Expensive races

I agree. I have enough T-Shirts, give me an option and a discount if I don't want a shirt. Give me water, a properly wheeled course, and a guy with a stopwatch at the finish and I will be happy!

Nice stretch to blame Galloway for something. Hey, do bands, finishers medals, and post race parties keep you from racing? Do they hog tie you and keep you from running the race as fast as you like? No. Just tune those things out and race. The thought that Gallowalkers, parties, and post race celebrations keep you from being able to race the event is ludicrous. Yeah, races cost a few dollars more now. It's called inflation. Deal with it. If you can't afford that, you're a loser anyway. Quit blaming Galloway for everything from inflation to global warming to unrest in the Middle East.

I respond to Galloway and the Penguin in the same fashion as I respond to infomercials, telemarketers, and panhandlers. I ignore them. I suggest you do the same.

If you've been paying attention to the sport for the past 10 or so years, you can't deny the negative impact that Galloway/Pengiun have had. Did you watch any coverage of the NYC Marathon Sunday? They focused more attention on P Diddy, the common runner, ect. than on the winners. Galloway DOES hurt our sport, and if you can't see that, then I can't help you. I choose not to "ignore" a guy who campaigns to destroy the sport I grew up loving. Sorry.

Track. Flat, fast, accurate, good competititon. Never more than $15-20.

Inflation?? Ten years ago the standard race entry fee was $10 before and $12 late entry. Now its $20 and $25! That's 100% inflation. The real reason race costs are up is because people pay the race fees without question. I used to feel like the money was worth what you got out of it, but now when an organizer wants $25 for a 5k and all you get is a lousy t-shirt and a plastic trophy that you don't want anyway, it makes sense to race bandit.

"Loser", maybe, but four road races and $100 bucks later is for the birds. Road races make a great place to get an a hard run, so what it comes down to is race banditting. I don't always do it, just when I don't feel the need to be an official entrant.

Race Bandit Rules:

I don't run through the chute so I don't mess up their results and keep my own time and I don't even eat their post race food (maybe).

Bloomsday is a deal. $10 with a late entry fee of $25. You get a t-shirt and high quality competition in Spokane. Come on up and take your chances in early May.

It is not 100% inflation. Doubling in ten years is 7.2% increase per year - about 2 1/2 times that national inflation rate. Your overall point is still valid, just that your use of certain facts is a little off....

This has been discussed before, but what does it take (per runner) to put on a local 5k. What is the cost of timing services, police help, T-shirts, etc.? I can't believe that people are making a lot of money on these races.

A couple of months ago, I bit the bullet and paid $35 for a 5K - hoping to win prize $$. I won $100, which made the high entry fee worth it.

But I haven't received it..."the check is in the mail" I've been told.

However, they did manage to cash my $35 check on the Tuesday after the race.

money info wrote:

This has been discussed before, but what does it take (per runner) to put on a local 5k. What is the cost of timing services, police help, T-shirts, etc.? I can't believe that people are making a lot of money on these races.

Frankly, I have no idea what the per- runner profit margin is for your typical $25 or $30 5K. What I'm saying is that, with the $25 or $30 (yes, I have seen $30 5ks) is that they pay for a lot of stuff I have no need for. T-shirts, post race parties, bands, ect. ect. A race doesn't need these things for me to consider it a good event. Unfortunately, I'm in the minority. The Gallowalkers want these things, and it seems that what they want, they get.

There are still smaller, typically club races that go on for $10 or even less. They are no frills affairs, where the focus is on the race, not a big, moving street party. It can be done, and often is. That's why I choose these outlets for my races, and try to minimize my exposure to the high priced party/event/races.

Let's say I enter ten races a year at $10 or enter ten races at $25. That saves me $150 a year. If wanting to save that money makes me a "loser", so be it.

On a side note, does anyone who reads this board really need another race t-shirt? My closet is already overflowing with ones that I never wear. It sure would be nice if more races offered a discount with a no t-shirt option.

GP wrote:

On a side note, does anyone who reads this board really need another race t-shirt? My closet is already overflowing with ones that I never wear. It sure would be nice if more races offered a discount with a no t-shirt option.

That goes back to the original poster's view. You will see less and less of the no-frills races as that is what the races are now all about (with some notable exceptions). Shirts, bagels, door prizes, charities, fund-raising, walkers, skaters, strollers, etc. etc. More about and for the P. Diddy's and less about and for the Paul Tergat's. This is also one reason entry fees are climbing. They must pay for all the side garbage, sponsors are getting tougher to find, and the racing necessities take a back seat while entry fees climb to keep profits high. Rather than whine, we need to stay away from the 'events' and stick to the good 'races'.

I was having this discussion with a couple of running buddies the other day. I definitely agree that, in general, road race prices have gone up faster than inflation. I've lived in Portland, OR for the last several years, and the situation seems particularly dire here. Maybe it's just me. The thing is, if you have a race you're really pointing towards, you probably don't care that much if it's overpriced by $10 or whatever. But when you're looking for a race just to run low-key or as a tempo run, etc., high prices can turn you away. For instance, there are a couple of 1/2 marathons out here that I wouldn't mind running as tempo runs, but they're like $45, so I don't do them. I was planning to run the Portland Marathon at what for me is a moderately hard effort--2:45 or 2:50--but when I went to sign up, it was $75, or $125 for late registration. No way I'm paying that much for a low-key marathon. The worst thing about races out here is that several times I've bitten the bullet and paid too much for a road race, and then it ends up being obviously inaccurately measured.

It's true that there are some decent races at fair prices, but they seem to be few and far between. Road racing is geared towards the middle class professionals out there, people who don't care too much about the difference between $15 and $25. I think maybe eventually races will become so centered on catering to the middle of the pack that the top competitors will be completely overlooked, or maybe someday it will even be considered rude to try too hard to win. On the other hand, maybe it's cyclical and eventually people will come back to realizing that it's called a "race" for a reason. I'm not sure what the solution is, other than to try to associate yourself with the "good" races via participation or volunteer work, while avoiding the crappy, overpriced races.

I paid 50 bucks for the baltimore half marathon, and didn't even get the size shirt I wanted or even a HALF mara shirt, I got the full marathon shirt and a bag full or advertisements.

It makes you wonder, wouldn't it be better if you just got some buddies and their buddies and their buddies and go race over some course? No money, no "free" shirt, no gels, no cheering, just you, the other runners and the satisfaction you get from beating their ass time and time again. I used to call this track practice.

I was under the assumption that running was enjoyable partly because all you needed was a pair of shoes (clothing optional) and some endurance. Even the poorest of the poor could do it. I guess in a capitalist environment, everything has a dollar value.

up here in new england there are plenty of expensive races *$95 bucks for the boston Marathon comes to mind immediately). However there are plenty of inexpensive ones as well. i have not gone to a race before or gone to a different because of the entry fee. i guess i must be a loser also.

where's the logic in having a post-entry fee be higher than the pre when you probably don't get a t-shirt like the pre-entry people. shouldn't it be the other way around? Are they trying to discourage walk-ups?

You've just got to serach for them, they are typically out there. There were some summer track and cross country meets here that cost a couple bucks each. There is a 5k this weekend that is $5 and a toy for Toys for Tots.

True, a lot of the prices are being jacked up, so register earlier and get the break in the fee. A lot of the races (5k length) around here cost 13-15 bucks if you register early, and that includes the T-shirt, food, whatever. If you don't want to pay the money for an expensive race, don't. The race directors will get the picture.

You all have an option: DON'T RUN IF IT'S TOO DAMN EXPENSIVE!!!

Quit your whining and just boycott their races. Encourage others to do the same. Or run smaller races that don't charge the exorbitant amount.

Sure, some of the races offer a lot of unnecessary items, but remember that you're not the only person out there. The everyday runner has just as much right to be out there running as you do. And they have just as much right to enjoy the benefits of a $30 race.

If you can't handle it, SHUT UP AND GO AWAY. Take up another sport, or just run on your own.

The problem these days is every race has be an event, not just a foot race. Bands, D.J.'s tons of crappy foods, fancy t-shirts, etc. All of this shit is designed to attract the fun run crowd and costs money.

I long for the days of the no frills race, with the five dollar entry fee. The only refreshments available at the finish are water and beer!

bumrunner wrote:

The problem these days is every race has be an event, not just a foot race. Bands, D.J.'s tons of crappy foods, fancy t-shirts, etc. All of this shit is designed to attract the fun run crowd and costs money.

I long for the days of the no frills race, with the five dollar entry fee. The only refreshments available at the finish are water and beer!

Exactly. That's just what I'm saying. You know who's fault this all is: That's right, our nemesis Galloway.

You All Have Options wrote:

You all have an option: DON'T RUN IF IT'S TOO DAMN EXPENSIVE!!!

Quit your whining and just boycott their races. Encourage others to do the same. Or run smaller races that don't charge the exorbitant amount.

Sure, some of the races offer a lot of unnecessary items, but remember that you're not the only person out there. The everyday runner has just as much right to be out there running as you do. And they have just as much right to enjoy the benefits of a $30 race.

If you can't handle it, SHUT UP AND GO AWAY. Take up another sport, or just run on your own.

That's exactly what I'm advocating, staying away from the "events" and doing more no frills races. I'm not sure why you felt the need to tell me off or to "shut up and go away." However, rest assured, I have been completely humbled. Some annonymous guy on the internet just "tore me a new one", so I guess I have no choice but to, as you said, "shut up and go away."