What is a fair price for a race?

Coffee Fulled Runner

With so many road races this time of year I'm just wondering what you guys think is a fair price for 5km to 10mile races? And what should you get in return if the race if it is run by an athletics club or local community. I'm not talking about races which are ran by companies for profit.

If the race is chipped, well organised with stewards along the way, and a good spread after it then I'm happy to pay €20 for it. If its not chipped €10-15 depending on the distance, although if it's a race where all fees go to charity I'll happily pay more. There seems to be an expectation that you should receive a goodie bag/t shirt in return for your fee. Which is grand if the race has over 500 runners and or big sponsorship. Do you think that's a reasonable expectation?

tang1

Oh Jesus:

tang1

In all seriousness though, €12-15 for a chipped timed 5k/10k is standard price in Co Meath where I would run most of my races. All races are club ran and may include a t-shirt at that price to. €20 for 10mile/Half is more than enough and there's plenty on the road racing calendar for that price. I stay away from commercially ran races, learnt my lesson on those and they tend to be overpriced IMO. You get feck all more to warrant the extra price than you do from a €12-15 race.

walshb

It's a how long is a piece of string. I think adults are well able to do the research, although on the day things aren't always as they seem. The organisers have costs that need to be considered, so before ranting about the price, that needs to be looked at. Most important for a serious runner, or someone looking to actually race and get a good time is the course layout. Is the course conducive for racing, or is it a bloody obstacle course!

Chipped and marshalled and signed well, with a decent spread after? 20-25 is reasonable.

Wild Garlic

And having a charity partner justifies an entry fee of 40 notes.

average_runner

If its a club race I don't really mind as its going back to the running people.

pconn062

I won't pay more than €20 for any race, club race or not. €15 seems to be the standard price for the 5-10k distances, which I think is more than fair. My favourite road races cost €10, and they offer just as much as the €20 races. XC and track races offer much better value for money, usually €2-5 a race, I realise they have much less organisation involved but these are the races I favour.

KielyUnusual

pconn062 wrote: »

I won't pay more than €20 for any race, club race or not. €15 seems to be the standard price for the 5-10k distances, which I think is more than fair. My favourite road races cost €10, and they offer just as much as the €20 races. XC and track races offer much better value for money, usually €2-5 a race, I realise they have much less organisation involved but these are the races I favour.

Maybe in Louth but you'd probably pay more than €2 to go to the jacks at a track meet in Dublin . Well, €8 I think it was for the Dublin Gradeds and a tenner for the IMC. Yea, I'd say €10-€20 for a 5-10k and €15-€25 for 10k to Half Marathon. Marathon then is a different animal altogether and hugeley dependent on the level of organisation/road closures required. Think you have to take in to account that a city centre race like the MSB 5k for example will have a few more costs associated and paying the higher end of the spectrum (€20) is probably reasonable

Itziger

pconn062 wrote: »

I won't pay more than €20 for any race, club race or not. €15 seems to be the standard price for the 5-10k distances, which I think is more than fair. My favourite road races cost €10, and they offer just as much as the €20 races. XC and track races offer much better value for money, usually €2-5 a race, I realise they have much less organisation involved but these are the races I favour.

Not a fan of NYC marathon then I take it?

pconn062

KielyUnusual wrote: »

Maybe in Louth but you'd probably pay more than €2 to go to the jacks at a track meet in Dublin . Well, €8 I think it was for the Dublin Gradeds and a tenner for the IMC. Yea, I'd say €10-€20 for a 5-10k and €15-€25 for 10k to Half Marathon. Marathon then is a different animal altogether and hugeley dependent on the level of organisation/road closures required. Think you have to take in to account that a city centre race like the MSB 5k for example will have a few more costs associated and paying the higher end of the spectrum (€20) is probably reasonable

I agree about the city centre thing and I have no issue with races charging that, I just wouldn't fancy paying that much. I thought the Graded's were €5, must be wrong. Most of the track races organised locally up here are €5 a race or less. I generally won't pay €25 for a race, but then again, I never race longer that 10k so it never really affects me.

Itziger wrote: »

Not a fan of NYC marathon then I take it?

About 35k too long for me!

Slogger Jogger

A fair price is what one is prepared to pay.
IMRA races can work out at a fiver a race, if you get a 10 race voucher. No better value than that. Some select IMRA races are slightly dearer, but the IMRA ultra (this weekend) is probably cheapest around at €15 I think.
BHAA race fantastic value too.

robinph

About a quid a mile and you are getting a bargain then. Tiny bit more than that for exceptional destination or special event races.

PaulieC

RasUCD is 15 quid for 5k. Chip timing, t-shirt and the biggest spread of tea, sandwiches and cake afterwards.

It is full of students though...

Timmaay

robinph wrote: »

About a quid a mile and you are getting a bargain then. Tiny bit more than that for exceptional destination or special event races.

The 60m national indoors must be the most horribly overpriced rip off race every in your opinion, I'm working it out at 27e per mile, the cheek of them ha.

Timmaay

PaulieC wrote: »

RasUCD is 15 quid for 5k. Chip timing, t-shirt and the biggest spread of tea, sandwiches and cake afterwards.

It is full of students though...

It's open to everyone! And isn't it 12e for students?

PaulieC

Timmaay wrote: »

It's open to everyone! And isn't it 12e for students?

It is open to everyone and it is 12e for students. And the proceeds go to charity. All of the proceeds as far as I am aware.

Again, it's all good. Apart from the students

robinph

Timmaay wrote: »

The 60m national indoors must be the most horribly overpriced rip off race every in your opinion, I'm working it out at 27e per mile, the cheek of them ha.

Well that would probably come under the destination or special event clause if I was into that kind of distance.

uvox

I'd say 5 X Euros per KM is reasonable. Running, like Freedom, isn't free - unless it's not close to your heart t or don't intend to keep it up. So paying a little more than the cost of a pint in a better pub ub Dublin per KM isn't that tough.

Chivito550

pconn062 wrote: »

I agree about the city centre thing and I have no issue with races charging that, I just wouldn't fancy paying that much. I thought the Graded's were €5, must be wrong. Most of the track races organised locally up here are €5 a race or less. I generally won't pay €25 for a race, but then again, I never race longer that 10k so it never really affects me.



About 35k too long for me!

It's €15 per race at Nationals and AAI Games. €30 is pretty steep for a 60m/200m combo.

Whereisgalway

€75 for the Limerick marathon + & €5-€6 booking fee. I know it's for charity but it's kinda taking the bees wax

Krusty_Clown

Whereisgalway wrote: »

I know it's for charity

Are you sure about that?

Wabbit Ears

Most North east races ( louth/meath) are in and around 15 -20 quid. The races are club run, excelently marshalled and always a great spread.

For-profit races are a joke. the Malahide/St Annes 'Summer Series' were 23 quid and a complete ripoff, Badly organised, badly marshalled, No spread whatsoever. These types of events, IMHO, are a disgrace, never again. At least they didnt try to pretend it was for charity.

Which leads me onto corporate races and their 'Charity Partners'. Just no, The fact that athetic ireland continue to support these is absolutely and utterly shameful. They should be promoting clubs and national athletics and shouldnt be whoring themselves out for cash to support corporate events.

Chivito550

Timmaay wrote: »

The 60m national indoors must be the most horribly overpriced rip off race every in your opinion, I'm working it out at 27e per mile, the cheek of them ha.

The National Shot Putt is a total rip off in terms of the euro per mile measure.

27 euro per mile? Try 15e for a 60m, which is 402e per mile!

Timmaay

Chivito550 wrote: »

The National Shot Putt is a total rip off in terms of the euro per mile measure.

27 euro per mile? Try 15e for a 60m, which is 402e per mile!

Ha I obviously got my maths wrong!

rovers_runner

12 euro today for the annual Carney/Lissadell 10k. As nice a place as you could hope to run.

20 a couple of weeks ago for the Bundoran 10 mile, the Cara owners are athletics fans and it shows.

It is possible for backers to become involved and increase their profile but when they fleece the public its going to leave a bad taste.
Steer clear of pop up companies out to make a profit and squeeze the runners to the last.
Wild Atlantic Run ltd are a fine example, upped sticks to Westport after pillaging Sligo last year.

DubOnHoliday

rovers_runner wrote: »

Steer clear of pop up companies out to make a profit and squeeze the runners to the last.
Wild Atlantic Run ltd are a fine example, upped sticks to Westport after pillaging Sligo last year.

An example being the bray cliff run, used to be limited to 2 waves accommodating 300 runners, well this year they are jamming them in , 6 waves over 1000 runners. Madness just to make a quick buck. Talk about how to ruin a good race

Whereisgalway

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Are you sure about that?

No, jee's I hope it is

Krusty_Clown

Whereisgalway wrote: »

No, jee's I hope it is

Barringtons Hospital is a sponsor, not a charity (and a private hospital, at that). I'd guess that little (if any) of the registration fee goes to charity. Would be delighted to be proven wrong.

Djoucer

DubOnHoliday wrote: »

An example being the bray cliff run, used to be limited to 2 waves accommodating 300 runners, well this year they are jamming them in , 6 waves over 1000 runners. Madness just to make a quick buck. Talk about how to ruin a good race

They put on the race in the first place. 2 waves of 300 is 150 per wave.

6 waves of 1000 runners is 170. Not a massive difference.

Some would say the race was expensive to begin with. Not sure they can be accused of making a quick buck while adding 10 runners per wave.

DubOnHoliday

Djoucer wrote: »

They put on the race in the first place. 2 waves of 300 is 150 per wave.

6 waves of 1000 runners is 170. Not a massive difference.

Some would say the race was expensive to begin with. Not sure they can be accused of making a quick buck while adding 10 runners per wave.

I'll have to disagree with you there, in 2015 there were 520 participants, the race list for 2016 has over 1500. A cap should have been kept to preserve the enjoyment of this race for a limited number, it was already problematic on a very narrow trail with two waves. Inevitably you will have slower runners starting in earlier waves and blocking the trail. What's that saying?....sometimes less is more.

average_runner

If the races get the numbers then they got their pricing correct. Its just economics!!!

tomwaits48

was looking at the Achill Half Marathon this July....my eyes watered when I saw the price....€50

Coffee Fulled Runner

€20 to enter the Athlone half until April 1st, then goes up to €25, €30, €35 over the next few months.

ultrapercy

tomwaits48 wrote: »

was looking at the Achill Half Marathon this July....my eyes watered when I saw the price....€50

I paid 100 euro as a late entry the year after I had won it. I should have walked away but had travelled 60 miles to run. It's a barging now compared to that.

nhunter100

tomwaits48 wrote:

was looking at the Achill Half Marathon this July....my eyes watered when I saw the price....€50

Achill back to back marathon 27th/28th of August, €90 the two days.

Enduro

ultrapercy wrote: »

I paid 100 euro as a late entry the year after I had won it. I should have walked away but had travelled 60 miles to run. It's a barging now compared to that.

That's ubelieveable!

Krusty_Clown

ultrapercy wrote: »

I paid 100 euro as a late entry the year after I had won it. I should have walked away but had travelled 60 miles to run. It's a barging now compared to that.

The real question is - did you retain the title?

RayCun

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

The real question is - did you retain the title?

and was there prize money that covered the entry fee?

hot buttered scones

Cork BHAA races - 10 euro to register for the year, then 5 euro a race or 10 euro a race for non regs. There's great spread afterwards too, and loads of prizes. The John Buckley 5k is chip timed, but none of the others are. The exception to the price structure is the Cork to Cobh 15 miler which is 15 euro for everyone. Also worth mentioning the Ballycotton 5 mile summer series which is also 5 euro a race, gives a guaranteed entry to the Ballycotton 10 if you run all 4 races.

ultrapercy

RayCun wrote: »

and was there prize money that covered the entry fee?

The answer to both questions is no. Owen Gahan won that year haven't seen him in a while now. There was sponsored prizes of mobile phones and vouchers for lifestyle sports I think. Another member of our club, an over 70 athlete also paid 100 euros. It seems mad when I think of it now but I wanted to run so I paid up.