race fees!

$91 each for a sprint?  Let's see...My recent duathlon was $40, upcoming sprint is $55, upcoming Oly is $85, my 1/2 IM in Sept is $135, a couple 10k's are $20-25 each.  The fees certainly do add up if you have a full schedule for the season.  I'd actually like to see a breakdown of how our entry fees are spent for each race...seems a reasonable request of the reace directors.

$91 for a sprint is outrageous, I complain about having to pay $35. Do they give you a new set of Dura Ace pedals in the goodie bag, or something?

$91 is crazy.

The most I am paying for a sprint is $55 and it includes a really nice goody bag.

The Duathlon I am doing this weekend is only $30.

i don't think you get anything except another cotton shirt:


PHILADELPHIA TRIATHLON™ - Give it the Ol' Philly Tri™ - Inaugural
http://envirosports.com/events/displayevent.php?eventid=1310

$85 + there will be a processing charge of 6.5% + $.75 (minimum $2.00) added to your total.

Looks like you get a T-shirt and a medal and the privilege of paying ~$4.25 for every mile of the race.

i paid 185cad for the world masters games, but that at least gives me some swag! i get to go to any other events, and a bus pass, and some other stuff....
but yep, the costs are starting to get ridiculous. it sucks when entry fees become a factor in what races i can do...

Holy smokes thats a lot of money.
I have been searching for cheaper races and I have found a few for 50 Canadian.
I also do not have a wet suit, so I look for races with warm water.
But then again I am cheap.

$91 seems insane. My upcoming race (gotta register sometime this month...prolly on pay day.) is $50, which ain't cheap, imho. If you're one of the 1st 1000 to pick up your bib, you get a shirt. Get there early or end up with no size selection.

However, they also offer a scholarship program if you really can't afford the race fee, which is really cool.

This isn't a cheap sport...

Instead of doing the normal sprint races that are around $55 here in MA, I'm opting to do a training series in CT that are every other week on a week night. They are only $10 a race with not goodie bag or awards..but I'm doing it for the challenge and the price is right. Plus I'm not a morning person...I'd rather do a Tri at 6pm than 7am. I'm only doing a few Tris with teh $55 price tag. I opted instead to get a coach, plus a TI coach.

Instead of doing the normal sprint races that are around $55 or more here in MA, I'm opting to do a training series in CT that are every other week on a week night. They are only $10 a race with not goodie bag or awards..but I'm doing it for the challenge and the price is right. Plus I'm not a morning person...I'd rather do a Tri at 6pm than 7am. I'm only doing a few Tris with the $55 price tag. I opted instead to get a coach, plus a TI coach.

As with all good capitalist societies, price is a function of what the market will support. If people will fill a race at $91, then so be it. I am not about protest too loudly, however, as race directors can find themselves at the mercy of shortsighted city fathers. In Racine, Wis., my hometown, which has struggled for years to improve its image and lure events and visitors, the city council just approved a street closing fee of  $250 for the first block, and $50 for each additional block! Start to add that up for a 1/2 IM race. This city has enjoyed a wildly successful relationship with the Spirt of Racine Half IM for the last two years, but suddenly organizers find themselves with a pretty hefty increase for which they could not have budgeted. I guess the fact that 1500 athletes and their friends/families have all the hotels and restaurants filled escaped the city leaders.  

If they have a good medical tent, massage, food, drinks, women, good course, good aid stations the race fees dont seem as bad when you really look at them.

You can always vote with your $$$. If you think the price is too high, tell them, and then don't sign up, and tell them why. I think fees have become outrageous. Most of these races have sponsors that take care of the cost of the swag, including the T-shirt. And the T-shirts are often very poorly designed, like some non-designer with a paint program threw it together (I'm an editor so I notice this stuff).

When I raced in my early 20's (late 80's) in BC, Wa, ID, Oly races usually included a carbo-load dinner the night before, you got a T-shirt (sometimes a lightweight jacket or lycra top), swim cap, often a bag or hat, and water bottle. The post-race meal was always good, from doughnuts to fruit salads, bagels, gatorade, sandwiches to full on lunches. Award ceremonies were full of giveaways. Wheelsets, aero bars, tires, seat covers, jackets, pumps, etc. There was usually prize money and trophies. Many races had free massages, my favorite race coincided with graduation of the local massage school, and there were dozens of massage pros. And I paid typically, $20-45 Can. (I also remember lots of people stripping down to their skin in transition zones, which USAT has actually made an offense, mind boggling as that is. Want more fans, let 'em go!).

Profit seems to be the motive now. Take the Americas Triathlon in Austin. 1200 Oly competitors and 800 Sprint. (1200*85) + (800*65) = $154,000. And this is if everyone enters early, prices go up $15. Relays are on top of this I think. Anyway, a race like this has several large sponsors that probably take care of the advertising costs, registration costs, swag and maybe even timing. So you have city services (cops, permits), site costs (Transition, barricades, radios, sound system, porta-potties, racks, DJ/announcer, scaffolding), Course costs (transportation,cups, food, drinks, chairs, tables), med personnel (ambulance service), advertising (banners, online, posters, T-shirts and registration, prizes) and timing and insurance. I think Timing and insurance eats a big chunk. If there are a bunch of sponsors, then lots of the incidentals like T-shirts, transport, prizes will be taken care of. An established race promoter will own all teh transition stuff which despite what they say, doesn't cost all that much when spread over multiple races and multiple years.

anyway, I think that small races probably are not big money makers, but biggies like this one have the potential to be decent cash cows. How good is the race director at selling the race to the sponsors, and very importantly, the city? This would probably make or break most races. Of course if you plan a huge event and no one shows, you eat big $$$.

So yes, fees have become outrageous. I think we should be getting much nicer shirts, maybe proper running or true Tri singlets. I think there should be better food (you should see what catering costs are on video projects I produce). I think many race directors should be nicer, more friendly, more upbeat, and better at selling. I think we'll all still fork over for the crappy races though. We're addicts. Maybe we should start a database somewhere that lists races by state, with reviews of the course, AND the event as a whole, including the quality and size of the field, quality of race director/volunteers, safety and security (this is starting to bug me too, with even established races sometimes being too lax about Transition security), cost and convenience. anyone?

" I think Timing and insurance eats a big chunk."

i thought that the USAT fees covered insurance for the event? although i guess i always just assumed that's what USAT fees were for so i may be wrong.

this year, i am doing the races i want regardless of cost in order to keep motivated and prepare for ironman wisconsin. next year i will be much more sensible and avoid races that are too expensive unless i know they are worth it.

that's hilarious! i should wear a shirt to the race with "$4.25/mile" on the front. or maybe they can have the cost on the mile markers. keep going, just $8.50 left....

The Pike's Peak Ascent was still only ~$65 this year and you get a nice fleece jacket on top of the t-shirt and other goodies, so it is obviously possible to put on a race for a reasonable price. Given that they don't really have to close any roads down, there are other services that they provide that tri's don't

It's just a matter of the race management team.

I think that we have the best in the country here in Shreveport, LA with Sportspectrum.

Our big tri of the year is usually sold out in less than 10 hours after registration opens. That is 1100 people paying $65 in less than 10 hours, so you know how good of a name that they have.

They put on tons of races so that everyone can feel as if they can get involved. They do a lot of races to benefit charities as well. They put on races all through out the city and the parish.

I think one of their biggest reasons they excel is the sponsorships that they get. You usually get more swag than your entry fee is worth.

www.sportspectrumusa.com

That is one thing I have noticed about races, fees are so expensive!
I just hope a big chunk of the money really goes to the charities the promote....
I could care less for the t-shirt... Most are long sleeves (who wears long sleeves in South Fla? cannot even use them as PJs)
I signed up for the Iron Monkey Int'l Triathlon in Miami, it was $90 for one event but for $145 I could add a second race in November. I decided to do the series... Still, it was around $75 each Oly.
My fee for the Disney Marathon was $100. They ran out of t-shirts (I am still waiting for mine on the mail). The medal is gorgeous , they also give you a certificate with official times and a CD with the highlights of the race. The race is so well organized that I really didn't mind the $100 fee. Pictures? wow I paid almost $40 for 2 5x7 @ SIA..... that is outrageous!!!!! but it was my first marathon, what can I do

...why are there charges to race? I have never registered for one, so I don't know the details, but I'm looking into signing up for one (from all the pressure on here//just kidding) this summer, so that'll be a first for me. What are the fees for, exactly? I recall a charity race that I was going to register for a few years ago, even charging a fee. If you're raising money, then what's the fee for?

Why are there charges for anything?

There are multiple expenses associated with holding a race: refreshments and aid stations, police security and traffic control, timing equipment and officials, lifeguards, medical support, and probably dozens of other things I'm forgetting. In addition, many of these race directors at least attempt to do this for a profit, in the entrepeneurial spirit.

Oh yeah--I didn't think about all those things. ha!
Thanks.