Expensive races

GBF, you are truly a great man. Your views on Galloway and his followers is right on target. I also don't blame the Gallowalkers so much as Galloway. They have been duped by a lying, decietful con-man. They, as you so accurately stated, don't have a frame of reference, so they think bands, custom t-shirts, post race parties, ect. are needed for a race. This is just another example of how Galloway is systematically destroying the sport. Oh, and GBF is one of the great men of our generation.

The last race I did cost $60 for the 10K. The only reason I paid that much is for the prize money. The race was 30 minutes late, the course was poorly staffed, and the route wasn't marked. I was winning the 10K when I missed the last turn. The guy winning the half marathon missed a turn and was DQ'ed. Its races like this that give the participants a bad taste in their mouths. I have put on a race and the costs are very minimal if put on properly. People try to purge the running out of a road race when it turns into a carnival. If you want all of the "extras" to be added to the race, get sponsors to cover that part. All I want is a finish line.

Just bandit...and protest those silly entry fees!

Just do it

I'm not advocating banditing. This has been debated here before, and I'm not sure if it is theft or not, but I just wouldn't feel right about it.

The more proper reaction to high race entry fees is to stay away from the high priced "events" and run the cheaper, "no frills" races. Notice the key differentiation between "events" and "races".

After reading part of this thread, I am even happier than ever that I have become a bandit. I was inspired by a bandit thread on here a couple of months back. Thanks for the inspiration.

Bump

Being a bandit is not the answer...the answer lies in what races you choose...don't go to the races that are expensive to you...don't interfere with those who like the races that offer more than just a race...the answer is pretty easy if you ask me...

I bandited a 10k yesterday that wanted $20 dollars ($25 late). I did not take any food afterward because I have the flu virus with secondary pleuritis. Actually, I feel like I am going to die. Also, the race course goes over a major expressway walk-overpass twice that has a swastika painted on it. The race director should have that removed.

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Bump

Skylon -

How's this for rubbing salt in the wound? The NYRRC is a "non-profit" orgainzation (hahahahahahahaha). They are headquartered just off Central Park West in a recently renovated 4 story brownstone. They stage the NYC Marathon. As a "non-profit" they get a DEEP discount on police coverage for the marathon (free???). Should they give up their non-profit status they would pay a TON for police services alone during the marathon. NYRRC is a wolf in sheep's clothing....

If all you "hard core" runners want to continue to wallow in some fringe sport be my guest.

The fact is that for any sport to be successful you have to have either participants or fans. Unfortunately, running lacks the popularity to put on a lot of professional meets or elite only events. And no one knows who Meb Keflezghi is.

Too bad not that many good collegiate runners are running post-collegiately to support those types of races.

So we are left to market road races to the mass recreational runner. And marketing means t-shirts and food and everything else that goes with a big high-priced event. This raises the prestige of the event, hopefully raises the prize money (Americans actually winning that prize money is a whole nother thread), and hopefully creates some new fans to the sport of distance running (even if they don't know who 90% of those Kenyans are, who does anyways).

I think I speak for many in saying that we understand and agree with what you are saying. Where many of us have problems is the trend of races catering to the things you mention while increasingly raising prices, yet ignoring what many see as essentials such as accuracy, traffic control, proper mile markers, etc. Unfortunately, most of the masses don't give a rat's ass if these things are covered and since more and more directors are catering 'only' to the numbers (racers be damned), the rising costs are for an inferior product. "Yes, we don't know the distance or times, but damn if those bagels weren't top shelf." As a long time 'racer', I appreciate and thank those that still consider the runners who come to test their fitness and competitiveness as well as those there strictly for an event.

I don't think paying a bunch of money, say 1 to 3 times a year to run in a big event is outrageous. The problem happens when those sorts of events become all that is available.

In the old days, the local Road Runners Club would put on low cost events year round. USATF could/should too,many clubs do that as well. But when up in an area where no running club or organization is putting on low cost races you're at the mercy of the market. When I was young and money was tighter I'd have been in tough shape when I wanted to race as the fees would have been a big obstacle.

The NYRRC does not OWN Central Park.

But i agree with the rest of the comments and am puzzled that since raising prices they have attracted more runners.

How's this for rubbing salt in the wound? The NYRRC is a "non-profit" orgainzation (hahahahahahahaha). They are headquartered just off Central Park West in a recently renovated 4 story brownstone.

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Yeah, I was one of the first employees of the NYRRC when they bought that building in 1980 for $1.3 million and helped paint the walls of the place....you prob. couldn't touch that property now for less than 10 times that amount, at least.

And I KNOW, of course, that the NYRRC doesn't literally own CP...but they have pretty much carte blanche to do what they want, and are a true monopoly on the NYC running scene (name the last time a non-NYRRC race was held in Central Park or on NYC streets).

I think it would help make a statement if Runners selected a race or a month that we bandit..All in protest over these outragous fees...Non profits think its ok to charge whatever they want all because they are a non profit..its sickening...

And the ironic - or predictable - result of all this is that race quality and elite times are getting worse. They have screwed up several races this year, including both the Manhattan and Staten Island halfs. It's embarrassing.

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It's amazing to me that on a loop (or combos of loops) that have been used for their races for close to 40 years, or longer, the NYRRC STILL has trouble getting their courses/distances right. The road hasn't changed, the earth hasn't moved...WTF?

don malen wrote:

I bandited a 10k yesterday that wanted $20 dollars ($25 late). I did not take any food afterward because I have the flu virus with secondary pleuritis. Actually, I feel like I am going to die. Also, the race course goes over a major expressway walk-overpass twice that has a swastika painted on it. The race director should have that removed.

If this is, in fact, don malen, please, please don't bandit any more races. If you don't like the fee, don't go. These events cost others time and money and you're an interloper, thief and potential insurance liability w/your actions. I'd be more than happy to discuss this further w/you. Write me directly or call.