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lab rat and entry fees

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Last Updated on October 24, 2019 by Heather Hart, ACSM EP, CSCS

Last week in exercise physiology lab, my professor asked for a volunteer to do a VO2Max test. I jumped on the opportunity. I’ve wanted to do a VO2Max test for a while now, mainly out of curiosity. I may not be in peak (or even close) shape at the moment, bur really, how can you beat a free (well, free with tuition) test?? I’ve heard that sucker can cost hundreds of dollars elsewhere! Luckily for me, no one else jumped to volunteer. In fact, i don’t think anyone else even batted an eyelash. The VO2Max lab rat position is allllll minneee!

Tomorrow afternoon, I will be hooked up to all sorts of contraptions, running on a treadmill to complete exhaustion, all in a matter of ten minutes. I can’t wait! Here’s to hoping I don’t pass out, puke, pee (hey I’ve birthed two babies) or otherwise fall off of the treadmill . Although that would make an interesting blog post, I’d prefer not to make a total ass out of myself in front of my peers.

Anyway, onto my running rant topic today (this isn’t’ a new one) : Why do race entry fees have to be so darn expensive, and why are we so addicted to racing that we will pay anyway?
Upon leaving the library today, next to the newspaper stacks was a pile of brochures tossed haphazardly in the corner. My eye spotted the sneaker from across the foyer: it was a half marathon brochure! I grabbed one and went on my merry way, with a little pep in my step (just the THOUGHT of a race makes me giddy!)

The inaugural Rivertown half marathon, in the same town as the college campus (Conway SC). The weekend after the Beach2Battleship relay. I could do a nice, slow, recovery run among fellow runners, with Gatorade stops (even though I’ll be using the NUUN thank you very much!)

And then I flipped over the brochure. $60 for another week, then the price goes up, ending at $70 on race day.

*cough cough* excuse me I just choked on my FRS (I’m giving it a whirl, my little sis gave it to me for free, certainly has helped the caffeine/dew withdrawals!). $60 for a local race? One that I will be surprised if over 200 people show up to? Let’s face it, running is my THING, and I live here. This is only the second time I’ve heard of the race. I doubt in it’s inaugural year it will have the crowd that the Myrtle Beach half marathon brings in.

So I’m just curious how adding another 10 miles to a 5k can cost another $40? It’s the same timing group that is used for local races. Is Gatorade that expensive? Perhaps I’m missing something? More than likely, I’m not a race director and I don’t pretend to be! I really am curious how some half marathons can cost $30-$40 and some can cost $100+

All whining aside, truth is, perhaps I’m just a broke college student who is bitter that she probably won’t be affording this race, and will probably turn a horrible shade of envious green knowing there is a half marathon going on in my backyard and I’m not there, despite the fact that I ran a full marathon the weekend before.

Wow. I need runners rehab. I seem to lose all common sense and reason when it comes to those shiny marathon medals. (I’ve almost come to terms with the fact that I am approaching the “too much on my plate” limit…baby steps, baby steps.)
All I’m saying, is throw the locals a “inaugural” discount, won’tchya? Or, better yet, I need to resort to plan B: who wants to sponsor a front-of-the-middle-of-the-pack running mom for all of next year’s race entry fees? I take great race photos! OK that might be an exaggeration…a girl can dream, right?

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Comments

  3. Hi Jennifer! I guess it is all relative. I was thinking after I posted the blog, that I paid $120 for the Disney world half marathon (crazy) and will pay $80 for the Myrtle Beach half marathon (just on the other side of town, haha). I guess what it all boils down to is exactly what you said, some give more value than others. I guess I should give the race the benefit of the doubt since it is their first year!

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  5. That’s why I love PCTR events. Maximum is $55 for their 50K distances. The smaller ones range from $30 to $45. They have 32 events a year. You get aid station food & drink and a t-shirt. Now granted, it’s trail running, but still. So reasonable, right?
    The SF Marathon this year was $120. Ridiculous! But, TONS of people pay it, don’t they?

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  6. Do you think it’s because of insurance? I would think the smaller the race, they have to charge more per person because they still have to pay insurance and have to cover their costs.

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  10. Too cool on the V02 testing. I would have jumped at the opportunity too! Can’t wait to hear how it goes.

    I don’t even want to talk about race fees. My poor credit card!

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  12. I’m so jealous about the VO2 Max test!! How feakin’ cool!! Can’t wait to hear all about it. Yes, race fees are crazy. I just paid $75 to do my last half marathon. It could have been “just” $60, but I was a bit behind on registering. I think I paid $70 for my marathon. It’s ridiculous!

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  13. I MIGHT be OK avoiding Mommy bladder issues on a TReadmill, but put me on a TRampoline…OOPS!! Very cool to be a lab rat.

    With one income I ask the same questions. I had to pass on the Seattle half because it is $75…I settled for a small race with a $40 price tag.. The swag and overall event feel may be less…but atleast I will have a few bucks to rub together for another race fee.

    I am looking for a sponsor too…so if you find one share the wealth…there could be some Nuun in it for you.. JK… Hugs to keeping our plates FULL.

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  14. I hear you. There’s a new half marathon here in November and they want $75. Umm, no. Luckily there are a lot of smaller races around here that are really cheap, so I can save my money for a few big races a year.

    Can’t wait to hear about the VO2 Max test.

    MCM Mama

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  18. why not just show up and run? use your Garmin (p.b.t.n.) for time/pacing, and just RUN!
    no? morals-schmorals. okokok, i almost did it last weekend here in Vermont, too, but balked. ended up just showed up and cheered on random people who looked like they could use some ‘cowbell’. ver interested to hear about the testing.
    peace, yo….gene

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  19. I agree! there are tons of races I don’t do bc of the cost! That is alot. Especially for an inaugural one. The V20 thing sounds awesome – can’t wait to hear about it!

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  20. I know! Race fees are ridiculous! I had been wanting to do a half in my area but the $65 entry fee was too much. The morning of I headed to the race site to do day of registration for the 4 miler instead of the half. When I got there they said, “Sorry! We are out of shirts so the fee is $15 for the 4 miler and $20 for the half.” WHAT!?!?! That stupid shirt that will just sit in my drawer and cause me to pile up clothes on my dresser cost FORTY FIVE DOLLARS?!?!? Can I do EVERY race sans t-shirt for a $45 dicount, please?! Jeeze!
    Amanda

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  21. Oh yeah, I was reading other comments and I was told that they have to pay the police for thier time in closing the streets and directing traffic AND the city usually charges as well if they have to close streets. It all adds up I guess.

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  25. too cool about the v02max testing! can’t wait to hear how it goes 🙂

    race fees are often ridiculous… i have my pre-determined “reasonable” limits although i have also paid quite the premiums before… there are a good amount of races that are reasonable, they’re just not going to bring the big race atmosphere. i kinda prefer the smaller ones though, so it works out.

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  26. Score! I would have been all over the V02 max testing as well!

    The rest of the class probably would not have benefited as much as you will from the V02 max testing.

    A lot of *us* runners fall into the needing the bling category… I think we all need runner’s rehab. 😉

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  28. I’m also a broke college student, and it sucks. I would enter a race at least once a month if it wasn’t so expensive. How about making t-shirts and medals optional? I’d pay some cash to have a supported course to run with a timing chip, but I don’t necessarily need a cotton t-shirt from the occassion.

    Ok, maybe I’m just jealous of all of those non college students who can run whatever race they want.

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