Forget that. I walked 2.87 miles today. I feel like I earned every bit of those 110 yards.

Take a look at the following:

1. I need to exercise more, but I have trouble getting motivated to do so.
2. I am trying to curb my yarn purchases, and try to avoid impulse yarn shopping.

What do those things have to do with each other? Nothing, really.

Then, I stumbled upon this post by Kristy at Eleven Stitches. Basically, back in November, she started to “pay” for all of her new yarn purchases by running laps with her (now) husband.

I thought that was pretty clever. I thought of trying it, but really, I know better. I would never get off the couch to pay for yarn I’d already purchased.

However – what if I earned yarn by exercising, rather than paid for yarn with exercising?

For me, the hardest part about starting an exercise program is the lack of short-term rewards. I know that in the long-run, I’ll be healthier, I’ll feel better, my clothes will fit better, etc. etc. But these rewards are way out there in the future. I need results and rewards that I will see almost immediately, that I don’t have to wait weeks or months for, because I know me. I know that I’m impatient and will give up long before then.

But what if I did have a short-term motivation? What if I had a reason to get off the couch this week, and start running for something tangible? Something that I didn’t have to wait six months for?

That’s exactly what I needed. And my motivating factor? Yarn. It’s a perfect motivator for me: Tangible. Non-caloric. Measurable. In fact, measurable in distances… just like running.

*Insert light bulb popping on over my “A-ha! Eureka!” facial expression*

My friends, I am about to start on a new venture. I call it, Miles for Yards.

Here’s how it works:

Starting this weekend, for every mile I run or walk, I earn yards towards yarn purchases. Not dollars, not balls, hanks or skeins – yards. I’ll also earn yarn yardage for weight-training, for FitTV workouts (I have to compensate for Chicago weather). Yardage will be built up, and only when there is enough yardage accumulated can I purchase yarn.

Here’s how I’m breaking it down:

Miles for Yards – Susan’s Breakout:

1 mile walked aerobically = 40 yards of yarn
1 mile run/jogged = 80 yards of yarn
20 minutes strength training (sit ups, weights, etc.) = 40 yards of yarn
30 minute FitTV aerobic “class” = 40 yards of yarn

NO HALFSIES. Walking 1.5 miles = 40 yards of yarn, not 60 yards. I’m amending this, because there’s no way I will walk an extra .87 miles and not count it. Instead, I’ll add fractions of mileage/timing in increments of 10.  Way better.

For example: Monday I walk 1.5 miles aerobically (40 yards). Tuesday, I do 20 minutes of crunches and strength exercises (40 yards). Wednesday, it’s raining, so I do a 30 minute FitTV workout (40 yards). Friday, I walk 2.25 miles (80 yards). So for that week, I’ve earned 200 yards. If I do another 2 mile walk on Saturday, that’s another 80 yards, or 280 for the week.

The more I exercise, the more yardage I build up. I can use it as soon as I’ve earned it, but with some of the events that are coming up this summer, I think I may try to bank as much yardage as possible (Midwest Folk & Fiber, Stitches, etc.).

Note: I may adjust these equations. This is still in the experimentation phases – I don’t want to build up the yardage too quickly and go broke with my earnings, or too slowly and get frustrated. It’s a balance, but I think these numbers might work.

I think this is really going to motivate me to get off the couch and start moving. I like how each and every workout will build the yardage in the bank. I’m one of those people who, when they have goals like “If I work out every day this week then I can buy 1 hank of sock yarn” I will invariably miss a day, get upset and frustrated, and stop altogether. But with this idea each workout earns me something, I think that I’ll be much more likely to pick up again if I miss a work out or two.

This is all speculation, of course. But I’m curious to see how much yardage I can build. And what that yarn will be. And, wow, if this works? And I drop a clothing size? That’s less yardage I’d need for something like a sweater. Which means my yardage will go farther.

I think I just blew my mind, right there. That would be awesome.

Time to dust off the running shoes and earn some yarn!