrup and the rest with water; take a good swig of it every mile or so while running and fill the bottle up again with water next time it's available. The good thing about the brown rice syrup for me is that it provides a slow burn and keeps my energy levels pretty constant. It's also moderately priced overall. First google result (sponsored, admittedly): Sample size - roughly 2000 calories for $5.70. Hope you find it as useful as I did.
I am super-cheap, and I run only 10-20 miles a week. My cheap tips:
* Use Vaseline, not body glide
* Only drink water and eat bananas etc. (regular food, basically) to replenish calories
* Get cheap running shoes from Big 5 or some such store - I got mine for $15, incl taxes; they are as good as the $75 Mizunos, imho
* Pay for one or two races a year which focus on causes you care about - run the rest for free; you won't get the t-shirt, so what
* I haven't yet bought one of the moisture wicking t-shirts, but the cotton ones work fine for shorter runs
!wanda | Aug 2, 2007
You won't have to pay the $90 for race training ever again, right? You have contacts and know what to do now.
Ummm....
you got hosed. I just ran a mini-marathon and didn't buy anything. I'm overweight, didn't chaff, didn't buy gatorade. Didn't buy new shirts, socks or underwear.
Maybe just try being an actual runner before you dress the part.
Sarah | Aug 2, 2007
I second the suggestion you buy the powder and mix it yourself for sports drinks. I personally use about half the amount they suggest because I find them too sweet. You can also try cutting oj with water. My other advice is clothing related: Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Ross - choose your poison. These places often have amazing selections of good quality running clothes (wicking shirts, etc) and the prices top out around $15 or so. And lastly, it's an investment in yourself. If it keeps you running, its worth it.
Tracy | Aug 3, 2007
Though others sing the praises of vaseline and it is cheaper than bodyglide, I personally think bodyglide is worth the extra because it works a lot better, doesn't stick to my shorts (vaseline makes my shorts stick) and is easier and quicker to apply.
If you are a very efficient runner, you can buy cheap shoes, but if you overpronate and you're over 30 you are liable to seriously injure yourself and months of physical therapy (best scenario) or surgery (worst case) is a LOT more expensive than good shoes.
Allie | Aug 3, 2007
Normally I just lurk, but you touched upon one of my all-time favorite topics today--running!! :o)
You could have gotten out cheaper, but I don't think you got hosed.
1) With food/bev, you have to experiment to find out what works FOR YOU. Everyone's body is different (running brings that out like no freaking other), and I've found that what works for me and my iron stomach really does not work for my friends (in a big way).
2) No shame in getting yourself fitted for shoes (and $75 is cheap!). Spending the money on good ones sure beats spending it on knee surgery. That said, shoe manufacturers are always coming out with "better" versions of their shoes, so when you find a particular make and model that fits you and you like, wait until the 2.0 version of it comes out, and snap up the original online at a discount (e-bay's good for that, but the standard disclaimer applies).
3) Good call with the training as a beginner--learning proper running technique can help fend-off injury. Also try runnersworld.com. it's an excellent resource. And it's free.
4) I second the suggestion to get the tech shirts in conjunction with races. In fact, I personally see tech gear as "wants" instead of "needs", so all of my wicking shirts are from races. I got my cold-weather gear on e-bay for a fraction of the price (again with the standard e-bay disclaimer), but I use running gear to reward myself for completing a race, which helps me keep it in moderation--and prevents me from buying a ton of gear for something that ends up being a fad.
Good luck with your race, btw!
maryann | Aug 6, 2007
I think $500 for your main hobby/freetime activity isn't that expensive any way you slice it. Don't get so caught up in finances that you forget to enjoy life. Besides, this particular hobby has many additional health benefits that will pay off in ways we can only imagine many years down the road.
maria | Aug 7, 2007
wow - that's a lot of money. Many previous posters have made great suggestions.
I agree chocolate milk is great recovery drink. I recently heard about this & tried it - unfortunately, I had also bought a canister of sports mix (a lot cheaper than buying ready-to-go) and found milk to be way better.
Never had the nipple pain (I suppose a sports bra for us women prevents that), but I'd think standard ol' band-aids would be cheaper.
As for BodyGlide - I tried it once - a waste of $10. Not only does it smell bad, I didn't find it's benefits to be all that great. Never tried Vaseline, but unscented deodorant (solid) does the same & is way cheaper.
Good Luck with the 1/2 marathon.
Hannah | Aug 8, 2007
Try looking at: http://www.roadcycler.com/2006/08/screw-gatorade-make-your-own-sports-drink/ for various recipes for do it yourself sports drinks.
I think it's a worthwhile investment :) I went through a similar thing -- I started playing tennis again this summer after years away from it, and promptly blew through about $400 in permit costs ($100 for the season to play on NYC courts), racket restringing and gripe tape, shoes & shorts, balls and so on. but, exercise! I figure it's worth the cash.
Fitz | Sep 8, 2007
Wow...someone suggesting that you run 1-2 races with causes you care about and run the rest for free. What a conflict in integrity and character. As a runner and former race director, you running as a "bandit" is not "free." You are stealing because of the enormous costs associated with putting on a race. If you want to run for free...run in the park, but don't steal from what has costs to (1) your integrity and (2) the race directors and their tireless efforts.
val | Sep 26, 2007
If something makes you happy and healthy(volleyball in my case), don't feel guilty. You've identified from the comments ways to reduce expenses from now on and can go from here. I dabble in many sports, but play volleyball at a competative level, so leagues/travel/equipment costs money. The friends that I met when I moved to a new city through volleyball are still my closest friends. I probably pay over $500 a year to play, but it makes me happy.
G.Twilley | Aug 1, 2007
Dunno if it's too late to inform, but I usually use simple bandages as nip guards. They may be cheaper - especially if you purchase them in bulk.
Some use vaseline instead of body glide.
I also find that compression shorts work well to fight the chaff too...
Reply to this comment