The best value of any triathlon I have done was the Strive Multisport Triathlon in Drums, PA. They had the inaugural event this year.

For $95 you get:

• an Olympic distance tri with a great course, including a closed bike leg -- except for 3/4 mile with a coned off shoulder
• standard WTC-like tech t-shirt
• great bar-type food after the race (chicken fingers, pasta salad, misc. sammiches, and even brownies and cake)
• really generous awards (for winners $100 gift card with host, Strive Multisport -- Trek/Spesh dealer -- plus nice hoodie and other minor swag)
• awesome FREE professional race photos easily as good as Finisher Pix (this is such a great benefit)
• grassroots, supportive vibe

While I may be biased because my home is a half mile from the swim start, I don't know any other race where you get so much for so little, and I really don't do smaller races because I think they almost universally suck. Anyways, this Oly is only two hours from NYC and Philly, so I am hoping to rally more people to make the trip out for the second annual event. I'm quite certain that Strive and the other sponsors lose a good amount of money putting this event on, but they do it to build a sense of community for multisport/endurance athletes in Northeast Pennsylvania, which ultimately helps them thrive as a retail outlet and training center too. Win win.