You know, I like running, but I haven’t run in a whole lot of races. Why? Because they’re expensive! When I do choose a race, cost is the first thing I consider. I also consider the course, convenience, etc, but the cost is the bottom line. For this reason, I’m not sure that I’ll ever run a “big” race. Big races tend to be expensive!
Take the marathon I’m running in October. It’s the same weekend as the Portland Marathon. I heard the Portland Marathon is supposed to be one of the best, so I considered running it. But when I looked into it, it just didn’t make sense to me to go with Portland. Both the Portland and the Leavenworth marathon are a bit of a drive from where we live, but nothing overwhelming. Both would require us to stay at a hotel. Both have unique courses that sound fun. Yet there is one glaring difference between the two: The price. I’m not sure what the difference in price is now, but when I was considering which marathon to run, PDX was $130 and Leavenworth was $81. I am not sure why there is such a price difference. Do you think they’d give me $50 worth of GU at the Portland Marathon? Or is there $50 worth of trail mix at the end? Or is the rose that they give to each participant dipped in gold?
I don’t want to be too sarcastic. It’s not that I don’t understand why it would cost more money to put on the Portland Marathon…as a city, there’s going to be more money put into blocking streets, security, etc. But I wonder what the value is to the runners that choose to run the more expensive races. Is the Portland Marathon really $50 more fun? I’m not sure that it would be. I look forward to having just as much fun at my $81 race as I would have at a $130 race!
Do you consider price when choosing races? What is your price limit? Are more expensive races better?
The most we’ve paid is just over $100 each to do the Half Corked Marathon. Well worth it for the amount we drank along the course! :). That said, I do very few races as I can’t justify the prices either, especially with travel to add on. I almost never run anything shorter than a half marathon because most 5k and 10k races are $50+ around here and that’s just ridiculous. Cost is the sole reason I won’t be doing Lululemon’s new half this summer.
Yeah, I’m with you on the 5ks/10ks…I just think, “Wait, so I have to pay you so that I’ll run a shorter distance than my normal run???” Plus I really hate going fast, so shorter distances just don’t make sense to me!!!
The one nice thing is that often races benefit some charity, so that helps!!
I feel the same way! Plus, with the bigger races, I don’t want to add to my time with all the weaving through crowds. Especially re: the rock and roll series – I think it’s cool that there are all these bands and whatnot, but I’d just be running past them. I’m thinking about doing my first full and Leavenworth was one I was mulling over. 🙂 That or one next Spring; hoping Eugene isn’t terribly expensive…
Really? Let me know if you go with Leavenworth! The best part is that if the race goes badly, the weekend will still be super fun with Oktoberfest activities!!!
I’m with you on the RnR series…so expensive!!!
Race prices are getting to be ridiculous. I honestly don’t want to know how much I spend on them. 😦
Good call with signing up for Leavenworth- I heard that it is a great race. Having run PDX once before I can tell you it isn’t that fabulous and the rose isn’t dipped in gold and there isn’t tons of goodies at the finish line to make that extra $50 worth it. Go buy a new purse and some cute shoes. 🙂
Ha ha! I will have to go shopping tonight!!!
I have spent an obscene amount of money on races…my most recent being this week when I signed up for the Tinker Bell half marathon. I think I justify it by saying that signing up for these races really keeps me motivated to stick with the running. I love the excitement of race day. The races at Disney are higher than most of the other races I sign up for but I just love the entire experience of the races at Disney so I think that’s how I justify it. Now I’m going to think about this all day!! 🙂
Ah! I’m excited for you! Disney races are ridiculously expensive! But I would love to get to dress up like a princess and run. Though I know I’d get confused about whether to run or take pictures!
You’re going to have so much fun!!!
i am so with ya!!! the pricew are redic. I have spent most of the ast 2 years unemlyed (or working pt) so am soooooo broke. So I often volunteer to get free race entry. I so wanna do a Disney run, but the price is just too much (right now, but i will do it at some point!). I see american and Canadian prices are both rising. I dont mind paying for a race, but i like to feel i get my $$$-worth. So sometimes it is hard to pay 100 for a race, when something else is so much cheaper. Also, i have to factor in travel and such…its a pain! sigh. so for this summer, i have to run local. 🙂
The other problem I run into is that I try to plan WAY ahead so that I’ll get the early bird deals…but then things happen and it ends up not working out for me to plan so far in advance! I had registered Saign and I for a half-marathon in San Diego when I thought we were moving to Southern California, but then we unexpectedly moved to WA, so there went $180!