I used to wrote:
I used to organize bowling tournaments. I would post the flyer, collect the money, and pay out all money to maybe top 5 or ten. Has anyone ever tried this for trail races? Could you just pay 5 bucks and go to local converted rail trail and race? I have the problem with trying to find races that I can afford. It would be ok with me to just meet and race anyone who showed up. You could just make it interesting with some prize money to pay for gas.
There are now more and more "runs" around Greenville, S.C., that are not normal "races."
Fees are much less or non-existent. Times are not kept, maybe someone turns on a clock for the finish.
Of course, courses are not certified, usually, and no awards or T-shirts, but I can think of 5 in our area that are free or maybe collect canned goods for a charity and the biggest has nearly 1,000 people.
Don't go to expensive, crappy races if you don't want to.
There's a $65 half marathon coming to our town, I have seriously thought about putting on a "Half-Off Half Marathon" the same day for $32.50 and providing everything the other races does and more.