If you’re looking for inexpensive races, here are some resources to consult in addition to links to individual races. Please e-mail me at alisongittelman@yahoo.com if you have races to add.
District of Columbia
DC Road Runners
Maryland
MCRRC
Virginia
DC/MD/VA/WV/PA/DE
Georgia
Darkside marathons, Peachtree City
Darkside Running Club hosts a marathon on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day – all are free for members. (Lifetime membership is $35) And everyone gets a medal!
Mississippi
Mississippi Coast Marathon, November
At $35 and with a good rating on Marathon Guide, you can’t go wrong with this race! And the race host, Gulf Coast Running Club, hosts several other races throughout the year. Note that their 10K on Jan 21st is just $18!
New York
Rockaway Running Series
OK so $22 for a 5K isn’t a great deal but it’s a great price for a 10 miler or half marathon!
Van Cortland Track Club X-C Summer Series, Bronx
$5 for each 5K race…plus, pies to overall winners and carrot cake muffins to age group winners!
North Carolina
Army Birthday 10-miler, Fort Bragg, June (2012 race date TBD)
$15 gets you entry into this 10 mile race. There are awards.
Pennsylvania
Erie Marathon at Presque Isle, September 16
It often pays to sign up early. Entry for this USATF certified marathon at Presque Isle State Park is $40 through June 1st, $50 through August 1st, $60 through September 1st, and $75 after that. Plus, according to the web site, it’s “quite possibly the flattest course in the country.” There’s also a half marathon and 5K.
Texas
Run The Woodlands 5K Series
Entry is just $1 for each race, held on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month. Of course, for that price, don’t expect “T-shirts; prizes; five-course meals; 2:08 marathoners.” That last one makes me chuckle.
Tour de Bayou Cross-Country Series, Houston
FREE 5-race spring (April/May) series; distances from 3 -5 miles. Complete the series and you get a bog hat, bog shirt and bog shorts…
Virginia
VHTRC
Wisconsin
South Shore Half Marathon, Milwaukee, April 7
Seriously, I don’t know if you can do much better than $12 for a half marathon ($10 if you’re a Badgerland Strider…and with a club name like that, who wouldn’t want to be?) Even if you’re a procrastinator, race day entry is only $20! Beer and pretzels at the finish…
