Ballpark Estimate: $3,110 There are two legal ways to run the Boston Marathon: Qualify by running another marathon within a specified time Running for a charity raising a minimum amount of money Qualifying Most casual marathoners will never qualify for the Boston Marathon. To qualify you must run in an approved marathon in September the year before the marathon. … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $500,000 to $20 million+ If you think owning a stable of racehorses could max anyone’s credit card, try keeping two NASCAR racers primed for battle and fueled up at the starting line. Never before has money played such a big part in the auto racing game. In fact, to most people, money is the game. Long gone are the days when the winning owner simply paid … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $550 to $2,000+ I’m sure sports fishing enthusiasts the world-over will agree that nothing quite compares to the challenge and excitement of a two or three hour fight to land that big one. Strapped into a fighting-chair, your muscles straining in an exhausting tug of war, the dual between you and your foe is the epitome of an anglers adrenaline rush. All … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $30 to $60/month or $275 to $700/year As obesity figures in America are skyrocketing (over 108 million Americans are obese or overweight), so is overwhelming medical research proving the importance of even moderate exercise a few times a week for helping to ward off diseases such as cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis as well as anxiety and depression. For … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $50 to $100 an hour for private lessons; $1,500 to $5,000+ for a 3-day golf school You may not be the next Tiger Woods, but you can still take your golf game to new highs (or lows!) when it comes to improving your score with the help of a trained golf professional. When you invest in golf lessons, whether one-on-one or in a group or class setting, you can … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $500 to $2,000 Do you like to go really, really fast? Have you grown bored with roller coasters and are searching for your next adrenaline rush? Do you have a strong heart, back, and neck and don’t mind a few bruises? If the idea of hurtling down an icy track at speeds over 80 mph with the possibility of flipping over midway down the course sounds … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $650 to $1,300 Whether you’re a fan of the Three Musketeers, Zorro or Captain Jack Sparrow, watching a swashbuckling sword fight is a great way to get your spirits up and your heart pounding. It’s fun to imagine yourself in the midst of the fighting, moving with lightening reflexes and wielding a flashing blade. It’s been said that the tip of a fencer’s … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $50 to $100 an hour and up If you want to lose weight, tone your body and get in better overall shape, you may benefit from the support of a personal trainer. This is someone who can work with you on an individual basis to help you set personal fitness goals and then motivate you to reach them effectively. Resolving to Shape Up There is growing awareness … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $50 to $300 per club Want to improve your golf game? One of the easiest, and often most effective, ways to do this is to invest in a new set of custom fit golf clubs. This can maximize your performance and help you lower your score. Par for the Course Perhaps you’re an excellent golfer already, or maybe you want to start learning the game and don’t know … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $400 to $20,000 Are you an adrenaline junkie who secretly believes you have the “right stuff” to keep pace with Jeff Gordon? If so, then getting behind the wheel of a super-charged high-performance NASCAR stock may be just what you’re looking for. For the opportunity to put the pedal to the metal there are many companies that offer this memorable … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $700 to $5,000+ per ticket It is the dream of every American sport’s fan to attend the Super Bowl at least once in his or her lifetime. The cost for most fans is usually prohibitive, as attendees have to vie for hotel rooms that are sometimes booked years in advance and pay for airfare where discount priced seats are impossible to find. However, the … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $100 to $2,000 Okay, pretend it’s winter and you’re a kid with a sled. You’re standing at the top of Killer Hill. No, make thatSuicide Hill. It’s the hill your parents told you to absolutely, positively stay away from because it was too dangerous. There are about a dozen other daredevils up there with you, but no one’s worked up the nerve to give it a try. … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $900 to $1,700 (new gear plus lessons) Do you have a passion for the great outdoors? Do you love to fish? Maybe you’ve always wanted to add fly fishing to your repertoire of outdoor adventures but were too intimidated by the casting process. Maybe you’re already a diehard bass fisherman who’s found himself on more than one occasion driving past a trout … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $20 to $100 an hour for private instruction Ready “fore” a game of tennis? If you want to really be on the ball, it’s a good idea to consider signing up for tennis lessons, either for yourself or for your child. Whether you want to take a tennis class to sharpen your skills and enjoy some healthy competition with other players, or you prefer to improve … [Read more...]

Ballpark Estimate: $200 to $2,000 Of the three sliding sports – bobsled, skeleton, and luge – luge is the fastest, with elite racers reaching speeds over 90 mph. Strange, then, that it’s also the sport where you lie on your back, stare toward the sky, and maneuver the course from memory while you steer with your legs. History Luge started in the late 1800’s in the resort … [Read more...]