Here’s a good reason to start running, it saves you money.  Brilliant!  Add in some trail running and a website that is free to access that information and you’ve got value while building your wealth; what a combination!  You’ve heard someone say, “Well, at least he has his health.”  That’s because being sick is so expensive.  I came across an article yesterday about President Obama praising REI for their employee health care practices.  President Obama is so extreme.  He said:

Besides offering insurance to part-time workers, REI, according to a statement from the White House, “offers employees support for outdoor activities ranging from outdoor gear and apparel discounts, free rentals, and outdoor challenge grants.  REI employees can earn extra healthy lifestyle dollars to put toward the cost of coverage by engaging in specific “good behaviors,” such as getting regular aerobic exercise.  REI also supports personal health goals and provides equipment support, discounts, and time off so employees can achieve their goals.”

This is a great policy and I, like President Obama, applaud REI.  They understand the extra time off or discounts on equipment actually saves them money in the long-run because of the decrease in health care benefit costs.  Large American automobile manufacturers are learning this lesson the hard way right now with high health care costs to retired employees contributing to their bankruptcy.  Companies must encourage a healthy lifestyle now so their employees will live healthy later in life.  For the general population, look no further than Jazzercise to remain healthy in your later years.  Jazzercise could be the answer.  It’s combines the power of Jazz with benefits exercise!

REI is not the only company that encourages their employees to take better care of themselves, many organizations offer healthy meals and on site gyms in order to lower health care costs.  I am a big proponent of this.  Solve the issue before it becomes a problem.  It puts the ownership of caring for health back on the individual rather than relying on a program that incentivizes social loafing and well, loafing in general.  As a runner and an overall fit person I am not really into paying high insurance premiums to help other, less healthy people who can easily become more healthy, which would relieve the stress they are putting on the system.  Why isn’t there a “runner’s” health insurance policy available?  Because you don’t need it.  Reading this blog is insurance enough that you will healthy for years to come!

I commend REI for encouraging their employees to live healthier lifestyles.  A healthy employee is a happy employee; and costs less, which leads to a happy employer.  Everyone’s happy when you go running!