$185 to enter the San Francisco Marathon

If you're traveling to SF, the entry fee will be one of the cheaper parts of the trip, after airfare and lodging and whatnot. If you live in SF, even a high entry fee is cheaper than traveling to an out of town race.

Anyway the price increase is tonight, let's see what the damage is...

Oh and if you sign up be ready for the "convenience fee" of about 9% !

I see no problem with the charge.

Welcome to America where prices are determined by supply and demand. If enough people object to the price and do no enter they may lower the price next year.

Rather than complain you cast your vote to support or reject their price by choosing to run or not.

If I was the race organizer I would charge as much as possible to maximize profits and ultimately the prizes awarded at my event.

Run Doctor wrote:

I see no problem with the charge.

Welcome to America where prices are determined by supply and demand. If enough people object to the price and do no enter they may lower the price next year.

Rather than complain you cast your vote to support or reject their price by choosing to run or not.

If I was the race organizer I would charge as much as possible to maximize profits and ultimately the prizes awarded at my event.

Pretty soon their is going to be a price to take a breath of air. I know water in the store costs more than gasoline.

SFDMAN wrote:

Have the prices gone down in SF ?

Right now it's $135 for the Full Marathon and there have already been two price increases I think (don't have the price before if anyone has that?)

https://snag.gy/kSZOyY.jpg

Why did you dig up this old post, everything is expensive out here. The Santa Rosa Marathon (about an hour north of SF) costs more, a lot of it is run on a river parkway, and there are no iconic vistas. At least SF is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

The bigger BS part of this race is the start time--5:30 AM elite start? We stayed near the start and decided to get up at 4 to make sure everything was in working order before heading over to the race. Way too early.

Sid Luft wrote:

There must be a lot of rich guys out there.

Me, I'm a working man and mostly proud of it but slightly ashamed that I couldn't even dream of throwing away $185 to have the right to stand in a 45 minute port-a-loo line before beginning to run on taxpayer funded public streets.

Not sure where you got your info from. Their website says is $135, but the price is going up tomorrow:

For most people, it's not worth $135. It is mostly run in the dark (it starts at 5:30 a.m.). It is run mostly on the perimeter of the city with little to see (no Chinatown, cable cars, etc.) except the Golden Gate. It has few fans (San Franciscans don't care about this race. It's not Bay to Breakers).

On the otherhand, if your fast, you can run for free:

Men: Full Marathon: Sub 2:40 / Half Marathon: Sub 1:18

Women: Full Marathon: Sub 3:00 / Half Marathon: Sub 1:28

If you're kinda fast, they'll knock about $40 off the fee:

Men: Open – Full Marathon: Sub 2:55 / Half Marathon: Sub 1:28

Women: Open – Full Marathon: Sub 3:20 / Half Marathon: Sub 1:40

I wouldn't pay more than $100 for this race

they can charge what they wish because they have a large group of people willing to pay the entry fee.

They will charge what they wish until registration numbers decline .They will charge whatever high entry fees that the market will bear.

Its a lot of work to put on and direct races but it can be lucrative work.

It is rare to go to a road race these days where the focus is the race. Pro event directors have realized that racing is secondary to the majority of runners, and that majority wants an event with bells and whistles. And the majority is willing to pay extra for the event.

Actually the SF marathon does not provide that much fluff

"All participants receive a technical fabric long-sleeved shirt. Finishers receive a finisher’s medal, free photos, electronic finisher’s certificate, and individual care, both on and off the course and following – including food, beverage, heat sheet and medical care."

The fluff is running around on city streets.

what is 'individual care" Omelets made to order?

Escape from Alcatraz, an Olympic-ish distance triathlon, is like $750.

if you're a 1:15 or faster half marathoner or a sub 2:40 guy, you can probably email the race and get in free. i do it every year a week or so the race and get freebird all the way to the finish lineevery race you ever run you should try this technique. You'd be surprised how many times comp'd entry is handed out. paying for races is pretty easy to avoid if you have a bit of abilityboth courses are VERY difficult. the revised 2nd half marathon is pretty tough too...first half I wouldn't even both running if you want to go fast or flat

Sid Luft wrote:

There must be a lot of rich guys out there.

Me, I'm a working man and mostly proud of it but slightly ashamed that I couldn't even dream of throwing away $185 to have the right to stand in a 45 minute port-a-loo line before beginning to run on taxpayer funded public streets.

Whatttt??? wrote:

For most people, it's not worth $135. It is mostly run in the dark (it starts at 5:30 a.m.). It is run mostly on the perimeter of the city with little to see (no Chinatown, cable cars, etc.) except the Golden Gate. It has few fans (San Franciscans don't care about this race. It's not Bay to Breakers).

On the otherhand, if your fast, you can run for free:

Men: Full Marathon: Sub 2:40 / Half Marathon: Sub 1:18

Women: Full Marathon: Sub 3:00 / Half Marathon: Sub 1:28

If you're kinda fast, they'll knock about $40 off the fee:

Men: Open – Full Marathon: Sub 2:55 / Half Marathon: Sub 1:28

Women: Open – Full Marathon: Sub 3:20 / Half Marathon: Sub 1:40

I wouldn't pay more than $100 for this race

Yeah I was going to say, aren't all letsrunners 2:05 marathoners with six pack abs and a billion dollars in the bank??

You forgot to mention the hills that make PRs difficult, and the lack of prize money. Since fast runners have literally no reason to show up, there are very few fast runners. If you want to run sub-2:50, you're going to be in the top 20 and running most of the race completely by yourself. I can go for a run by myself any day of the week. Anyone who happens to be up at that hour might wonder why the hell you're running in the middle of the street (some guy asked me that as I ran past).

I'd say the lack of fan support is largely due to the time of day (who wakes up at 7AM to watch a race?) and location of the race. I think more fans show up on Haight Street than anywhere else, which makes a lot of sense. They've had it finish down Market Street, I'd imagine a lot of people would show up to watch that if it didn't start at 5AM.

Those shiftless Baby Boomer Hippies ruined that city.

Ran four marathons last year ($125, $135, $135, $140=$535). Seems to be the going rate. Ironman Florida is $750 and the cost of all the tri gear is easily $5000+ with an above average bike. We all make choices.

To middle america,

The prices are high for a reason. I think i can speak on behalf of all of San Franciscans and say please do not come here as you are not welcome.

Trump sucks.

Any race that forces you to go to the expo the day before is a deal breaker.

ok, new prices are in :

FM/1HM/2HM/5K/UM1/UM2

< ? : 155/125/115/45/400/600

FM/1HM/2HM/5K/UM1/UM2

< ? : 155/125/115/45/400/600

Sorry my message is being cut for some reason, another try :

FM/1HM/2HM/5K/UM1/UM2

Before ? : 155/125/115/45/400/600

Before 31/01: 135/115/110/45/400/600

Before 20.12 : ?

Before 31.10 : ?

Before 29/08 : Early Bird

New pricing since 03/07 : 165/135/120/45/400/600

Kind of stupid seeing high price tags for races now and days. I would never drop that much for a marathon race. Rather use that money for at least 2 pairs of running shoes.