If you’ve ever worked toward a big financial goal, you know it’s a marathon, not a sprint. That got us thinking—what if you approached saving like training for an endurance event? 

We teamed up with Bree Woolard (@letsbreereal_) to see if the commitment and discipline she brings to marathon training could also fuel her savings strategy. With guidance from Mosiah, an everyday banking advisor at ATB, Bree opened an FHSA (First Home Savings Account) and built a plan to achieve her dream of buying her first home.

Here’s how it worked: for every kilometre Bree ran during her training, she contributed $10 to her FHSA. To help her stay on track, she used ATB’s Savings Roadmap—a tool that creates custom savings plans for a range of financial goals. 

After she crossed the finish line, we talked to Bree about the financial cost of running a marathon and how she did on her training and savings journey. 

What was the total cost of participating in your marathon?

Bree: My marathon cost around $400. This can vary from person to person, but the base cost is about $250 for registration plus any gear you may need, which was close to $150 for me.

What was the most surprising hidden cost you didn't initially budget for? 

Probably my personalized running plan. I realized I had no idea how to gradually build up the stamina to run 42km, so I splurged $130 for an annual membership to a running app. And this was money well spent! The app created a custom running schedule with my marathon date in mind, and worked backwards to when I started training. With this plan, I moved through the training almost effortlessly and felt confident heading into the race. 

What was your most expensive purchase, and do you believe it was worth the investment? 

The most expensive purchase was definitely the registration fee, and I can confidently say it was worth it! In my mind, it was so much more than a spot in a marathon—it was a promise to my past, present and future self that I’m still investing in her. 

Before I paid for my spot, running a marathon was a “maybe” or a “I should totally do that someday.” But as soon as I clicked “purchase,” I had a nonrefundable ticket to a major life achievement, and it fuelled the rest of my journey. I was so excited, I went for a run shortly after! 

What were your goals when you began training, and were you able to achieve them?

When I began training, my main goal was to simply get better at running. I didn’t have specific times to meet, but was instead trying to normalize seeing a 20km run on my weekly training schedule. 

Fast-forward to today, and I’m blown away at how much I’ve accomplished—both during my training and in running the marathon itself! 

That’s awesome! How was marathon training similar to saving for your first home—and how did linking these goals help you progress toward both?

When you think of any BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal, as James C. Collins puts it), it feels like you’re looking at a mountain from the very bottom. As someone who used to get winded from running 10km, 42km sounded incredibly daunting. It can feel the same way when thinking about saving tens of thousands of dollars.

But something I continue to preach in my content is this: everyone who’s ever achieved something great had to start somewhere. So, although the $100,000 savings mountain is still in front of you, I can guarantee it feels much better to contribute even just $10 and feel like you’ve started to climb it. From there, it’s just consistency that will get you to the top of the mountain. 

Linking my savings goals with a physical achievement was truly ingenious. It turned the heaviness that usually comes with traditional savings methods into a fun reward after each run. It was essentially an accountability system: the kilometres equal dollars in savings. Highly recommended for anyone looking to build consistency with saving! 

You had a busy travel schedule this year. How did you manage to stay on track with your goals?

Balancing personal goals with travel and work all boils down to this principle: if you want something badly enough, you’ll make it happen. My travel itinerary was hectic and unpredictable this year, but I never once considered skipping a run, no matter where I was in the world. 

For example, when Calgary was too smoky to be outside, I ran 25km on the treadmill. And during a multi-week work trip in the USA near the end of my training, I had to choose which city would be better for the 31km run (yes, it was Boston). 

My best advice to anyone who wants to work towards a physical goal while travelling is to be proactive. At the start of each week, look at your schedule, decide when you’re going to do that long run, gym session or yoga class, and communicate this clearly to anyone who needs to know. 

Many runners hit the wall at some point during their training. Was there a time you experienced this in your savings journey? How did you overcome it?

Oh my gosh, yes! This is a universal feeling, but since finances are a sensitive topic, it hardly ever comes to the surface. I remember being in university and having quite literally no money. I wasn’t sure how I was going to buy groceries that week, let alone save towards long-term goals. I remember crying in a bathroom stall, saying to myself, “I will never let this happen again.” 

Everything changed when I started taking accountability for my decisions. I realized they call it “personal finances” for a reason: you are in full control of your money. This was a liberating thought, because it meant I could pull myself up and reach my goals! From there, I made small changes to my budget and savings strategy over time. Automating monthly savings deposits and building multiple income streams have made a huge difference.

What are your thoughts on seeking an outside perspective (like a financial advisor or personal trainer) when working towards a goal?

Always, always, always seek an outside perspective—especially when it comes to finances. I’ve noticed that many Gen Z and Millennials struggle to ask for help, myself included! I think we like to think of ourselves as so independent that we don’t need help to get ahead. In my personal experience, this has never been true. Getting an outside perspective helps you see things differently. And if you decide not to implement their advice, at least you learned something! 

The time and money I’ve saved by meeting with a financial advisor have always been worth it. There’s a lot to know about investing your money.You don’t have to do it alone! 

After reaching a goal, how do you decide what comes next? Do you set a new goal right away, take time to recover, or establish a new baseline?

Celebrating milestones is really important to me, and something else we don’t do enough as a generation! It can be easy to subscribe to the “shiny object lifestyle” (when you’re always chasing the next big thing). But after my marathon, I plan to bask in the pride, the carbs and the couch for a little while. And after a long period of rest and relaxation, I let the next goal come to me naturally, and approach it with patience and curiosity. 

You’ve been on quite the physical and financial journey. How have marathon training and saving for your first home transformed your perspective and habits? 

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that consistency is key. You don’t need to be the best right away—and it’s usually not possible. Simply showing up regularly, over a long period of time, is guaranteed to get you where you want to be. There is so much power in quieting your “shiny object” mind, looking up at the mountain in front of you and taking the first step towards climbing it.

Yes, you are capable of doing hard things. Yes, you can go from being broke and crying in a bathroom stall to investing regularly into multiple savings accounts. It all comes down to being proactive, asking for help and evaluating how badly you truly want to reach your goals. 

What’s next on your savings journey? Will you continue the momentum of connecting training to saving?

The next chapter in my savings journey is to continue growing my FHSA while travelling the world for a year. Mosiah, my Everyday Banking Advisor, sees this as a fun challenge!

While I don’t anticipate training for another endurance event anytime soon, I will certainly be getting more creative with how I save in the future. I recently thought about pairing my savings goals with my average daily step count. So the more I walk, the more I save! 

Above all, I plan to lean on Mosiah for guidance and support as my finances continue to grow and I get closer to my savings goals with every step of this journey. 

Bree’s intention and dedication helped her to go the distance—physically and financially. Her story proves that with the right mindset, the right support, and the right financial tools, every step can bring you closer to realizing your dreams.