Frugal Feet      

                

Okay, you’re asking yourself, why are running shoes so expensive these days?  First, you must define expensive, fifty, sixty, seventy,  or two hundred dollars.  The other part is what is your health worth, but more on that later

 

Let’s compare the price of shoes to a couple of different adult items.   If you smoke one pack of cigarettes from a tavern cigarette machine each day you are not only killing yourself but you’re spending $127.50 a month.  If we extend that out for the life of a technical running shoe you’ll spent $765.  Do you realize that is five and a half pairs of the most expensive shoes we have in the shop.  Okay, you don’t buy them in the bar; you get them at the convenience store and only pay $2.33 a pack when you buy three or more.  The monthly cost would be $69.90 and the life of the shoe cost would be $419.40.  Of course you know, that is three of the most expensive shoes in the shop or one pair of the most expensive shoes and tons of great new running clothes. 

 

Do you drive a vehicle?  Consider that one gallon of “regular” gasoline is about $2.95 (circa August 2005)and if you get 20 miles per gallon, and the trip from home to work and back is 20 miles you can make the trip for $2.95 in gas.  If you were to run from home to work and then back in a $90 running shoe it would only cost you about $3.60, you would be a lot heatlhier, and you would be doing something good for the environment. 

 

What if you drink two cans of pop from the area vending machine each day and let’s say your bill is $1.30.  Let’s say you cut your pop consumption in half.  Do you realize that you can buy a $110 pair of running shoes and pay for them with the price of that one pop you give up in six months and you’ll have money left over.  If you consume designer coffee during your work day you could buy a $90 pair with money left over if you have that coffee every other day and you won’t be as dehydrated. 

 

Do you eat candy?  Do you eat one candy bar a day?  Do you buy them out of the machine for 65 cents like the machine in “our” building or do you get them two for a dollar at the super market check out line?  In any event, if you trade in your candy bars for running shoes you’ll be doing a couple good things.  The environment will be healthier with the reduction in post candy wrapper waste and you will be healthier through the benefits of your running program and your wallet will be healthier since you’ll save some money, up to 21 cents a day.  Okay, you get the idea! 

 

There are small adjustments that you can make to your lifestyle along with a sensible running program that will make you stronger and may even help you save some money.  The money you save may not cover the house payment but it will add up.  Here’s a break down of the shoe prices and their cost per day over a six-month period:

 

            $75      $ .42

            $80      $ .44

            $85      $ .47

            $90      $ .50

            $95      $ .53

            $100    $ .56

            $110     $ .61

            $120    $ .67

            $140    $ .78

 

Of course it’s a matter of choices and how much you’re willing to do to be healthy.  One of our teacher athletes lost 78 lbs. with some changes in her life style and the addition of running to her daily routine.  Good luck in your challenge! 

Stretch well, run fast