The most expensive free sport out there

I have often described running as the most expensive free sport. It's truly astonishing just how much money I spend on sneakers and insoles, clothing, Shot Bloks (rather than the gels most people use), not to mention the cost of race entries, travel, and transportation.

It just hit home with an e-mail that I just got from RoadRunner Sports (where I buy my gear). I'm a VIP member, which enables me to save 10% on my purchases and 10% "cash back" (really credit on future purchases), and a 90-day window that I can try out my sneakers and return them for full refund if needed, regardless of how much I might have run in them in that time. The e-mail listed how much I have saved since becoming a member 10 years ago... $3,489.18. Wow. That's how much my savings on their prices. (It includes occasional extra sales.) That fast math on just how much I spent, mostly on sneakers and insoles, is truly amazing. Oy!

Different strokes for different folks

Today was the first day that I decided to go into the pool outside at the gym. I generally like doing so after baking/roasting (?) for about an hour. It's a good way to cool down and get one last activity in. However, "like" is not really the right word, as I find swimming to be IMMENSELY boring. Good lord. 

That got me thinking about the differences between myself and one of my friends. Needless to say, I like running. (Pretty self-evident, given the blog and its title, don't ya' think?) I like it enough that I decided to become a Marathon Maniac and have achieved lots of goals. However, one of my friends often states, when talking about any runs that she does, that she "wants to die." While she does have a goal one day to complete the Marine Corps Marathon, she'll need to get past that reaction to running.

Despite that, though, she is huge into swimming. So much so that she is going to be doing a "marathon swim" this summer -- swimming across Lake Erie, from the Canadian side to the U.S. (near Buffalo). Damn! I can't fathom swimming for even half an hour (about 15 minutes is as much as I can tolerate), let alone the amount of time it will take to swim 12 miles. While she has a time limit of 12 hours (I think), her goal? 6-7 hours. Rather amazing, if you ask me. 

GWR application changed

Last week, I received approval to attempt the GWR for fastest marathon dressed in full soccer kit. Only once I received that approval did I receive the full details for the requirements. (Why they don't have the requirements for already-established records readily found is beyond me.) While most of the requirement is totally manageable (shirt, shorts, shin pads), the one part that is a deal-breaker for me (since I don't want to injure myself) is the need for fully studded "boots," a.k.a. cleats. No "turf shoes" or regular sneakers allowed. Wearing those and running on the streets of Sydney would be quite painful. So, I've canceled that application.

I've submitted one last application, based on photos that I've seen of the current record-holder: fastest marathon dressed in a graduation gown. The graduation gown looks like it can be unzipped and only go down to one's knees. Presumably the mortarboard is required to be worn. One thing that was unclear was whether a button-down shirt, tie, and/or slacks were required. But it was quite clear from the photo that sneakers were permitted, so the rest of the outfit should be acceptable regardless.