The running is still free?

[Mark Long]

Is it just me, or is the price of every foot race in America going
up? I’m sure the race directors will use the cost of fuel as another
excuse for the increase in entry fees. Come on…..it’s cheaper to go
to a NASCAR race than to participant in an ultra these days. For that
matter, for less money, I CAN go see a night of auto racing in
Charlotte, NC and that includes the gas to get there and back and the
ticket.

I’m seeing race entries from $60.00 to well OVER $250.00. As a race
participant, I will have to be very selective in my race choices from
this point on. I’m sure a lot of you are like me and you have your
favorite events out there that you will participant in each year. The
others will just fall by the wayside.

As a race director, I plan to keep the price of my races as low as
possible. The Derby 50k still has the same price it did when it
started.

To me, ultra running was founded by the purest out there, people that
were in for the run and not for the goody bags. There was a time when
ultra running was not so main-stream. I long for that period again.
I believe we are starting to see that trend return with events like
the Sweaty Butt 50k, Laurel Valley and others.

Long live the run!

[fred dummar]

Mark,

I'm with you.

We had a long discussion during the SWEATY BUTT today about the price of the JFK and others.

I had the best time at the SWEATY BUTT.  Kudos to Mike Day for putting it together. 

Unfortunate that your calf injury flared up.  It was SWEATY, you would have loved it.

Cheers,
Doom

On Sat, Jul 5, 2008 at 8:38 PM, Mark Long <ult...@etinternet.net> wrote:

I'm seeing race entries from $60.00 to well OVER $250.00.  As a race
participant, I will have to be very selective in my race choices from
this point on.  I'm sure a lot of you are like me and you have your
favorite events out there that you will participant in each year.  The
others will just fall by the wayside.

[david solomon]

I completely agree.  Particularly with the JFK spiking their fee again, lots of folks seem to be talking about this topic.  JFK provides a shirt, medal, and mediocre aid - certainly not worth $135.  And when you consider that the JFK has its roots in the military and is still strongly represented by military personnel, it's a shame that they are charging such a ridiculous fee.  I mean, the race is heavily sponsored so that race is probably not hurting for cash.  Someone's just trying to earn some extra cash.
 
The Sweaty Butt was a blast today and races of this nature exemplify what ultrarunning is all about.  Hanging out with friends on the trail and engaging in the battle of endurance.  I wish there were more FA's to run in the area.

 

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> Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 17:38:39 -0700
> Subject: The running is still free?
> From: ult...@etinternet.net
> To: Mang...@googlegroups.com

[Jeff D]

I concur as well. Yesterdays run was one of the most memorable I have
ever been on. I tried to keep up with the speedy quartet of the Dooms,
David and some nice redhead lady .Susan was setting a blistering pace.
:) You were definitely in the zone yesterday. I wish I could've kept
up. I got back after the second lap tired, dejected, and worn out. Did
I mention tired? I looked and saw Frank Lilley and we both decided to
go again. We ran through heat, SWEAT, a torrential downpour,
Lightening, one turned ankle only to be greeted by Mike at the 9 hour
and 30 minute (give a take a min or two) finish with a smile and cold
as all get out ice cream. It doesn't get any better than that. Great
job as the RD Mike. I second David's comment about more FAs anywhere.
I don't need a stinkin shirt to have fun. See you guys soon and enjoy
your summer running. Good luck to those of you running Grandfather. I
am heading to WVA to run Rattlesnake. Jeff