5k Registration fees

Different runs cost different amounts and late registration is ALWAYS more expensive. So plan ahead so you register Early Bird. For your first one I would do a 5K that is in your area so you aren't also spending extra on hotel stays. Usually local runs are in the $25 range (some more, some less). Highly publicized races cost more and Big Name races cost more. The color runs, mud runs, and other crazy runs cost more mostly due to supplies but some of it is the name. I was disappointed to see the Biggest Loser 5k was already $45 but I think I missed the early bird for my area. If it is something that sounds really fun and you just want to try it you can always do it once and you don't have to do it again if it proves not to be worth the extra dough. just my $0.02. But most of all Have Fun!! My 2013 goal is one a month so I am looking for cheap, early, discount registrations. I registered for the Color me Rad on a promo day for $25!!! So glad I did!!

Any 5Ks I've done have been for the benefit of something.. March of dimes is my favorite and that's all about raising proceeds... I will be doing Color Me Rad this summer which is for Ronald McDonald house in my area... There is one that I plan on doing which is $40 that is glow run.. no cause, but the experience to me is worth it.. other then that I don't pay for them.. unless it's for a cause

however mud runs are worth it!! I did Warrior Dash last year.. and this year the plan is Foam Fest and Warrior Dash! Both which cost about $50-75

General tip: LivingSocial Events has a lot of race deals for half off registration fees. Just this week I saw a $40 Firefly 5K for $20 (supports the children's hospital) and a $25 Mardi Gras 5K for $12 (supports an animal shelter). Deals like that are a good way to keep your race cost down.

The most I ever paid was $100... but they contributed much of the funds to orthopaedic research funding...

I don't think I would as willing to pay that much if was for some sort non-profit agency or charitable situation.

I live in Ohio and recently signed up with the Ohio River Road Runners (www.orrrc.org). They list any races in the area for the entire year, allow you to volunteer (if you're interested in that kind of thing), and have quite a few races that are either free or charge a minimal fee for ORRRC members. For a year membership of $20, it's not bad at all! There may be something like this in your area too, you just have to look!

Check to see if your town has a Patch website (http://www.patch.com/). My Patch usually advertises smaller community 5K's; lowest I've seen are around $15-25.

I don't think I ever paid more than $25 for a regular 5k .. mud runs and sprint tris are way more but worth it to me.

I just registered for a three 5k series and it was $21 for all three races and you get a $30 gift certificate for the Sneaker Factory when you run.

I would look into it more and find a cheaper one . Good luck!

A 5K asking for more than $25 is probably a "rip-off." The more expensive the race for such a short distance (meaning, less money spent on rest stops/water stops, course protection, etc) the more money is probably being wasted. Even charity runs can be $25-35 with most of the money going to charity. Larger races are also more likely to be less expensive, since the race organizers will be able to cover costs better with the chrages spread out over more people. Well-organized races will also have a lot of sponsors who keep the price down. I would keep looking. Good luck! It is worth it to find a race, since the race makes the training so much more worth it.

The fees I'd pay for are for special occassions like cancer, or other diseases and such. But for some church to raise money... No not so much. No offense. I'm broke as it is. LOL

Since we are talking registration fees, are they tax deductable?

No because you're not actually contributing to the charity and only a small proceed goes towards it. Also as someone else mentioned you're getting something for what you pay some times.

I personally wouldn't try to pass it off on my taxes. Not worth an audit.

I am the race director for two local 5Ks. We do both of them for a charity cause- One is a Glow in the Dark race in October that raises money for a local family adopting. The cost last year was $20/person or 3 for $45. We stressed it as a family event. Afterward we had a fun after party at the amphitheater at the park and had a local band playing music with lots of prizes. We raised $4000. We didn't anticipate as many people as showed, so it wasn't as profitable as if we had enough sponsors.

The next race we are doing is a Super Hero Dash. It is $20/person until two weeks before-then we bump it to $25. Teams can be generated for 4/$75 and then $90 two weeks before. The after party will be centered around family activities at the park.

There isn't a lot of swag- we will give a t-shirt and we are toying with the idea of a bag.

I think if you look to some of the smaller races you can find affordable races that provide a lot of fun and go to a good cause. It costs at least $10/person to put on the race. That was our cost last year and we didn't pay for manpower. This year I am being paid and we hired an intern to help me with one. Of course my company is eating the cost to pay me, but if it came out of race funds it would quickly take a chunk out of the profit.

All this to say...there's a lot that goes into races. If you just want to run with some friends and score a shirt- there are tons that go for $20-$25. If you want a big deal--it costs a ton to put on. Truthfully--the sponsorship is where the profit is at.

I signed up for a 10k recently and because I did it 6 months+ in advance I got a 50% discount.
I spent $30 for 10K going to charity.