Invest in Yourself

-or, “my justification for splurging on great gear”
-alternately “lesson learned from my amazing mom”

As soon as the last of the snow melts, the river ice breaks up and start flowing, and the dog yard’s spring mud dries up it is officially summer in Alaska. And in summer in Alaska I run. Not to be confused with winter in Alaska, when I also run. Winter is done with dogs and a sled, summer with just me and sneakers.

I am not a great runner by any stretch of the imagination. As a matter of fact real athletes might scoff at my use of the word “running” when discussing what I do. But come summer I am out there doing it, and reaping all the health benefits and race t-shirts that come with it. I am really quite lucky that Fairbanks has the most fun running community. The Running Club North has a fantastic summer season of events that welcome people at all levels to come out and take part. This will be my 4^th year, and I plan on running all the races in the Flint Hills Series, trying to earn the honor of being one of the people who finish all 8 races and get the special series finishers shirt at the year end potluck.

When I was getting started the enthusiasm of the local running community really made events more fun, and people were generous with encouragement. I never thought I would like running as much as it turns out I do. And I suspect the social aspect and fun of the events helps. Along with getting to see all my running friends there are the t-shirts. T-shirts that proudly announce for the world “I finished *totally cool race here*” Based on promises of shirts, fun, and post race munchies I have even successfully talked friends into joining me in committing to a summer fitness goal of finishing all 8 races. It is a great goal because it is both giant and attainable. The series includes along with shorter races, a half marathon, 16 mile race, and finishes with the Equinox Marathon, on of the toughest marathons North America! But all are open to runners and walkers of every level, and are excellent fun events. You do not have to set the world on fire; but you do have to commit and work and make yourself show up, do your best, and finish every one.

Now finally we are getting to the gear part….

When you set a goal, you are making a choice to invest in yourself. You are saying I AM, I CAN, I WILL. Celebrate that. Take the investment one step farther. Splurge and get yourself a piece of new gear as you start toward a new goal. Too often we wait until we have ‘proven’ we are ‘worthy’ of owning the expensive *fill in the blank for your sport here* clothing. Oh I can’t buy high end running shoes, I am not really a runner. You are only cheating yourself with this attitude. Now let me clarify I am not saying you need to go out and invest tons of $$$ just to get started with a new sport or fitness pursuit. (you don’t)  Nor should price be your sole criteria for quality. (it isn’t) And I am not deluding you that money and fancy clothing will make you something your not. (it won’t) This IS my plea that you make an investment of one good quality specifically designed piece of clothing/gear for yourself when you begin a commitment to a new goal. I came to this idea personally and by accident when I began running. My mom, in a wonderful show if support for me new endeavor went online and searched a bit till she found a company called CW-X that makes compression tights. These fancy running tights have special panels to help hold you snugly together. The swaths of fabric making these panels wrap around your legs in a way that vaguely resembled a super hero costume. I was hardly worthy of a pair of ultra fancy running tights, I thought… Or was I? They did feel incredibly comfortable to run in, moved with me. And when I put them on I just felt like I should be running. I would have never thought to get them for myself just starting out, because I did not feel I was a runner yet. My mom saw what I was capable of and that is much better way to see when tackling new challenges. Thank you Mom.

Finishing the Equinox Marathon for the first time in 2008, with the super hero tights.

And so I developed my theory, and now justify my annual fitness related ‘investment in myself’ gear purchase 2 major ways:

There is a reason that good gear made with technical fabrics specifically tailored to an activity or climate is pricey. Quality costs, but is almost always worth it. Don’t believe me, bike for an hour in the rain in a cheap rubber rain coat, or drug store parka. Run for miles in cheap tennis shoes. Yeah it can be done. But then try the same thing in gear made for it, that fits you well, breaths, moves comfortably, it just works better. Those running shoes, companies spend gazillions in research and development to make sure they do what you need to run better / more comfortably. Lets face it, if your more comfortable you more likely to enjoy yourself do run longer or more often. Great gear can be found at thrift shops and gear swaps, and that is a way to grow your wardrobe too.  But if you are getting started, either a new sport or new season, go ahead and treat yourself to something you need to make it a better experience.

Second, there is only so long that you can look at a pair of $100 running tights in your closet and not put them on and go running to justify owning them. To put that a little more eloquently:

Fake it till you make it. Believing it the first step to becomming.

Whatever you do enjoy it; have fun out there this summer.

And if you want to join me:

Running Club North Flint Hills Series

CW-X clothing