Happy Tax Day! While we find this day to be one of the most stressful overall days of the year with last minute decisions and actions, the team made a commitment this year to make sure we managed our stress with healthy behaviors like exercise and eating right. What does this have to do with finances? Read below as Financial Planner Kerrie Beene shares her experience on this journey. We also want to wish all of the Boston Marathon runners the best of luck today!!
The Boston Marathon and Money
By Financial Planner Kerrie Beene
Rooted Planning Group
April 15th is Tax Day but even more exciting than that, it is Boston Marathon Day. A marathon is 26.2 Miles. There are around 570 marathons held each year in the United States. Around 24% of runners have run a marathon, which accounts for 0.5% of the U.S. population.
The Boston Marathon is one of the World Marathon Majors - these are the top six annual marathons run in major cities around the globe. The other five are held in New York City, Chicago, Berlin, London, and Tokyo.
The first Boston Marathon was ran in 1897. It is always held on the 3rd Monday in April, also Patriot’s Day. The day is a state holiday in Massachusetts and Maine and all local offices and schools are closed.
Every year since 1903, the Boston Red Sox, play a game the morning of the marathon. After the game, spectators head to Kenmore Square and cheer on the runners. There are other fun traditions held each year, such as, the scream tunnel and Greek inspired wreaths for winners. Unfortunately, in 2013, was the Boston Marathon bombing where explosives killed three people and injured hundreds.
The Boston Marathon attracts around 500,000 spectators each year to watch the 30,000 qualifying runners. The Boston Marathon has a serious registration process that begins in September the year before you would like to race.
To begin the registration process you have to be 18 years old and already ran a marathon with the International Association of Athletics Association within the last 18 months. Eighty percent of entries are reserved for the fastest qualifying times. Unfortunately, even if you qualify that does not mean you will get to run. For the 2019 race, more than 7,000 entries were not accepted.
Example of Qualifying Standard:
40 Year Old Male - Qualifying Time - 3 Hours and 10 Minutes (Under 8 minutes per mile)
40 Year Old Female - Qualifying Time - 3 Hours and 40 Minutes (Under 9 minutes per mile)
20 Year Old Male - Qualifying Time - 3 Hours (Under 7 minutes per mile)
20 Year Old Female - Qualifying Time - 3 Hours and 30 Minutes (Around 8 minutes per mile)
Male and Female Winners of the Boston Marathon receive:
$150,000 for 1st Place
$75,000 for 2nd Place
$40,000 for 3rd Place
Reading about the history of the marathon and the associated facts is fun. However, I do not foresee myself running a marathon anytime soon.
Most people, including myself, jump on and off the exercise bandwagon many times throughout our adult lives. I have been exercising for a while now and see myself continuing. I have created a habit and enjoy the endorphins. I do it for my health and so should everyone, but could it also make us wealthier?
The answer is yes! Some of the answer comes from personal experience and some of it comes from facts. My experience has taught me that when I do one positive activity, it encourages me to do another positive activity. For example, I notice when I exercise I am naturally attracted to healthier foods and vice versa. When I do not exercise, I warm up a honey bun after dinner and then binge watch Netflix. Well, I watch Netflix regardless, but I feel less guilty if I am not eating a honey bun. The other thing that I have noticed is that when I exercise, my house is cleaner and I don’t mind cooking at home. On the days I exercise, my endorphins keep me moving and I come home and am in the mood to get to cooking or even pickup my house and then cook. I also look forward to doing things outside, like yard work and cleaning outside. While, this is not formal research, it is real and I see the results.
More formal research shows that one cost saving advantage of exercising is our medical bills. We all know the multiple health reasons to exercise but The Lancet states that, just walking 150 minutes per week will result in $2,500 less per year on Healthcare.
The FI Introvert website shows other ways fitness can also save you money by simply eliminating one behavior for a healthier, more enjoyable behavior:
Walking and biking rather than driving saves on car maintenance and gas
Hiking and taking in nature’s scenery rather than scenes from a movie saves on sedentary entertainment expenses
Buying fruits, vegetables, and unprocessed meat rather than expensive and nutritionally weak processed meals saves on food costs
Drinking water is less expensive than sugary soda and other drinks
Going out and playing sports saves money on mindless cable TV consumption
Save on alcohol and cigarettes by not wanting to negate the gains from your investment in your health
So, at the end of the day, maybe the Boston Marathon is not on your bucket list, but exercising should become a daily habit…. It will make you healthier and wealthier.
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