Laura Rowley Money & Happiness

For the last 10 years, I've been a 3-mile-a-day, 3-day-a-week jogger. Then, this past summer, some friends invited me on their usual run, which turned out to be about 5 miles.

Had I known the distance beforehand I probably would've balked. But I surprised myself and finished the course, albeit puffing hard, a half-block behind my running mates.

Body, Mind, and Pocketbook

After that run, a switch went off in my head. I started running four to five miles, five to six days a week -- something I hadn't done since before I had kids. Four months later, I had dropped two sizes, felt a heightened sense of mental acuity and creativity, and was more energetic than I'd been in years.

It made me think about the striking parallels between physical fitness and fiscal fitness -- because it takes so much of the same stamina to achieve both.

Here are five lessons from the running trail:

1. Break through the noise in your head.

We all hold various internal myths that can undermine our goals. On the running front, a few of mine included:

Myth: I don't have the time to run every day.

Reality: It will take 45 minutes out of 24 hours -- that's 3 percent of your time.

Myth: I have to run before I shower, because it's a hassle taking a second shower.

Reality: You can shower in two minutes, and water is cheap.

Myth: Running in the rain or cold is no fun.

Reality: The act of running itself isn't a barrel of laughs no matter what the weather, so just do it.

What myths are you holding about money and wealth? Do you think you don't have the education or connections to be wealthy? Nine out of 10 of the wealthiest Americans earned their fortunes in the last 20 years, and didn't inherit their money, according to a study conducted by Harrison Group, a consulting firm, and Worth magazine.

Moreover, the families themselves attributed their success to hard work, focus, courage, and determination -- saying those qualities were more important than education, personal contacts, or intelligence.

Do you think it's impossible to save? Financial planners believe that more than four-fifths of young American adults could accumulate $250,000 in net wealth over 30 years; and half could amass $1 million in this period, according to a 2006 survey by the Consumer Federation of America and the Financial Planning Association.

But only about a quarter of consumers interviewed agreed they could achieve a quarter-million in net wealth, and only 9 percent thought $1 million was possible. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

2. Set a goal, then break it down into a daily assignment.

In the back of my mind, my larger exercise objective was to return to my pre-motherhood weight. But I didn't really focus on that. On Sunday, I would think about the entire week, check the weather online, and look for one opportunity each day to run (making the worst weather day my day off).

My mission was to locate a 45-minute window when either my kids were in school or my husband was at home. Sometimes it was 6 a.m., sometimes noon (I have the advantage of working from home), and sometimes 6 p.m.

Approach saving for college or retirement the same way. Don't think about the fact that four years of private college may cost $300,000 in 18 years, or that you need $1 million to retire. Focus on saving $10 to $20 today.

Look at your week and plan ahead: Which day would it make sense to brownbag a lunch? Take public transportation instead of a cab? Go to the grocery store with a list, and fill your fridge with dinner options to avoid the take-out trap? (Check out how much you can save over time on coffee, lunch, and take-out food using the online Lunch Savings Calculator.)

3. Make a deadline for your goals -- and create a sense of urgency.

Earlier this year, the Women's National Basketball Association switched to a 24-second shot clock from the old 30-second clock. Scoring has never been higher: WNBA teams are averaging 76 points a game, up from 67.3 in the previous season.

League president Donna Orender told The New York Times that the old shot clock had held players back: "Everyone's saying, ‘Wow, these players are really good.' And I've been saying, ‘You know what? They've been really good for a long time.' We've just given them a better platform to show how good they are."

Players say the shorter shot clock makes the game more exciting. The tighter deadline means there's less procrastination, fewer players dribbling around the back court, more shot attempts, more action.

Think about your savings plan the same way: Set a specific, immediate deadline to open an account at an online bank to save for a vacation or home down payment; join your employer's 401(k) plan; or open an individual retirement account. Invite a relative or friend to join you and compete to see who can make the first shot. It'll be nothing but net (worth).

4. Team up with a mentor or a partner.

Find a buddy who understands that saving is about actively shaping the life you want. Part of my running motivation came from the fact that my friend had a baby just six months before and bounced back into shape in record time. My youngest child is four years old, so I had no excuse.

Consciously surround yourself with people who reflect and support your financial values. For my last book I interviewed Yvonne B., a businesswoman and mother of two in Hawaii, who relies on her best friend to keep her spending in check.

"We'll talk each other down from a purchase," she said. "I was traveling on business and in this store looking at bedding that cost over $2,000. I thought, ‘I'm calling her, she's going talk me out of this.' She said, ‘Put down the pillows! Walk away from the bed! Walk out the door, get in your car and drive away!'"

5. Automate

Finally, there's no better way to consistently save over the years than to automate your savings. Have your online savings account withdraw the same sum from your checking account monthly.

Also have your employer take your retirement savings out before you get your paycheck, and if your company offers it, automatically increase your contribution rate each year.

Then just keep running. As Olympian Jesse Owens said, "We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort."