What's Your Upper Limit for a Race Entry Fee? Is $75 too much for a Half Marathon?

It depends how it fits into my training schedule, travel, and the level of competition (as well as obviously, the distance)

If it is a local race I'm willing to pay a little more, especially if I feel the competition will be good. I am lucky enough to be in a position where I can cover the costs of travel to find the race I want when I want it.

$75 for a half is way too much. Of course, give people a "tech" shirt, a medal and "free" beer afterwords and they think it's worth it.

I was just having this conversation with my training partner and she and I agreed that $100 for a marathon is too much. We are not running the local marathon this spring. We felt that, even though we have run it the last four years, the price is now beyond what it should be. It's not a protest or a boycott, more just a feeling of "Are we really getting our money's worth?"

Waaaaay too much as far as I'm concerned.

I've paid about $460 for a few Ironmans. That's about my limit I'm pretty sure.

75 isn't cheap but I would do it if I thought I could get a New York Marathon qualifying time.

I could have done the Columbus half for $85. way too expensive in my opinion. Most I would pay for a half would be 50, mayyyybe 60. But to be honest, why pay at all? Running should not be a rich man's sport. And it's not, when we're talking just running. But racing is way too expensive these days. I don't see anything wrong with banditing a race, as long as you're not taking anything from it, i.e. awards, food, etc. And there's also a difference between races that are for charitable events, versus races that are just out to make a profit. I wouldn't mind paying a little more for a race that supports a cause, but the others, not so much.

You're local RRC should have a certified half for like $15-20, including snacks.

If they don't, buy a measuring wheel for your bike and go here:

http://www.usatf.org/events/courses/certification/

If necessary, find a 10k loop, do it twice, and add a 0.5 k out and back to the loop.

Then go to the Piggly Wiggly and get them to donate cups, water, and oranges.

Racing is about promoting the sport and testing yourself, not raising money, getting a fancy shirt, or looking at the scenery.

If you are traveling to a race to enjoy the scenery, YOU ARE NOT RUNNING FAST ENOUGH.

$20 is about right

electron1661 wrote:

I could have done the Columbus half for $85. way too expensive in my opinion. Most I would pay for a half would be 50, mayyyybe 60. But to be honest, why pay at all? Running should not be a rich man's sport. And it's not, when we're talking just running. But racing is way too expensive these days. I don't see anything wrong with banditing a race, as long as you're not taking anything from it, i.e. awards, food, etc. And there's also a difference between races that are for charitable events, versus races that are just out to make a profit. I wouldn't mind paying a little more for a race that supports a cause, but the others, not so much.

Exactly why I've been a bandit since 2001. I haven't paid a dime to run a race in middle Tennessee or north Alabama. I bandit everything from 5k's to marathons.

electron1661 wrote:And there's also a difference between races that are for charitable events, versus races that are just out to make a profit. I wouldn't mind paying a little more for a race that supports a cause, but the others, not so much.

Why are runners expected to fund every charitable organization?

IMO race directors (larger events) advertise a cause in hopes of bringing in the masses to increase their bottom line. But how much is actually donated? Is it a certain percentage? a predetermined amount? just what ever they want to give? Smaller non profit groups see the masses in the big name marathon/ half-marathon/ 5K/ fun run celebration event, think they can do that, hold a 5K and go bust.

I have a couple of causes I support throughout the year, I would rather send my dollars to one of them and run a marathon for $50 and a local 5k for $15. I do not mind paying for police/ traffic control, fluids, and split times.

I KNEW Columbus would come up in this thread. Most consistently overpriced races in the entire country. Hard nowadays to find a 5K for less than $29 pre-reg! Nearly all courses are long too or woefully short (can make for sweet PRs though).$75 is way too much for a 1/2. Find one for $50 or less.

electron1661 wrote:

I could have done the Columbus half for $85. way too expensive in my opinion. Most I would pay for a half would be 50, mayyyybe 60. But to be honest, why pay at all? Running should not be a rich man's sport. And it's not, when we're talking just running. But racing is way too expensive these days. I don't see anything wrong with banditing a race, as long as you're not taking anything from it, i.e. awards, food, etc. And there's also a difference between races that are for charitable events, versus races that are just out to make a profit. I wouldn't mind paying a little more for a race that supports a cause, but the others, not so much.

[quote]TJ wrote:

Hard nowadays to find a 5K for less than $29 pre-reg! Nearly all courses are long too or woefully short (can make for sweet PRs though).

quote]

Around here, $15-$20 for a 5k is average. The local running club puts on good races, 5k's/10k's at $5-$10 and their marathon is $25-$30. $11 pre-reg, $16 race day for thei half marathon. No shirts at these races (except their marathon). The 5k I produce is $15, or "2 for $20" pre-reg. Shirt is optional and costs extra. The half I produce is $25 (tech shirt optional, add $15). Add up facility rental fees, police, portos, bus (it's a point to point half marathon), pay my timing crew, small donation to the charity groups who staff the course/water stops---add it all up $25/runner is close to break even for this event.

As far as courses short or long, around here you get to know pretty quickly who puts on accurate (and safe) races. After that it's your choice to support the producers who get the details right or to continue to support races that can't get the distance right.

Back to the original poster...For me $75 would be too much to run a half unless there was some outstanding perks associated. I'd consider one of those RnR races if the concert after the race was someone I wanted to see. I'd consider a $75 half if it got me a day pass at an amusement park/ski area/national park. I'd consider a $75 half if it was associated with a charity that I support-and there was reasonable assurance that a major portion of the entry fee went to that charity. Lacking some major perks I'd say $40-45 would be my limit.