# $181 dollars?! for a marathon?!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307>\
**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:** 5\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/61 "2009-06-05T20:45:13Z")

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> [@gigi](#):
>
> Sucks to be 13.1 miles from a liquor store.

Heh. Okay, you can run back and forth a few times. I genuinely don’t understand paying so much though. Seems like there must be cheaper ways of getting proof of running so far.

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**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/62 "2009-06-05T21:33:11Z")

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> [@snailboy](#):
>
> Heh. Okay, you can run back and forth a few times. I genuinely don’t understand paying so much though. Seems like there must be cheaper ways of getting proof of running so far.

There are plenty of cheaper ways to get proof of running that far. However, there are no cheaper ways of officially running the New York City Marathon, which plenty of runners want to do just because it’s the New York City Marathon. It’s a better marathon than some, but in some ways it’s worse than others. But every spring I struggle with the same question- should I do it again this year? There’s something about it that’s very tantalizing.

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**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/63 "2009-06-05T21:35:36Z")

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> [@snailboy](#):
>
> Heh. Okay, you can run back and forth a few times. I genuinely don’t understand paying so much though. Seems like there must be cheaper ways of getting proof of running so far.

Go run a 5 or 10k and you will understand. The sense of accomplishment and wonder at crossing the finish line is phenomenal. And you just can’t get it by running the municipal golf course a few times by yourself. Plus, earning $181 is a pretty miniscule task to someone capable of training for and completing a marathon.

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**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/64 "2009-06-05T22:34:55Z")

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[The Rochester Marathon is $60](http://www.rochestermarathon.com/register.htm). Or, if you rundraise $100, it’s free.

Everything is cheaper (and better) in Western New York.

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-dollars-for-a-marathon/498307/65 "2009-06-10T13:58:47Z")

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> [@BlinkingDuck](#):
>
> You have to PAY to run a marathon?
> 
> You guys really are into pain.

I never saw a grinning marathon runner. Most of these people look like they’re in agony.

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