Forums >Racing>Favorite "Cheap" Marathon(s)
How about a thread praising the virtues of marathons that cost under $100? Here are three of my favorites:
Ridge to Bridge (NC) $90
http://www.leetiming.com/R2BM_Info.html
They'll be changing their name soon (legal reasons; plus the course changed since it started, doesn't end at a bridge anymore; I'm rooting for Plummet the Summit). Point to point course down a (small) mountain, net elevation loss 2700 feet. Very fast if your quads can take it. Beautiful scenery, fun group, nice pottery awards made by local artists.
Grandfather Mountain (NC) $70
http://www.hopeformarrow.org/gmminfo.htm
Sort of the opposite of R2B, this one runs up a mountain. Ends at the Highland Games, so your last .2 is around a track in front of a big audience, among a bunch of big dudes throwing trees around in kilts and girls dancing without moving their arms.
Umstead Marathon (NC) $65
http://www.umsteadmarathon.com//
My favorite. Hilly course through Umstead Park. Finishers get a pint glass instead of a medal. Every year they have a new mascot, the identity of which is kept secret until packet pickup. This year we're rooting for possum. No AG awards, just a wood plaque in the shape of the mascot for the top fifteen men and women.
What small/cheap races would you recommend to someone balking at the price tag of the Big Ones?
Baystate.
Runners run
Virginia Creeper marathon only $10.
Proud Calgarian
The Green Mountain Marathon in South Hero, VT. It's the 43rd annual running of the race this year (they know what they're doing) and it's $55 for the marathon.
It does fill up at 750 runners though...
2015 Goals and PRs:
5k - 17:59 (18:05); 10k - 35:59 (36:42); HM - 1:19:19 (1:19:59); FM - 2:49:59 (3:05:46)
Consistently Slow
Run until the trail runs out.
SCHEDULE 2016--
The pain that hurts the worse is the imagined pain. One of the most difficult arts of racing is learning to ignore the imagined pain and just live with the present pain (which is always bearable.) - Jeff
http://bkclay.blogspot.com/
Kalsarikännit
The Green Mountain Marathon in South Hero, VT. It's the 43rd annual running of the race this year (they know what they're doing) and it's $55 for the marathon. It does fill up at 750 runners though...
Really good race, but a couple of years ago they severely bumped up the price. When I did it the race cost $22.
Another $10 race is the Roxbury (Conn) Marathon. I haven't done it, so I have no idea if it is good or not, but for $10 I'm willing to find out.
I want to do it because I want to do it. -Amelia Earhart
Modesto Marathon - $85. Never done it but I hope I can get to it soon. Looks flat and fast.
I'd be surprised if any marathon in Alaska charged as much as $100 to enter. Some of the larger road ones are close to $100, including price increases this year. I've only done Equinox (3500ft of up on loop course, hybrid trail/road but more trail, 50th event was in 2012) and Hatcher Pass (4000ft of up, about 1000ft of down on point-to-point gravel road course, fairly new). Organization is great in both of them. Yes, Alaskans like hills.
CIM - $85 if register during the first two weeks after the registration opens.
paces PRs - 5K - 5:48 / 10K - 6:05 / HM - 6:14 / FM - 6:26 per mile
There are PLENTY of marathons under $100 if you time it right.
http://www.wineglassmarathon.com/marathon.html Assuming you register before June.
Baltimore before August.
Philadelphia before May.
There are plenty more.
Jeff
Pocatello (Idado) was $45 when I did it. It was beautiful and well organized. I got a backpack that I still use, plus a bag of potatoes as a finishers prize!
Flying Pig was just $75 when we signed up early.
Age: 50 Weight: 224 Height: 6'3" (Goal weight 195)
Current PR's: Mara 3:14:36* (2017); HM 1:36:13 (2017); 10K 43:59 (2014); 5K 21:12 (2016)
Go figure
46th Annual ORRRC Marathon and 24th Annual ORRRC Half Marathon, Xenia, OH
4/7/13
The race is just $25 if you register early. Race day registration is just $50.
Trying to find some more hay to restock the barn
Geezer trying for speed
Tupelo marathon was inexpensive (?$70??) and I chose it because it was fairly close and timed right for what I needed. The "hills" are gentle and it can be a fast run. The problem can be the weather... sometimes it's cool, but when I ran it, it was around 75 at 5 AM. The medal is awesome (although some may not appreciate the skulls... see a picture here... http://markrice.com/running/20120902_tupelo/20120902_race_report_tupelo.htm
Pensacola was inexpensive (maybe $70 again) even closer for me, and was a rewarding run. I was lucky with the cloud cover so the temps and conditions were great (except some bad wind). Average temps at the beginning are 60 and could get hot on a sunny day, but when I was there, it was great.
Anyone could see races, etc. on www.markrice.com/running.
I believe in HR training: www.markrice.com/running/heart_rate_training.html
I second Baystate.