(photo from last years race where I got my PR)
So, how much would you pay for a 1/2? The Disney Marathon last year cost me around $110 and the same for the Miami ING this year - so why charge $80 for a 1/2? Thoughts? Feelings?
Ok. Done ranting.
Running with a bottle of wine.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
How much would you pay for a 1/2 marathon
The charter school in Seaside, FL has an amazing 1/2 marathon for a fundraiser every year. It's a super boring course (up and down 30a which is our typical training route) but the after party is great and the money does to a good cause. Not to mention they give out Vera Bradley bags at the end. (here is my race report form last year) But this year is it $80.00. Yes, $80 bucks to run up and down the same road that we freaking train on. Come on now. The race sells out every year, and the school is not hurting THAT much for money (they have food delivered every day for lunch!) And beacuse of the price, SEVERAL local runners are 'boycotting' the race. So, I e-mailed the race director seeing if they will allow some type of local discount. To be honest, they can keep their Vera Bradley bag (Amy got mine last year...fist pump!). I do want to run the race and help out the school, but the cost is just too high.
(photo from last years race where I got my PR)
So, how much would you pay for a 1/2? The Disney Marathon last year cost me around $110 and the same for the Miami ING this year - so why charge $80 for a 1/2? Thoughts? Feelings?
Ok. Done ranting.
(photo from last years race where I got my PR)
So, how much would you pay for a 1/2? The Disney Marathon last year cost me around $110 and the same for the Miami ING this year - so why charge $80 for a 1/2? Thoughts? Feelings?
Ok. Done ranting.
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20 comments:
Mr. Tightwods here. That's why I do one race per year. They are way too expensive and I have 12 years of college to pay for starting in 2011.
I've paid 85 for a HM: but the course was absolutely to die for. I hope they give you a local discount!
That is crazy! I hope you get a discount. I think the last one I ran was roughly $25 but it was in mexico city and in pesos.
Interesting - you would think it was the locals who wouldn't mind paying. I would pay it, mostly because I support charter schools in general. I would also pay it if the course timing and location was right. (plus it will make me work my ass off more if I throw down 80 bones to run it. It would definitly need to be a PR.)
I guess if they get significantly less entrants they'll lower the price next year.....Sorry your not doing it :(
I don't like paying a ton of money for nothing either, but they will charge what the market will bear. They should double their fees if they are filling up every year anyways!
To give you some perspective, I registered for Ironman St. George that will be run on May 1st. The registration fee was $550.00 as I recall. There is more support for an Ironman and a 1/2 mary, but still...
Each Ironman continues to fill up within days of opening registration.
p.s just read your race report from this race. Nicely done. I love the lessons learned! Sounds like that was money well spent!
Eighty dollars for a half marathon that isn't really exciting sounds pretty steep. However, I think it is more for the cause than anything else. If you believe in the cause which it is raising funds for than it is worth it, otherwise not.
race fees are getting ridiculous. We have a whole slew of local half marathons that have popped up this year...all in the $60-$80 range. they SHOULD give a local's discount!
That said, I totally spent $110+ on the disney princess half marathon this year (and another $50 to run the 5k the night before!)
They should pay you $80.00 just to see the pink compression socks!
Yeah, I won't pay that much anymore. I used to. There are SO many good, fun, challenging races that are way more fun and a lot less $$. Have you tried trail races? Most of those are less than $50.
I too have noted the fee creep in half marathons which I think is due to the popularity of this distance. Good race directors offer discounts for early registration (Miami & A1a do it in South FL). Also, I see no reason to run a race that is on a boring course. There are plenty of other events and causes out there worth supporting.
I always paid 75 bucks for a FULL Flying Pig marathon so I'd say tops 50 bucks. I'd bootleg the race.
I paid $75.00 to do the GO St.Louis 1/2 last April--and I just signed up again!
It's a lot, especially when it's not for a specific charity or something.....
but it makes me move my butt there is no way I'm going to skip it! It seems like they can charge more because for some people it validates that it is a big deal to be a part of it.
The way that running trends are picking up, there has to be some major money coming in from sold out races, etc.!
hmmm it is a good cause but triathlon is soooo freakin expensive already. i can't keep up.... I don't think I would do it.
I would pay $80 if it was an A priority race and one of my big events of the year, or if it was for a cause that's very close to my heart, but I don't think I'd pay $80 for a HM on a boring route that I do often.
Maybe you can volunteer and get a free entry that way?
Love the race pic from last year!
-Melissa
I just signed up for my first 1/2 (A1A Marathon&Half) it was $75 and as far as I know isn't a fundraiser of any kind. I would've felt better about it if it was.
I'd pay for this race $25 tops. I mean you train on this route, it's a boring route and it's just a half. They got sponsors for probably everything. So I'd say, if they don't get down to $25, don't race even if it is for a good cause.
I paid 60€ for my running seminar which includes training schedule, weekly training at a track with a coach who trains pro runners and you can choose whatever distance you like at the Leipzig Marathon 10 k, half or whole. And we get a shirt for which the normal runners have to pay extra. Even the normal marathon fee is at a maximum of 50 € and half max is 30 €.
cheers.
For just a regular, run of the mill half I'd be less than thrilled about spending $80. But I have done halfs that charge $60-$90 and were absolutely amazing - post race concert, great food, etc and were definitely worth the money.
Can I tell you that I use the bag and think of you ALL THE TIME?! $80 is a lot of money and I'm not sure I would pay it if its your training route. Tough call but I think that's way too much for a half.
That's just too much for me to pay too. I can't seem to justify it when I can make a 13.1 mile course and maybe not run QUITE as hard, but still give it a really good effort. I wish I had endless funds for races, but I just don't so I'm with ya sister.. that's just not cool.
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