My company's health plan does something very similar. They didn't go for the home workout routine angle because there was no 'proof'. I said, well my BP is down, weight is waaay down, and cholesterol is down, but because some fancy pants gym didn't monitor my coming or going, I don't get a credit. Since there was nothing to actually reimburse, I was out of luck.

Now, what you could do is look for a cheap gym with a good spa/whirlpool/pool and go use that a few times a week. The gym can check off that you were there and you can stick it to the Man by taking a nice soak.  

I recently found out that my healthcare coverage offers a gym reimbursement of $300 every 6 months.  Of course, my immediate thought was how can I get one over on "The Man" and parlay this money into funding my running.  Has anyone used this kind of benefit not in a traditional sense (like actually joining a legitimate gym)?  I'm looking for more of a scheme than a scam...why should I miss out just because I don't go to a gym...I spend money on exercise too.

I tried getting the company to pay me for the races I work.  They didn't bite.  Such a shame...  Would've been a nice little sweetener to work the race, get paid by the race, and then the company pay a little extra on top.

Would they accept:

1. Training program fees for races (at your LRS, for example) - which might include some "equipment" and race entry fee?

2. Similar at a gym? Or a gym membership including "equipment" (which might have procured the equipment from said LRS)?

3. Participation in a running camp?

4. Anything else to do with running that could be billed through a gym?

My company reimburses I think its $50/quarter for gym memberships (doesn't fully cover but substantially reduces the cost).

I keep trying to get them to cover the same for a max of one race per quarter, to no avail.

I think I need to start a "gym" that comps shoes and race entries

^

This, exactly!  With fees of , say, $50 /month!

For $300 per year you can join my on-line gym.

Now, what you could do is look for a cheap gym with a good spa/whirlpool/pool and go use that a few times a week. The gym can check off that you were there and you can stick it to the Man by taking a nice soak.  

This is me.  I need 12 visits/month to get my reimbursement of $20/month, and with wanting to run outside, I don't always need 12 gym workouts a month, so I get creative.  I'd have a gym membership regardless of the reimbursement though, since there is nowhere in my house to put a treadmill, and sometimes ice on the roads dictates that I need a treadmill.  I do like having access to the free weights/machines as well.

I often go to the gym, check in, and go for a run outside near the gym.  Or I'll go out and run somewhere away from home, stop at the gym and shower, and then go run errands before I go back home, since that's actually faster than going all the way home.  I've also sat in the hot tub a few times.  And the steam room when I was really congested.