$40 is stupid money for a 4 miler. So don't pay. Hope others don't pay. Watch the race fold. You'll be proven right and all will be good in the world.
Or . . . others will pay. You won't, but others will, enough to support the race anyway. It'll make money (for the profit/non-profit, whatever) and will come back in 2012. You'll be home again, longing to participate but unwilling to pay the $45 (oh, it'll be $45 in 2012, trust me).
America. This is how it works. Costs too much, people will balk. Seems reasonable/people want it bad enough, people will pay. But while the race is on the level, a legit enterprise in all, do you really think hopping in the thing is the right thing to do? Taking advantage of the shutting down of roads, aid stations, mile markers, etc.? That shouldn't be what any one of us is about because, frankly, that's stealing. $40 for a 4 mile turkey trot? Hell no, that's my answer. But I'm not hopping on the course either. I'm taking my family out for a fun loop around the neighborhood.
Be classy and do the right thing here.