# $181 dollars?! for a marathon?! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 1, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307 "2009-06-01T01:39:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![incidental](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/22d042/32.png) [@incidental](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/incidental)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/1 "2009-06-01T01:39:26Z")
NYC wants $181 dollars to run its marathon - I am stunned, absolutely stunned. In all my years of running, I’ve never seen a race registration fee in the triple digits. Well, okay, let me qualify that - if you want until the very last minute on race day to register, it can be pricey. But this is the pre-registration lottery. The most expensive marathon I’ve ever run cost $80, if I recall correctly (in Philadelphia, a few years ago - can’t remember how much the Marine Corp was, but I’m pretty sure it was less than $100). This is more than twice that. But as they note on the website, transportation is included, oh how kind of them. For that kind of money, I expect a personal masseuse thrown in. And maybe some guy running after me with a fan. An _electric_ fan. And then, they try to sell you a ton of crap on the same page! Here - drop almost 200 dollars on this race, and then throw into another 100 on orange shoelaces and ‘official race gear.’ You’ve got to be kidding me. I imagine the expo with this race must be downright intimidating. Well, screw this. Upon further investigation, it looks like they wanted $125 for the Chicago marathon. LA wanted $95 for the early registration. I can’t find the price for Boston, as they haven’t opened 2010 registration yet. So, what gives NYC? Why so high? I understand that marathons are expensive things to put on - insurance, medical care on site, shutting down city streets…but it seems like there’s a big jump between NYC and other major US cities. If anything, I’d expect business in NYC to be less affected by a marathon - don’t they have the best public transportation system in the US? Unless the race managers, in a weird and unwise move, decided to take the race course through the subway system, I’d imagine the infrastructure in NYC would be less affected than in other cities. When I did Philly, I remember several neighborhoods essentially being stranded until the race was over. Hmph, well so much for this plan. I was hoping to use one of my mandatory-in-November vacation weeks to visit a friend in NYC and maybe do the marathon, but no way. I refuse to pay that much money for a bloody race. Time to find something else, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/2 "2009-06-01T01:53:38Z")
$181 can buy a lot of beer, that you can drink while you watch the other guys running. Well, don’t bring it into the street; that would probably violate some ordinance or other. But if you were to find a nice restaurant along the marathon route, maybe with a balcony, you could have a pretty good time not running. ETA: When I saw the thread title, I thought $181 was the prize for winning it, which seems a little on the, errr, budget side. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/3 "2009-06-01T01:57:32Z")
I can’t decide if I like or hate the number 181. On one hand, it’s symmetrical and symmetry is good. On the other hand, why not just make it a round 180? WTF? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/4 "2009-06-01T02:18:35Z")
181 is a prime number. That’s all I have to contribute. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/5 "2009-06-01T03:04:18Z")
[Dubai Marathon](http://www.dubaimarathon.org/) charged a hundred bucks for foreigners to run in its 2009 iteration. Yup, $181 to run in NYC is too freaking much! ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/6 "2009-06-01T03:52:03Z")
I was surprised to see that it was $135 for running in the San Diego Marathon today. I don’t know what the price was if you registered early. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/7 "2009-06-01T03:56:08Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > 181 is a prime number. It’s also expressable as the sum of two squares. ---
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/8 "2009-06-01T04:37:13Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > It’s also expressable as the sum of two squares. It’s also 179 + 2. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/9 "2009-06-01T04:45:20Z")
> [@Jules\_Andre](#): > > It’s also 179 + 2. Uh, no. Any idiot can see that it is in fact 183 - 2. Go back to math class, you moran. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/10 "2009-06-01T11:35:24Z")
It’s under $7 per mile. I think you’ve got a bargain. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/11 "2009-06-01T11:59:15Z")
Take a Taxi. It’s cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/12 "2009-06-01T12:28:09Z")
Houston has a marathon–in January, when our famous heat & humidity aren’t so bad. Early [registration begins in July](http://www.american-trackandfield.com/read_new/significant-cap-increase-2010-chevron-houston-marathon-and-aramco-houston-half-marathon)–for a mere $90. Later, it will be $10 more–although it sold out so rapidly in the past that there may not _be_ late registration. They are increasing the number of participants & hope to reduce the scalping problem. One year, people were selling their tickets for up to $500. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/13 "2009-06-01T12:35:34Z")
The Akron marathon is $70, and you get > [@](#): > > FREE Brooks® Official Road Runner Akron Marathon technical jacket for marathoners > FREE Brooks® Technical Shirt for half marathon & relay participants > FREE Running Times subscription > FREE Food and Michelob Ultra at Finish Line > FREE Pacing Service for Marathoners > FREE Gear bag service provided by FedEx Custom Critical available at all relay points (bags distributed at Expo) > Entrance into The University of Akron Health and Fitness Expo > Goodie bag, stuffed with great freebies > Timing services > Commemorative keepsake medallion upon completion of your race > And More!!! Come to Akron! ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/14 "2009-06-01T13:11:02Z")
I was all set to show off with low, low Midwest prices, but was surprised to see that the Hy-Vee Triathlon in Des Moines is $115 for early signup. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/15 "2009-06-01T13:29:09Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > On one hand, it’s symmetrical and symmetry is good. It’s not only palindromic, but it also has vertical _and_ horizontal symmetry. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/16 "2009-06-01T13:51:30Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > IOn one hand, it’s symmetrical and symmetry is good. > [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > It’s not only palindromic, but it also has vertical _and_ horizontal symmetry. And for no extra charge except in New Jersey, it also has _rotational_ symmetry! ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/17 "2009-06-01T13:54:39Z")
Part of the reason it’s so expensive is to be a disincentive to applicants. There are, what, about 40,000 runners, and growing every year? My 2007 application fee was $150, including transportation. Did it really get $31 more expensive per runner in 2 years? No. They’re trying to limit the number of runners, which isn’t really working. Next year it’ll be hovering just under (or over) $200. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/18 "2009-06-01T14:26:19Z")
My first thought is what **corkboard** says. I doubt they’d have any difficulty fielding 40k runners even if they charged twice that. So what is wrong with charging what the market will bear (hopefully including a “scholarship” income-based program for at least a limited number of entrants)? Another factor might also be declining corporate sponsorships. Here in Chicago I believe there are issues as to whether or not the long time sponsor is going to continue, and if so, at what contribution. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/19 "2009-06-01T16:37:59Z")
**corkboard** has it exactly right, the price is so high because it is one of the most popular marathons, probably second only to Boston. They want to limit the numbner of people. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/20 "2009-06-01T22:29:08Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > It’s not only palindromic, but it also has vertical _and_ horizontal symmetry. I didn’t even think of that! I’m starting to like this number now. 🆒 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307.md?page=2)