While the nation is mired in the grip of what has been dubbed “The Great Recession”, Houston is faring better than most metropolitan areas. We have lost fewer jobs and there are more opportunities for those with an entrepreneurial spirit.

NASA and energy still support the local economy

Perhaps we're just lagging behind. We're the home of NASA (and all its supporting employment base). In that arena there is still federal monopoly money pouring out of the spigot, unlike Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the automotive industry, who must all live in the real economic world. Houston is also the hub of the national energy industry, and energy production and brokering may be cut back, but will not go away. For example, Conoco has been laying off, but they certainly haven't threatened to shut down for months at a time this summer, as General Motors has.

Why you don't have to pay for a gym membership

So how will the great recession affect us in the running, cycling, triathlon, and fitness community if things go downhill? If history provides any instruction, gyms such as 24 Hr. Fitness, Ballys, and L.A. Fitness will be the first to take the financial hit in the arm. A gym membership is nice, but in most cases it's a luxury. It's just as easy to run at a local park like Memorial Park or the Seabrook Trails as it is to race the rubber mat on that treadmill while watching TV. Cyclists will take to the road as they always do. The folks that might have to make an economic gym sacrifice will most likely affect triathletes looking for swim lanes, and ladies who enjoy aerobics and step classes.

One of the most disturbing policy directions in the fledgling Obama administration is its move to alter the federal government's covenant with the citizenry established by the framers of the Constitution. Or as the recent campaign promise went, efforts would be made to “remake America”.

One of the efforts to push this agenda is to greatly reduce the tax benefits of charitable contributions and put the funding for things like soup kitchens and homeless shelters in the hands of Uncle Sam. “I'm the government and I'm here to help,” as the saying goes. Reality is that people won't want to give less, they just won't be able to afford to give as much. They will have virtually no contol on how their tax dollars that end up in social programs go now. It's chilling, giving that responsibility to big government. Many charities in the Houston metropolitan area are already feeling the crunch according to a recent news blurb on 1070 KNTH radio.

You can still make charitable contributions and have fun

But here's the silver lining to that cloud; events like 5K and 10K races generally benefit one charity or another. Taken in small chunks, one registration fee at a time, will allow runners and walkers to still give and actually get something other than personal satisfaction for their money. Hey, it's a workout and a t-shirt, right? And there's always Team in Training. Will a side effect be more people getting involved in the running and fitness community? I doubt that in itself will be enough, but as Hemingway said in The Sun Also Rises, “Isn't it pretty to think so?”

For more info: The Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon, Running in Memorial Park, Beginning a running program