So a moment ago I was scanning the daily load of spam in my in box when I came across a mail advertising the K226 Triathlon races. I was about to do the usual DELETE routine when curiosity got the better of me. I went in and checked the race fees – they ranged from $50 - $175!!
Then I checked our own local races, specifically the Great Floridian…Special fee of $200. OK I accept that there are some fees applicable for the extra insurance here in the states.
Then you check out the IM series – last I checked it was ~$450…
So my question is why if others can present a race at a reasonable price…why are we paying through our arses to race in this series to the point that people volunteer just so that they can get a coupon?
Because they can, its not much more difficult than that.
+1 on this. IM events sell out, so it’s not too hard for them to figure out that they can raise prices. WTC is also now owned by a private equity group; these guys aren’t in it for love of sport, they want to make $$ on their investment.
Have you ever done an Ironman race? These things are massive productions. I would assume a lot of costs involved as compared to an independent IM distance race. When you are dealing with 2,400 athletes and all the related costs, comparing that to a race like Silverman or Chesapeakeman for example, with about 300 racers, those smaller races incur much less expense just in the supplies/manpower needed to run the race and man and stock the aid stations. Not to mention the finisher medals, tee shirts and hats, hiring Mike Reilly to announce, etc., etc. Not that I’m happy about paying nearly $600 for an IM, but I do have an understanding of the logistical nightmare it must be to run one.
I know it boils down to the simple economics of supply and demand **BUT **the problem is that so long as *we *are content to pay such exorbitant fees and don’t support the grass roots IM races the prices will continue to go up.
I am just venting my discontent at the fact that some race directors/companies rip athletes off with a smile on their faces.
Case in point, Country Music Half Marathon this year…$100. WTF dude!!! Thats almost $5/mile!!! With all the volunteers and sponsors I have to expect that they are taking more than their fair share of cream off the top.
Yep, I have done one of their races. There are also economies of scale involved. the same production for 500 athletes costs a lot more per head than 2500 athletes.
It is a huge production, I will give you that much…but tell me this - what do you believe is reasonable and at what point are you simply getting reamed. i figure at $600 you more the latter than the former.
same as every other price for every other thing in the universe
So a moment ago I was scanning the daily load of spam in my in box when I came across a mail advertising the K226 Triathlon races. I was about to do the usual DELETE routine when curiosity got the better of me. I went in and checked the race fees – they ranged from $50 - $175!!
Then I checked our own local races, specifically the Great Floridian…Special fee of $200. OK I accept that there are some fees applicable for the extra insurance here in the states.
Then you check out the IM series – last I checked it was ~$450…
So my question is why if others can present a race at a reasonable price…why are we paying through our arses to race in this series to the point that people volunteer just so that they can get a coupon?
It is a huge production, I will give you that much…but tell me this - what do you believe is reasonable and at what point are you simply getting reamed. i figure at $600 you more the latter than the former.
At least $2000. Remember that they give out a little sample of Bodyglide inside the goodie bag.
Its nothing more than the white man tryn to keep us down. Wait untill you want to do one that’s more than 8 hours away from your house. Look at the comunity fund slots vs travel the year b4 to volunteer. It does help keep you from dropping out I will say.
the best you could argue is Ironman branded events are able to take advantage of ignorance on the part of the mainstreat triathlete that there are wonderful races that exist that are NOT ironman branded.
How can it be considered “ripping off” if the athletes willingly pay the entry fee and receive exactly what it is that they paid for?
The costs associated with producing these events- and doing it well- are high. And, add to that they are turning a profit- as well they should given the quality of the five Ironman brand events I’ve done- all excellent.
Realistically these events are reasonably priced for what they return: The events run generally very well, take up a significant amount of geography, require municipal support and extensive coordinatiion. Add to that the costs associated with the medical tents, aid stations, registration, marketing, logistics… The numbers are boggling.
Now, let’s add some perspective: Tickets to sit in a grandstand at the Indy 500 or a Formula 1 race? anywhere from the high teens to many hundreds of dollars. Tickets to a Stanley Cup finals game with a decent view? What would you say? over $100 each? Now, make the duration of the event 8-15 hours instead of just 2 hours. Add food catering (aid stations), add parking, storage (transition area), administration (race volunteers) and take these events outside the motor speedway or the hockey arena and spread them over 140.6 miles. Ask everybody along the route to cooperate with a day-long interuption of their routine.
Producing an Ironman is huge, *huge *undertaking. Making the race special- as the IM brand events truly are- is an undertaking in quality assurance and logistics that exceeds a big military operation or something like a Rolling Stones concert. It’s absolutely huge. Add the variables of tens upon tens of interesections and law enforcement agencies across miles of roads and the entire thing is simply titanic.
$450? Honestly guys, that’s one of the few remaining bargains in sport.
Yep, I have done one of their races. There are also economies of scale involved. the same production for 500 athletes costs a lot more per head than 2500 athletes.
It is a huge production, I will give you that much…but tell me this - what do you believe is reasonable and at what point are you simply getting reamed. i figure at $600 you more the latter than the former.
This is a tough one. I have felt like I got my money’s worth in my first three IM’s, and honestly, Ironman is a business and they have every right to make a profit. Some of us spend $10,000 on a freaking bicycle (Mine was under $2,000) without batting an eyelash. Getting ripped off is when you feel you didn’t get value for the amount of money you spent. That’s going to be different for each person I suppose. For me, $600 is a big hit to pay for a single day of interminable suffering, not to mention the travel costs associated with going to the events, yet I, like the rest of us, continue to pony up each year. Not sure what the breaking point would be, but I can honestly say I would never buy a community fund slot if I missed out on signing up for my annual IM. That’s just too damn much money to spend to do one triathlon.
