Race prices

It's still possible to find races that are organised by clubs or other not-for-profit organisations.

A few well-organised local ones to me are:

A 10k organised by the PTA of a school.  Local businessed sponsor the event.  Entry is £13, which seems a bit steep but It's a a good race and there's a village fete at the same time.

A half mara organised by the Rotary club, again sponsored by local businesses, with money raised going to charity.  £20 to enter.

A 10k organised by a running club - £9 entry.

A 15 miler organised by another running club - £15.

10 miler organised by a local hospice, who also organised a successful triathlon recently.

5k organised by a different hospice.

That's within a radius of about 6 miles, and there are others.  There's a series of races on summer evenings (and Boxing day) which are a quid to enter.

I think local, volunteer-organised races are alive and well, and should be supported.

Wilkie wrote (see)

I think local, volunteer-organised races are alive and well, and should be supported.

Definitely, if they are available.  Local to me, unfortunately, there are less and less of them because as demand increases for the few there are, the organisers find it gets too much, and they hand it over to a dedicated events organisation.

But we do have a new Parkrun now, and as soon as I am able, I'll be taking part in those.

I was thinking of this last week whilst watching the Great South on TV,  I think it's a fantastic race to run,  flat and fast (depending upon the wind!).   However I've now not run it in over 10 yrs,  it was starting to get busier then and if I remember correctly the price had almost doubled from about £8 to £15 or something similar.

I personally think the VLM is great value at £28 for a standard race entry for what you get and what is put on.

I help organise a small scale marathon / 1/2marathon for a charity and we charge £20 for it.  It's point to point so this includes transport to the start,  3 drinks / food stations (can't beat a hot dog at 13 miles into a marathon) and plenty of tea and cake at the finish.   Finishers also get a technical t-shirt.
We rely on volunteers to help out but still manage to make some money out of the race in addition to any sponsorship that people raise.

That what I do we raise money for the local schools / scout groups and we run them from villages that a realy finding it hard where the little shops and pubs are near closer so they love events and the money the runners bring.

Jesus I thought the Great Manchester 10k was dear at £37...the British 10k price is a fcuking joke..absolutely scandalous.

Isn't that the one where you don't actually get a time?

Simon Coombes 2 wrote (see)

Jesus I thought the Great Manchester 10k was dear at £37...the British 10k price is a fcuking joke..absolutely scandalous.

Isn't that the one where you don't actually get a time?

It was - not sure if they've sorted that out now.  In the first few races, only the first 200 times were recorded.

It was also one where a friend of mine never got her race pack (early years) and couldn't get in touch with the organisers to find out how to resolve it.  Considering she was travelling 700 miles to run it, it was a bit of a shambles.

Wilkie wrote (see)

They are using volunteers, and making a huge profit?  Perhaps they should be paying the volunteers?

I'm happy to volunteer to help out with my club's races for free and would do the same for a charitable event, but if they're making a hefty profit then I'd expect payment in some way for my time.

I do wonder if there'd be any mileage ('scuse the pun), now that Parkruns are so commonplace, of having some of them as 10k's?

XFR Bear wrote (see)

I'm happy to volunteer to help out with my club's races for free and would do the same for a charitable event, but if they're making a hefty profit then I'd expect payment in some way for my time.

That was my thinking - it's a business, and if it's making a huge profit then they CAN afford to pay marshals, water-station helpers, etc. 

I've voluntarily helped out at races for free (well, a t-shirt!), because they were organised by a running club. 

I wouldn't do it for a business whose sole reason for putting the race on was to make a profit.  For that I'd expect to be paid.

I think we must be lucky in south wales because most of the running clubs organise races during the year and are great value for money.........a lot of them have gone off road now or found unusual routes.......

the running clubs also organise a series of cross country and summer league races that are free.............so i rarely do big organised events........the half and full marathon in llanelli will be some but they are reasonable...........

XFR Bear wrote (see)

I do wonder if there'd be any mileage ('scuse the pun), now that Parkruns are so commonplace, of having some of them as 10k's?