04 Jun 2022 fitness money
Over the past few years, I’ve started doing triathons. It started with just running, but before long I was buying a bike and learning how to swim properly. It’s fun to keep pushing yourself.
In the back of my head, I always knew it was an expensive sport - cycling in particular - but I never bothered to tally everything up. Until now, that is.
A few notes:
| No. | Item | One-time cost | Annual cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swimsuit | $10.00 | ||
| 2 | Goggles | $10.00 | ||
| 3 | Backup goggles | $15.00 | ||
| 4 | Swim cap | $10.00 | ||
| 5 | Baby shampoo | $5.00 | Prevents goggle fog | |
| 6 | Swim buoy | $20.00 | For open water swimming | |
| 7 | Wetsuit | $240.00 | For open water swimming | |
| 8 | Swim hood | $50.00 | For when it's really cold | |
| 9 | Swim socks | $30.00 | For when it's really cold | |
| 10 | Headphones | $160.00 | ||
| 11 | Swim snorkle | $30.00 | ||
| 12 | Pool membership | $100.00 | $1000.00 | Cost varies widely between town park, YMCA, etc. |
| Total | $680.00 | $1000.00 |
| No. | Item | One-time cost | Annual cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bike | $600.00 | ||
| 2 | Helmet | $60.00 | ||
| 3 | Shorts (x2) | $80.00 | Padded shorts are a must | |
| 4 | Sunglasses | $25.00 | ||
| 5 | Water bottle (x2) | $20.00 | ||
| 6 | Water bottle cage (x2) | $16.00 | ||
| 7 | Floor pump | $35.00 | ||
| 8 | Portable pump | $20.00 | ||
| 9 | Clipless pedals | $80.00 | "Clipless" pedals have clips | |
| 10 | Cycling shoes | $200.00 | ||
| 11 | Replacement cleats (x2) | $50.00 | ||
| 12 | Saddle bag | $15.00 | ||
| 13 | Tire levers | $10.00 | ||
| 14 | Replacement tube (x3) | $30.00 | ||
| 15 | Frame Bag | $21.00 | For bike touring | |
| 16 | Bike rack | $36.00 | For bike touring | |
| 17 | Panniers | $90.00 | For bike touring | |
| 18 | Aerobars | $80.00 | ||
| 19 | Gloves | $15.00 | ||
| 20 | Phone mount | $10.00 | ||
| 21 | Smart trainer | $1300.00 | For indoor training | |
| 22 | Cassette | $35.00 | For smart trainer | |
| 23 | Trainer mat | $60.00 | For indoor training | |
| 24 | Wheel block | $10.00 | For indoor training | |
| 25 | Circular fan | $30.00 | For indoor training | |
| 26 | AirTag mount | $13.00 | ||
| 27 | Toe covers | $20.00 | ||
| 28 | Skull cap | $9.00 | ||
| 29 | Arm sleeves | $5.00 | ||
| 30 | Warm jacket | $40.00 | ||
| 31 | Warm gloves | $15.00 | ||
| 32 | New water bottles | $20.00 | With a better squeeze cap | |
| 33 | New sunglasses | $30.00 | Gotta look the part | |
| 34 | Zwift membership | $198.00 | For indoor training | |
| 35 | Annual tune up | $120.00 | ||
| Total | $3080.00 | $318.00 |
| No. | Item | One-time cost | Annual cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sneakers | $200.00 | Roughly two pairs per year | |
| 2 | Socks | $60.00 | I go through a lot of socks | |
| 3 | Shorts (x2) | $30.00 | ||
| 4 | Headphones | $140.00 | ||
| 5 | Headbands | $15.00 | ||
| 6 | Chews | $70.00 | Nutrition | |
| 7 | Gels | $60.00 | Nutrition | |
| 8 | Electrolyte tablets | $16.00 | Nutrition | |
| 9 | Treadmill | $900.00 | For indoor training | |
| 10 | Treamill mat | $65.00 | For indoor training | |
| 11 | Compression shorts (x3) | $25.00 | To prevent my phone from bouncing around in my pocket | |
| 12 | More running shorts (x2) | $38.00 | ||
| 13 | Headlamp | $80.00 | For running at night and spelunking | |
| 14 | New running shoes | $180.00 | These things are a cheat code | |
| 15 | Elastic laces | $10.00 | Totally worth the money | |
| Total | $1483.00 | $406.00 |
| No. | Item | One-time cost | Annual cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fitness watch | $380.00 | ||
| 2 | USAT Membership | $50.00 | Required by most races | |
| 3 | Race fees | $2000.00 | ||
| 4 | Race belt | $10.00 | ||
| 5 | Triathlon suit | $175.00 | ||
| 6 | Transition mat | $35.00 | ||
| 7 | Heart rate monitor | $120.00 | ||
| 8 | Race bag | $80.00 | A lot nicer than a laundry bag | |
| 9 | Training bible | $15.00 | ||
| 10 | Training diary | $10.00 | ||
| 11 | IRONMAN Training Plan | $110.00 | ||
| 12 | Gallon water bottle | $100.00 | For hydration throughout the day | |
| 13 | Massage gun | $100.00 | For recovery | |
| 14 | Foam rollers | $40.00 | For recovery | |
| 15 | Cool hat(s) | $40.00 | At David's recommendation | |
| Total | $1215.00 | $2050.00 |
| Category | One-time costs | Annual costs |
|---|---|---|
| Swim | $680.00 | $1000.00 |
| Bike | $3080.00 | $318.00 |
| Run | $1483.00 | $406.00 |
| Other | $1215.00 | $2050.00 |
| Total | $6458.00 | $3774.00 |