Why do people pay $15 or $20 or more to run in a 5K?

Question

I've always wanted to run in an organized 5K. But whenever I check it costs about $20 to enter. I don't understand why people will pay that. I can go up to the high school track and run a 5K for free. That's like earning $40 an hour. So why do so many people pay to run?

Answer 1

The admission fees for races cover lots of things: closing the streets (and all the permits involved), food and water, usually you get a t-shirt and there is an after-party, plus just all of the overhead. If you want to run, you certainly can do that for free. But if you want the experience of running in a race, you are going to need to pay for it.

Answer 2

Camaraderie. Plus, it costs money for the event hosts to put the even together: advertising, posting results, water stations, first aid, etc. And, many if not most of the running events like this are actually for a charitable cause -- and the event host/promoters are not in it for a profit.

Answer 3

Well, in addition to having the streets shut down for you, your money gets you a t-shirt saying that you accomplished something, water and people cheering along the way, and you don't have to worry about timing yourself (somebody else is in charge of recording how fast you ran).

Answer 4

people don't usually pay. they get sponsored and all of the money goes to charity. i woulld know, i've run in three 5k's, and 2 10 k's.

Answer 5

depends on the marathon. sometimes the $$ goes to charity