Money, Money, Money

Since my last blog entry training has been going well, mileage has been increased to 50+ miles per week and by listening to my body I'm remaining injury free. Well, free from running injuries anyway. The cut on my head was due to a low flying ice cube and had nothing whatsoever to do with running. I would just like to thank Chelmsford St Johns Ambulance for sticking me back together so well and so quickly, it doesn't look as though I'm even going to have an interesting scar to make up a story about.

I don't know if its that I notice runners more now or if there has been an increase in their numbers but I'm sure there are more people out running than there were say ten years ago. Obviously as a runner I see this as a good thing. My theory on why this is (even assuming it is) is entirely formed in my head and I have absolutely no evidence to back it up. So if I'm honest its more of an uninformed opinion than a theory but anyway here it is. For many years people that wanted to get fit would sign up to a gym, pay an extortionate amount of money per month and get to exercise in an air conditioned room while watching TV. This is all good apart from the extortionate amount per month, and even that's OK if you can afford it. When the recession hit many people had to cut back on  unnecessary expense. A decent pair of running trainers can be had for less than two months membership of many gyms and if you've been exercising anyway you've probably got all the rest of the kit you need, so cancel the gym and go running! As I said I've no evidence for this but since 'Colin's theory of gym vs. running' is unlikely to be published in New Scientist I'm not too bothered.

So why am I suddenly interested in the cost of running? Well as a general way to keep fit its quite cheap. Running around the streets, parks and countryside is free and the only piece of equipment you need to spend money on is shoes, and even there once you know what sort you need there are bargains to be had on last years colours etc. - and then there's ultra-running...

This month, apart from buying new trainers, I've had to pay the second instalment of the MdS entry fee and I've entered the Druid Challenge and the Pilgrim Challenge - which may sound like the home and away fixtures of some sort of Pagans vs Christians game show but are actually a three day and a two day ultra marathon and a key part of my build-up to the MdS. My salary just passed through my bank account this month! I've also booked a couple of weeks in Fuerteventura later this year to do some dune training and some more challenging off road runs up the odd volcano. Add to that backpack, sleeping bag, GPS...

However, the cost of the MdS is high but if you really want to do it you can find a way. You have to sign up almost two years before the event so the cost is spread and you've got a couple of Christmases to drop heavy hints about exactly what kind of socks you'd like this year - and there are always bargains to be had if you shop around. The other ultra marathons aren't essential either although its a good way to meet your fellow nutters (MdS entrants). There are only two valid reasons for not doing the MdS. One is that you have a physical problem or injury which means a doctor would tell you not to do it. The second is you don't want to - this is not an event to enter half-heartedly. I think I'm healthy enough and I want to, when I'm in the desert I would probably kill for beans on toast so living on them for a month will do me no harm at all!