Road Races out of control

You’re too old to be complaining like this. If there is a hole in the market, fill it.

You are already answered your question

parkrun.

Band it

People have too much money. They pay $75 easily if it's for a good cause.

Are they out of control or just "out".

There used to be a lively road race scene in my midsized southern city, but now it appears to be very disjointed.

The local club used to put on one race per month, races were from 5ks>10M and one 1/2 marathon in the early spring. A lot of us really competed hard vs each other at these events, but now I don't see any races, and the few I do see are all "fundraiser fun runs".

It was a fun scene with a good bunch of people that loved the sport, and did what they could do to try and perform to their best on race day.

Why don't you try to put one on and see how quickly the costs add up. You think it's cheap to pay city permits and overtime hours for the local police?

Thank you for some very excellent responses. I'm too old to complain, put on my own race, bandit, and why don't I puto on my own race and find out how expensive things are? First, maybe your all too young to remember a time when races were about the runners. Maybe you are too you and not even competing in open road races anymore? Or maybe you are and continuing to pay these crazy prices for race entries. So let's look at the specific race I mentioned. They say they are expecting 2500 runners. Since registration is closed I will assume there are 2500 runners. At $75 per runner, that comes to $187,500! Do city permits, hiring a timer, renting porta potties, etc. add up to that amount for a 5k??? If so the problems are deeper than I imagined.

I asked the question "what happenned?" I find it sad our sport has come to this point.

A few financial/logistical questions:

-Is the race in a densely populated area or area with a lot of traffic lights?

-Are there any extra production elements beyond the normal medals, shirts, etc (ie, a premium swag item like a jacket, a beer garden with free beer, food from a food truck, a concert, etc)?
-Were all entries $75, or was the price lower earlier?

-Is there a margin (either % of gross, or a net dollar amount) you think is reasonable for an RD or charity beneficiary to make on a race?

Depending on the answers to these questions (and some others), you may find that this race is netting an amount you would actually consider appropriate:

Of course, they could be netting more than you think is appropriate, or be priced at a price point you consider too high regardless of how much little they’re netting… but if they’re selling out early at $75 and you want to register later and pay less, I don’t see what incentive they have to accommodate you and it seems like you’re not the target customer for this race.

I am running in my first USATF event tomorrow (Sep 22). Reg. fee was reasonable, $35 for non-members.

Which one?

This is probably some type of lower grade event. I'm not familiar with their categories. USATF New England Grand Prix:

cccbsd.org

Lone Gull 10k Road Race | Register Now

Mike Sperling

The 14th Annual Lone Gull 10K Road Race will take place on Sunday, September 20th. Find information about registration on our website.

Open link

You pretty much know what happened. Road races were once put on to give runners places to compete with an eye towards developing the runners. When I was in the DC/Baltimore area in the 70s most races by far were put on the the DC Roadrunners. The courses were usually at the far end of the city on roads that were lightly travelled sparing the need for hiring cops for traffic control. Often they started and finished at a high school and you'd change in the locker before the race then shower and change back after. The Roadrunners Club itself had a blanket kind of liability insurance that covered events that the Club had sanctioned so the individual race did not have to buy its own insurance.

But I think the biggest thing that happened is that races then were for racing and helping people get faster. As long as costs were covered everyone was fine. Race directors had other jobs and weren't making their livings from the race. They weren't trying to raise thousands of dollars for charities.They weren't looking for fields with thousands of entrants to maximize income so they didn't choose race distances that drew the maximum number of entrants for the revenue they'd bring. Then it was usually a labor of love. Now it's mostly a business.

You’re not too old to bandit. In fact, you have age working your favor. If caught, just feign senility. 🤗

Sure clubs used to put on races every month. It’s not races that have gotten out of control, it’s runners expectations from the organizers that have gotten out of control.

Back when we started in the 70’s, it was just a bunch of long haired guys that wanted to run. We drew a line with chalk across the road and off we went.

Now, if every road race doesn’t have two huge tv monitors just feet beyond the finish with immediate results, the organizers get skewered online and in the paper…. Mostly by complainers who wouldn’t think to organize or put on a race.

Sometimes, what seems like common sense really needs to be said out loud.

Thank you.

I think your last paragraph highlights what happened. Most of today's race directors want Those complainers and the people who agree with them in their races because they've got a big entry fee and want as many people as possible paying it and they know if they don't have those screens and things like that those complainers can probably find another race that does have those things and will go to that race instead of his. Decades ago, when all directors were trying to do was get enough money from entry fees to cover costs they'd have been fine with those complainers racing elsewhere or just staying home.

There are plenty of clubs that put on good free/low cost races. Just show up, sign up and run. Also, no standing on the start line for 15 minutes while they are doing the National Anthem and having a handful of people talk that nobody cares about in the moment.

You just don't get beer or a medal at the finish. Do people really like to drink beer at 9am anyway?

This. A lot of years 77-87 I'd run 5k, 8k, 10k, 7 mile, 10 mile, 20k and half marathons. And we'd run fast. Nearly everyone was in by an hour on the 10k.

Unfortunately it is the stupid beer gardens, tshirts and all that driving up prices. It's always junk beer anyways