Life is often compared to a marathon. In both our physical endeavors and financial journeys, the principles of effort, perseverance, and strategic planning are crucial.
Jason, you've lost me already - what are you talking about?
Granted these are two seemingly disparate and unrelated topics, however both are dear to my heart and surprisingly, there are remarkable parallels. The physical benefits of running hills and the financial advantages of refinancing your mortgage to a cheaper rate are both life changing endeavors, yet overlooked by so many.
Let’s explore how these seemingly disparate activities share common ground in promoting health, wellness, and financial stability.
The Physical Benefits of Running Hills
Building Strength and Endurance
Running hills is one of the most effective ways to build muscle strength and cardiovascular endurance. The incline forces your legs to work harder, engaging the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and glutes more intensely than flat running. This not only strengthens these muscles but also enhances overall running efficiency and power.
Burning More Calories
Hill running elevates your heart rate more rapidly than running on flat terrain, leading to a higher calorie burn. This increased intensity can help in weight management and overall cardiovascular health, making it an excellent addition to any fitness routine.
Enhancing Mental Toughness
The mental challenge of running uphill cannot be understated. It requires determination and grit, fostering a sense of achievement and boosting confidence. Overcoming the physical strain of hill running translates into improved mental resilience, which can benefit various aspects of life.
Improving Running Technique
Hill running offers significant technical benefits that can improve your overall running form and efficiency:
Stride Length and Frequency: Running uphill naturally shortens your stride and increases your cadence, which promotes a more efficient and quicker turnover. This helps in reducing the risk of overstriding and associated injuries.
Posture and Form: The incline encourages an upright posture, with a slight forward lean from the ankles, which is ideal for running. This can help in reducing the strain on your lower back and improving overall balance.
Arm Drive: Hill running emphasises the use of your arms for momentum. Strong arm drive can help maintain rhythm and power, contributing to better running form even on flat terrain.
Foot Strike: Running hills often leads to a more midfoot or forefoot strike, which can reduce the impact on your joints compared to a heel strike. This adaptation can enhance running economy and reduce the risk of injuries.
The Financial Benefits of Refinancing Your Mortgage
Keep in mind that you don’t actually have to refinance. You do however, have to go through the process of at least chatting with Blue Zinc or your bank and request a rate review. We do these regularly for all our clients. We provide your current bank with a few of the better options available to you and then let your current bank decide whether to match it or not.
Lower Monthly Payments
Refinancing your mortgage to a cheaper rate can significantly reduce your monthly payments. This reduction frees up cash flow, allowing for better budget management and the opportunity to allocate funds towards savings, investments, or other financial goals.
For more information on reducing your rate please read Should I Fix at 5.79%.
Shortening Loan Term
A lower interest rate can also enable you to shorten the term of your loan without drastically changing your monthly payments. This means you can pay off your mortgage sooner, saving money on interest over the life of the loan and gaining financial freedom more quickly.
You could save a whopping $156,308 in interest AND reduce your loan term by 4 years 6 months simply by changing from a 6.19% rate to a new rate of 5.75% and keeping your repayments the same.
Consolidating Debt
Refinancing can be a strategic move to consolidate high-interest debts, such as credit card balances or personal loans, into a single, more manageable mortgage payment. This not only simplifies your finances but also reduces the overall interest paid, improving your financial health.
The Common Ground: Strategic Effort for Long-Term Gains
Both running hills and refinancing your mortgage require an initial investment of effort and planning but offer substantial long-term benefits.
Hard Work & Inconvenience
There are easier ways to run and there are easier things to do with your time than to do the administration and paperwork required to refinance. However, by running hills once per week and refinancing, or at least reviewing your options, once a year you will make your life seriously better.
Discipline & Consistency
Just as regular hill running requires discipline and consistency to see physical improvements, refinancing demands a careful review of your financial situation, market conditions, and potential savings. Both activities reward those who are diligent and committed.
Overcoming Short-Term Challenges
The short-term discomfort of hill running parallels the potential upfront costs and administrative hurdles of refinancing. However, pushing through these challenges leads to significant gains—enhanced physical fitness and substantial financial savings.
Achieving Peak Performance
In fitness, hill running helps you achieve peak physical performance by building strength, endurance, and mental toughness. Similarly, refinancing optimises your financial performance by reducing debt, lowering payments, and improving cash flow.
Conclusion: Embrace the Climb
Embracing the climb, whether it’s a steep hill or a complex refinancing process, both lead to transformative benefits. By investing in your physical health through challenging workouts and your financial health through smart mortgage decisions, you pave the way for a stronger, more resilient, and prosperous future. So lace up your running shoes, review your mortgage terms, and get ready to climb to new heights in both fitness and finance.
I'm sure you have a bunch of questions about hill length, gradient, effort level, rep number, etc but that's a whole other article. Happy to provide a few tips or introduce you to a running coach reach out at jason@bluezinc.com.au.
If you wish to setup a rate review please email or book an appointment online here.
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