‘Exercise’ Articles at Sweetnicks

I do believe that doing a color-based 5k might be the most amount of fun that anyone can possibly have. Last year, I did my first Color Run, and did it with a group of girlfriends.

Aside from the snail’s pace trek through Chinatown on the way home, it was a blast and a half.

Since I didn’t have the kids that weekend, they weren’t able to do it with me, but I promised them we would find another one and do it together.

And we did.

This weekend’s 5K was the Color Me Rad, which is pretty similar to the Color Run. A portion of the proceeds from this particular 5K are donated to the Ronald McDonald House, which, of course, is awesome.

A few days before the race, we headed down to the appointed check-in spot to pick up our registration packages and swag.

Because when there is color and neon involved, how could you miss the fun swag? Our registration came with a pair of sunglasses, a tattoo, and a blue t-shirt (not meant for the actual day of the event, since you’re supposed to wear a white t). As soon as the kids saw the fun swag tent and the volunteers in their neon and tutu and anything goes attitude, they got a serious peek at the fun that was in store.

I was dreading the early morning wake up call on Sunday, and managed to only eek out 4 hours of sleep the night before. I quickly got ready, woke up the kids, and we started applying tattoos.

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When it comes to working out, it can get expensive. Gym memberships, fancy equipment, and all those new, fun work-out clothes and colorful sneakers don’t come cheap.

For sure.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

How about some tips on how to do it without breaking the bank?

1 – Get outside and walk. Yes, that’s it. When I worked out with a personal trainer years ago, that is all he wanted me to do for the first month. One hour a day. Five days a week. Walking. Of course when I went with him, there were far more hills involved than when I chose the routes myself. But really, it *is* that simple. And free. And, man, was it ever effective.

2 – Weather is not always conducive to walking, for sure. Back in December, the kids and I embarked upon a #mileaday challenge, walking often to the grocery store and downtown to not only get our walk in, but to also spend time together, save on gas, and just generally feel good. But when the temps dipped to the low teens, I didn’t want to subject them to that. Take to your stairs inside your house. Up and down and up and down and up and down again.

3 – Groupon and LivingSocial are your friends. And they surely are mine. Outside of exercise, they have exposed us to a ton of new stuff, and I love that, but keeping on our topic, they are awesome for deals on gym memberships, personal training sessions, kick boxing studios, and the like. I got a six-month gym membership for $95 recently, instead of their regular $320 price tag. If you’re not already signed up for the e-mail list for your area for Groupon and LivingSocial, get on it.

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Do: Color Me Rad 5K {Summer Bucket List}

Exercising for Free or on the Cheap {Eat.Live.Be.}