Races charging extra to be timed?

99% of the hobby joggers that show up "trained" for this event are content with a stopwatch if they do time at all.

Pay the $3 hobby jogger.

Do the untimed participants still get a finisher's medal?

Charity races -- like Komen and Hospice -- do this because a large number of the participants don't care about their times; they just want to honor the charity. The timed race often becomes a sideshow of the bigger event.

Bill Walker wrote:

Charity races -- like Komen and Hospice -- do this because a large number of the participants don't care about their times; they just want to honor the charity.

This also appeals to runners (women more so than men) who don't want to disclose their age.

I think it would be great if races went a la carte. Imagine this...

Race entry fee: $10

Timing fee: $5

Finisher medal: $5

T-Shirt: $10

Beer garden: $10

If you just want a time, suddenly a $40 race cost you $15.

The Koman race where I live gave up timing altogether a few years ago. Won't run them anymore now.

Bill Walker wrote:

Charity races -- like Komen and Hospice -- do this because a large number of the participants don't care about their times; they just want to honor the charity. The timed race often becomes a sideshow of the bigger event.

My city's turkey trot does this. For a few extra dollars, you get a timing chip and get included in the results. Out of curiosity, I just looked up last year's results. Between the 5k and 10k, they show just over 2,000 finishers. I couldn't find an official number of entrants, but one news report said "over 13,000". If accurate, that means about 15% choose to be timed.

The rest were there to burn some pre-turkey calories, join friends, or participate in a family tradition. For many, it's probably the only time they "run" all year.

If you're being timed, it's a good thing, as they tell the untimed folks to line up in the back. That keeps the start clear for those there to race. That's worth a couple of bucks, isn't it?

Bob Sacamano wrote:

My city's turkey trot does this. For a few extra dollars, you get a timing chip and get included in the results. Out of curiosity, I just looked up last year's results. Between the 5k and 10k, they show just over 2,000 finishers. I couldn't find an official number of entrants, but one news report said "over 13,000". If accurate, that means about 15% choose to be timed.

The rest were there to burn some pre-turkey calories, join friends, or participate in a family tradition. For many, it's probably the only time they "run" all year.

If you're being timed, it's a good thing, as they tell the untimed folks to line up in the back. That keeps the start clear for those there to race. That's worth a couple of bucks, isn't it?

I think this is a very practical industry trend, as it significantly reduces the workload for the timing company and minimizes RFID bib tag waste. Benefit to competitive runners is faster, more accurate results.

Got signed up for Komen through work because work was paying for it. I figured "whatever, it's free."

The team captain signed up everyone as untimed. So I guess it's stopwatch time for me.

I'm getting the vibe that she's pissed because I haven't raised any extra money and I don't plan on walking with the group.

Never again.

I thought they charged less to not be timed?

off base wrote:

I think it would be great if races went a la carte. Imagine this...

Race entry fee: $10

Timing fee: $5

Finisher medal: $5

T-Shirt: $10

Beer garden: $10

If you just want a time, suddenly a $40 race cost you $15.

Like it. This would probably do away with many bandits too. A lot would probably pay $10 rather than bandit. It would also save race directors money on unused shirts and medals.

no bandits wrote:

off base wrote:

I think it would be great if races went a la carte. Imagine this...

Race entry fee: $10

Timing fee: $5

Finisher medal: $5

T-Shirt: $10

Beer garden: $10

If you just want a time, suddenly a $40 race cost you $15.

Like it. This would probably do away with many bandits too. A lot would probably pay $10 rather than bandit. It would also save race directors money on unused shirts and medals.

Wonderful idea. I wonder how we can get this started?

Races are charging extra?

That's racist.

Let's discuss while I look down on all of you.

amkelley wrote:

Wonderful idea. I wonder how we can get this started?

I'll tell you how, but it will cost you extra.

no bandits wrote:

off base wrote:

I think it would be great if races went a la carte. Imagine this...

Race entry fee: $10

Timing fee: $5

Finisher medal: $5

T-Shirt: $10

Beer garden: $10

If you just want a time, suddenly a $40 race cost you $15.

Like it. This would probably do away with many bandits too. A lot would probably pay $10 rather than bandit.

Because bandits would go for the "beer garden only" option?

Sure, give them access to the beer garden for $10. Then tell them it''s 2 beers only. If you drive all the way to a race for a $5 beer, your a moran.

Old Man Runner wrote:

If you drive all the way to a race for a $5 beer, your a moran.

Think so?Lots of people drive all the way to football stadiums for $10 beer ya know.

The fee is for the cost of disposable RFID bibs. It cost the race timers about 3 bucks and the race director passes the cost to runners

off base wrote:

I think it would be great if races went a la carte. Imagine this...

Race entry fee: $10

Timing fee: $5

Finisher medal: $5

T-Shirt: $10

Beer garden: $10

If you just want a time, suddenly a $40 race cost you $15.

what about proof of performance = corral 1 =$0

then its corral based on cost

corral 2 = $30

corral 3 = $10

corral 4 = free