Running: Your High Fitness/Low Finance Workout!

It's a common problem these days: can’t afford a gym membership - but also can’t afford to give up on physical fitness! Your solution may be right outside your front door. Whether you enjoy working out alone or meeting new people, jogging is an excellent and cheap way to get in shape, relieve stress, and enjoy the outdoors.

When I joined the cross-country team back in high school, I remember my dad saying, “Unlike other sports you play, running is something you will have your whole life. It’s inexpensive, you can do it anywhere, and it’s one of the best ways to keep in shape." Though back then I wasn’t as concerned with the financial aspects of running, I am now well aware of how Fabulous & Frugal it actually is!

Run For Your Life
A consistent running program can help you strengthen your heart, reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol and improve your immune system. Like other weight bearing exercises, running also helps to increase bone density, thus reducing your risk for osteoporosis. All that and no fancy gym membership needed – just the cost of a pair of running shoes!

If The Shoe Fits…
Getting a good pair of running shoes is the most important investment to make in this otherwise expense-free workout. Take it from someone who's been there. The right shoes are key to avoiding back pain, a pulled muscle, and a broken ankle! They also keep you properly aligned. There are specialty stores in every city where an expert watches the way you run in different shoes and fits you accordingly. Once you know the brand that works for your style of running, you can buy them at a discount online.

*The experts at Jack Rabbit running store in New York City say it is important to get new shoes about every 400 miles. That's a lot of mileage for a $60 to $100 investment!

Fab & Fru Tip: Don’t automatically throw away your running shoes at the 400 mile mark. Just because your sneaks may be too worn out to run the distance, doesn’t mean that you can’t use them at the gym or for walking…

Getting Going
Don’t worry: You don’t need to hire a pricey personal trainer to get you going! Runners World 8 Week Beginner Program is a fabulous resource to help get your workout up to speed, as is Bob Glover’s Runner’s Handbook.

When you’re starting with a running program, the run/walk is the way to build your stamina. Whether you can run for 1 minute at a time or 5 minutes - start with what you can do and then walk for an equal period of time. Alternate by running and walking and soon you won’t be walking at all!

The Recession Run
The good news is that just because you are out of money doesn’t mean you have to be out of shape! No gym membership? No big deal. Let’s say you buy one new pair of running shoes a year – that breaks down to between $5 and $10 a month – versus hundreds of dollars a month that gym memberships can cost. That’s why running continues to be one of our Fab & Fru faves – a lot of physical gain with very little financial pain!