I'm certain I've
blogged about this before, and possibly recently, but here's a reminder in any
case: Thirty years ago, distance running wasn't glamorous, it wasn't popular,
it wasn't pretty, it couldn't get you social media followers, and it was only
something that a relatively small number of people did.
The origins of the
sport are in somewhat eccentric people who, for whatever reason, like to move
as far and as fast and as much as possible. The old guys who created the sport
of modern distance running started out in the 1960s and early 70s with nothing
in the way of real "running gear." They wore whatever shirts and
shoes they could find. When it got cold outside, they put on a sweatsuit. Not
"joggers," not "tights," not spandex or dry-wicking
material. Plain old grey cotton sweatsuits like you get at Walmart for ten
bucks. Interestingly enough, this was one of the fastest periods in American
distance running. Over time, more people have flocked to the sport, but those
people have not really been faster, there have simply been more of them.
With increasing
popular interest in distance running, there has been a corresponding increase
in the supply of peripheral running merchandise. Some of this has been great:
specially designed running-specific shoes have been an incalculable benefit.
Dry-wicking materials and clothing tailored to a runner's specific needs have
been less beneficial, but still important, especially if you live in a place
that experiences climactic extremes. I can't imagine that running in Hawaii is
very much fun in plain cotton clothing; nor would it be possible to run in the
Canadian winter without special cold-weather running gear.
Still, there is a
big difference between what is available
and what is necessary. When I lived in
Canada, I had to laugh at all the expensive crap people wore while running. The
simple fact of the matter is that when it is cold and dry outside, a plain
cotton Walmart sweatsuit is perfectly adequate for winter running. Even in the
Texas summer heat, a cotton tank top and a loose-fitting pair of shorts will
get you through your workout. And while I'm a fan of my $120 running shoes, I
also discovered that I can be happy in a $20 pair of Payless running shoes,
too.
It's fun to spend
money on fancy running luxuries, but you don't need them to enjoy running.
Running is a simple sport that is financially accessible to everyone. Let's
compare me, a middle-class running enthusiast, to someone looking to get into
running at the lowest possible expense.
Ryan's Running Gear:
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus running shoes: $110
- Puma athletic socks for running: $15 per 8-pack, or $1.88/pair
- Nike running shorts: $25
- Dry-wicking athletic shirt: free with $35 10K entry fee
- Adidas running hat: $10 on clearance at Costco
- Garmin Forerunner 645 running watch: $350
- Garmin chest strap heart rate monitor: $60
- Nike running jacket for cold weather conditions: $80
My total expense for running: $685. This is
cheap, compared to skiing, golfing, or cycling, but it's easy to see how a
low-income kid would have a hard time affording this stuff. So let's take a
look and see how cheaply such a kid could get into running.
Running on a Budget:
- Champion power-knit runner: $35
- Puma athletic socks for running: $15 per 8-pack or $1.88/pair (same socks!)
- Athletic shorts: Real Essentials athletic shorts: $33 per 5-pack, or $6.60/pair
- Athletic shirts: 5-pack dry-wicking athletic shirts from Amazon: $30, or $6/shirt
- Marathon by Timex digital watch with chronograph: $15
- Hanes Ecosmart sweatshirt for cold weather conditions: $10
Total required expense for running: $88. True,
a very low-income kid might have to save up in order to afford $88 worth of
running gear, but we're talking about a few weeks of savings, not something
completely out-of-reach. An enterprising young person could think of ways to
earn $88 in a single day, by taking on a little extra work one weekend.
Here's the important
part: There is no diminished "running experience" if you go the
budget route versus the fancy luxury gear route. It's not as if rich people
have more fun running in their $80 jackets as compared to people running in $10
sweatshirts. You can be just as fast and have just as much fun while spending
$600 less on running gear.
True, GPS running
watches bring a lot of fun to the table. I won't deny it. But I say that after
having run for twenty years without any such contraption. A chronograph is the
only absolutely necessary thing, and a repeating countdown timer is a little better
- but both of those things are available in the $15 watch and the $350 watch
alike. If you run with a group of friends, you'll get your "social media
fix" without having to get involved with Strava or Garmin Connect or any
other GPS-based social medium.
I think it's
important for people to understand that running does not have to be -- nor
really should it be -- a rich person's
status sport. Running is as fundamental, as accessible-to-anyone, as virtually
any other sport. Anyone can do it. Anyone should
do it. It's incredibly fun. Please don't let the supposed high cost frighten
you away.
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