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It's affordable and challenging, yet achievable.
"I love that it's a nondiscriminatory sport," said Rossi, 37, who ran her fourth marathon last month near Scranton, finishing in 3:46.
"I love that it's 70-year-old men or 200-plus-pound women who can do it."
With a solid 16- to 20-week training plan and some hard work, runners with as little as a year's experience running can cover the 26.2-mile distance, said Rossi, who lives in Springettsbury Township.
"I tell people you only have to begin running by assuming you can run for a minute," she said. "If you train for a year, it can happen. You can turn it into 26
So, what's it cost to run a marathon? Our experienced runners added up more than $675, depending on travel costs.
Clay Shaw, who at 57 has completed 158 marathons, spent $1,100 for his flight and hotel to get to the Mexico City Marathon in August.
But it was only $64 to enter the Erie Marathon a week before the Sept. 14 event. The Manchester Township resident combined the race travel with a trip to visit family in Pittsburgh.
Jody Reed, a veteran of 23 marathons including last month's in Chicago, said she often plans her travel schedule for work and vacation around race days.
Adding a leg to a weekend trip to accommodate a race usually costs her an additional $100 or less. She also recommends sharing a hotel room or staying only one night to cut costs.
Often, the organizers of larger marathons negotiate hotel discounts for race participants.
Nearby marathons that wouldn't require an overnight stay include Harrisburg (today), Baltimore (usually in mid-October) and Philadelphia (Nov. 23). Just make sure you can pick up your race-
information packet on the morning of the race, Reed said.
Registration fees vary from event to event -- anywhere from $60 to
Veterans recommend checking to see what's included in the registration fee. Some larger races will only include a technical race shirt, while smaller races may include meal tickets, bus transport to the starting line and a variety of goodies.
Finishers of the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco receive a Tiffany & Co. necklace. The course includes the Chocolate Mile -- a mile of chocolate goodies from Ghirardelli -- and a pedi-care station at the finish.
Once they invest in the initial gear, the greatest expense for marathoners is often replacing their shoes after 300 to 350 miles of wear.
When Rossi finds a pair she loves, she might buy two at $100 a pop because there's no guarantee the price won't go up before she runs through the first pair.
"When you find a sneaker you love -- even if it's not the most inexpensive -- you will actually save money if you get two of them," she said.
Like many runners, Sheri Bullock, 29, of Manchester Township won't run in cotton-fabric clothes because of the chafing it causes and the sweat it collects.
Moisture-wicking fabrics pull dampness away from the skin and dry more quickly than cotton. Bullock, 29, recommends the brand C9 by Champion, which is sold at Target stores and costs less than Under Armour, Nike or Asics products, she said.
Running-specific clothing is preferred by many runners because it is made of higher-quality fabrics that feel lightweight, dry quickly and keep their shape after hundreds of miles of wear.
Some running shorts also have pockets for the storage of energy gel packs and a liner or brief made of odor-control fabric.
"If you buy this stuff at the marathon expos, they're actually cheaper," Rossi said.
"Also, watch the tent sales at Flying Feet and the clearance rack at Dick's (Sporting Goods). The comfort does make the difference."
771-2024; mburke@ydr.com
LEARN MORE
York Road Runners Club, www.yorkroadrunners.com
York Road Races, www.yorkroadraces.com
Flying Feet Sport Shoes, www.flyingfeet.com
GLOSSARY
Cross-train: Whether it's a swim, bike ride, gym workout, or exercise class, this is the day to do anything but run. Maintain an easy to moderate effort for these sessions.
Easy: This is a comfortable, conversational pace that's best for short, easy runs; long, slow runs; and warm-up and cool-down jogging -- almost all of the running you'll do while marathon training. During weekend long runs, beginners can take walk breaks.
Quality: This is harder running, performed over short distances with rest intervals of jogging or walking between. If you aren't breathing hard and leaving your comfort zone, you're not running hard enough.
Tempo: On these even-paced, moderately hard runs, the effort should be hard enough that conversation is somewhat difficult. Run hard, but in full control.
Warm-up and cooldown: Every tempo run and quality workout should begin with a warm-up jog of about 1.5 miles (or 15 minutes) and end with a cool-down jog of about one mile (or 10 minutes) -- longer if you need it.
The warm-up jog should begin at a very easy pace or a walk, and the cool-down jog should end that way.
Source: Runner's World
ABOUT THIS SERIES
"What's It Cost?" is an occasional series that looks closely at the price of things such as learning to fly a plane, putting your house on the market and publishing a book. So far we've learned what it costs to:
Scuba dive
Hire a private eye
Hire a college admissions consultant
Become a Civil War re-enactor
WHAT'S IT COST? $684 or more
ClothingRunning shorts ($30 to $40)
Moisture-wicking tops ($35 to $45)
Sports bras ($20 to $45)
Socks ($5 pair)
Hat ($15 to $20)
Footgear
Running shoes ($100)
Accessories
Sports watch ($20 or more)
Sunglasses ($20)
Hydration pack ($40 to $55)
Anti-chafing gel ($7 to $10)
Nutrition
Energy bar ($2 for weekly long run; total $32)
Energy gels ($3 per long run; total $48)
Energy drink ($2 per long run; total $32)
Race fees & travel
Early registration ($60 to $100)
Pre-race meal ($20 to $30)
Overnight stay ($150)
Gas for trip ($50 or more)
