Okedokee, I’ve got one more triathlon officially booked (and paid for) this year, and one more cheap one that I won’t have any problem squeezing in, here’s the thing, I want to do at least two more races this year.
I like little bit bigger, more competitive events. The problem is, those are freaky expensive.
I’ve picked out, that I’d really like to do the Half-max National Champsionships this year. Not bad priced for a half, but it’s still a big price for a student to try and pay. The other problem is the qualifying fee. $90 for basically an International distance. It’s coming up in less than two weeks, and I’m trying to figure out if I’ve got the money for it. Even if I manage to scrape together the $90 bucks, I have no idea how I could manage to pay for Kansas City (I do have a place to stay there, so I’d just be worried about entry fees and gas money.)
So my question/dilema:
Anybody got any creative ways to raise money for these two events? Tricks, tips? Ect…
Have you ever done anything ingenious in the past?
Have you tried to barter with the RD? If the races are not sold out, I could see the RD giving you a slot in exchange for some help breaking down the race afterwards. Good Luck.
-offer to trade some hours at your LBS / time for race fee. get some photos of you at the race with the LBS logo on something for them to use with marketing. you could help the LBS with a triathlon “seminar”, sharing your racing info with others who want to learn, and the LBS gets to show off the great multisport racing gizmo line(s) they have.
-ditto at the LSS
-try for a local media outlet to sponsor. they can follow your progress and get a local angle on a race report. they can sell sponsorship of the report(s) to some related business and they come out ahead.
-go after a big name local business in the field you plan to enter. a couple hundred bucks for a business to sponsor just about anything is chump change to them. in your case, they may be sponsoring a potential high value employee. great way to begin a business relationship.
-check with the RD to see if there is any advance promotion/marketing you can do for the race to get a comp.
take those hot rip roaring biceps out of their shirt, flex them at some 40 something woman. next, undo your pants and whip out your johnny and say, “all yours for 30 minutes and 200 dollars”.
(please, don’t do this. it’s a joke. since you have no idea what a pick up line should be this might sound like a good idea, I know. but trust me, it’s not. instead, tell her it’s 400 for one hour. then you’re in business, and you might just score yourself a sugar mama.).
take shirt off and flex at 40 something woman. next, unzip your pants and show a little skin, then whip out big johnny. then say, “400 for one hour. i will pump you like a giant stallion, with your legs bent over your head. you’ll cum so much you won’t be able to breathe. when i’m finished with you, i’ll make you a cool martini and give you a hot bath.”
now, if that won’t get you your entry fees, then, babe, nothing will. (well, either entry fees or jail. but who’s counting.).