Recently Stephanie the Magpie (Not a real magpie) wrote a post about Race Fees. I don't run as many races as Stephanie, but her thoughts tend to mirror mine. You can find her post here http://amagpieinthesky.com/magpie-runs/race-price-cap/
To preface everything else I'm about to say, I'm a plodder, my 10k PB is 1:04:54. I'm not an Athlete and would never claim to be.
The first race I entered when I started running with Family, was the BUPA Great Manchester Run, it cost about £36 and I didn't know any better, but I enjoyed the event which was well organised.
The next race I entered opened my eyes though. The Trafford 10k was less than £20, excellently organised and far more intimate. It was full of runners rather than 'Fun Runners' with people wanting to get a good time and very few walkers. People had obviously trained for the event. I know that sounds elitist, but when you go to an event to get a PB you want like minded people around you, who are aware of those around them.
Next time the Great Manchester run came up, I signed up reluctantly (after some persuasion from friends)mans all of my fears were realised. I didn't run well that day and didn't 'get' the day at all. Some of my complaints were people walk / running within the first 1k, people barging through those in front of them and the number of people stopping right in front of you for a walk were frustrating for me. I couldn't get close to my PB.
Since then I've run the Trafford 10k twice, the We Love Manchester 10k, the Salford 10k and the Wigan 10k. All well organised and more inclusive. All cost me less than £20. I also ran the Chester Half Marathon which cost me less than £30.
In 2013, I ran the BUPA Great North Run which cost just under £50 which was a fantastic event which caused me give the Great Manchester another go for £38, but again, I didn't enjoy it. I won't run the Great Manchester again, I might tackle the Great North Run again, Yes the GNR suffered some of the same 'Fun Runner' blights of the Manchester, but there was far more space to make your own space.
By the same Token the Colour Run and Electric Run look brilliant, but at £25 and £28 respectively for a 5k fun run, it seems expensive.
I've now signed up for the Wigan 10k £19.50 and the Abersoch Half Marathon £29 and both promise to be brilliant for reasonable prices. You can enter some brilliant Marathons for less than £60
Before Stephanie posed the question I hadn't thought about it as a price for Kilometer, but I suppose I evaluate races on Cost, potential atmosphere and location. I doubt I'll ever pay more than £2 a Km and for Half Marathons, I doubt I'll pay more than £50.
I suppose my point comes down to the fact that the are some fantastic local races, and you don't need to go for the well known ones to have a good time, and if you want to challenge your PBs, then the big races aren't the Best ones to go for.
My tip, before you sign up for a race, speak to someone who's done it before.
Posted with Blogsy