Just throw on some shoes

"Running is a great activity, it’s cheap and all you need is to just throw on some shoes and get out the door.  You can do it anywhere, anytime.”

Am I missing something?  I chuckle when I hear folks say this. 

Cost of running:

You can’t just use any shoes.  Proper running shoes for me cost about $160.  They last about 500 km, so I go through about 3 pairs of shoes a year.  Add in the superfeet insoles for support at $35 a pair.  Now you don’t want to wear cotton socks, you’ll need to get some moisture wicking socks to keep your feet dry, which can cost about $10 or more a pair.  You’ll go through a lot of socks too.

Next you’ll want special moisture wicking running shorts for summer, a few pairs of long tights in winter, long sleeve shirts, short sleeve shirts, jackets, running vest, tank tops, hat, gloves, balaclava, ear muffs, ear bands, nice sunglasses for sunny days with clear interchangeable lens for cloudy and dark days and nights, reflective vest, lights so car drivers can see you.  Oo, and a watch.  Gotta get a watch that can track: time of day, time spent running, time spent stopped, distance, pace, overall pace, heart rate, time and HR zones with alarms that go off when you’re outside set zones.  Basically a watch that can measure every conceivable thing you can think of.  Got mine for decent price of $150.

It’s nice to listen to music while running, mostly just to drown out the sound of being chased by a bear.  It’s actually not a bear, but your own heavy breathing.  Ipod or mp3 players cost anywhere from $50 and up.

You’ll probably want to join a running group, as it’s motivating to run with others, plus it’s a fun social event.  They also teach you neat stuff like how to run.  Yearly fees are about $200/person.

After a while you get a crazy notion to do a race.  Race fees range anywhere from about $40 – hundreds of $.  If you do a few races a year, it can get expensive. 

Once you’re running longer distances you’ll need to pack a gel or 2, 3, 4.  They can be add up too, needing to consume one every 7 k or so.  Add in a water belt to stay hydrated, eload to drink.  After running longer distances you’ll now get achy and sore.  Time for a trip to the chiropractor and massage therapist.  Now you’re spending $ on foam rollers, ice packs, trigger point set, and other various devices to make you feel better.  Wait, I thought running was supposed to make you feel better?

Time spent running: 

Just throw on some shoes they say.  Here is my routine for long runs on Saturday mornings.  Wake up 6 am.  Eat oatmeal, pack gels/bars, water belt, water, post run water, post run protein shake, post run food, yoga matt for post run stretching, stretching band.  Next sit on toilet, because you definitely don’t want to experience the runner’s trots if you can avoid it.  Now it’s time to get dressed.  Strap on HR monitor, body glide your entire nether region, underarms, and basically any part that rubs against another part, including nipples as these rub against the shirt. (forgot: body glide is about $18).  On with the shorts, shirt, hat, socks, shoes, watch, mp3 player (making sure the headphone cord is not flopping around), sunglasses.  If you’re crazy enough to run in winter you get to also wear gloves, hat, balaclava, tights, thicker socks, yak-trax, chap stick, jacket/vest, reflective vest, led lights so cars can see you.  In winter it takes longer to get dressed to run, than time spent actually running.  Going out for just a 5k run in winter is so not worth the effort of getting dressed. 

NOW we put on the shoes, which of course are laced up special to avoid pressure points on the top of the foot, so it takes a while to get them snug.  This is after inspecting the inside of the shoes for any foreign objects that might cause you grief.

Now can we start to run?  Nope.  Time to drive to the location you’re going to run at.  Drop off your bag of stuff for post run activities and stretch for 15 minutes, get instructions on the day’s route and off you go.  Don’t forget to put on that water belt.  Wait, my watch hasn’t synched up with the satellites yet.  Ok, time to run.  But stop at 1 km to do even more stretching.  Did my mp3 player battery just die?  Oh crap, now I have to listen to that bear chasing me for 10+ km.

After the run is done you're guzzling copious amount of water, consume protein shake, eat post run snack, change wet clothes, stretch and complain some more.  Yak with friends for a while and then drive home.  Once at home, time for an ice bath.  And if you thought we were crazy running in the winter and snow.  Now you get to sit in a bath full of ice water for 20 minutes.  Follow this up with a hot shower and eat some more (because now it's lunch time) while trying to warm up for the rest of the day.

So where is that carefree part about “just throw on some shoes and away you go?”  Because that sounds like fun.