Howdy, Stranger!
Categories
The cost of Ultras
The materials in this website are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor, qualified personal trainer, therapist, dietitian or nutritionist Runners's World, Part of the Hearst UK well-being network © Copyright 2017
Comments
Before I got into Ultras I remember paying £35 for a 10k.
All of a sudden £50 for 50 miles sounds like a bargain
35 notes for 10k unless for a close to heart charity is off the scale.
My 2012 diary is getting full using LDWA and similar events.
As long as well we all get near to what we expect then happy days.
(p.s. hi ben davies)
Lots
it was £4k for the entry fee which included support from organisation, some food and drink for the 70 days.
About the same again for accomodation and additional food.
Then about the same again for flights, kit, my own support crew costs/car hire etc.
Good job I got made redundant just before
But worth every penny. And although I did not get much "stuff" for the entry fee I realise that the crew took nearly 3 months off their work and others spent a year of their lives planning this thing. For that I think the entry fee was a bargain.
Thanks again for helping me get a place in the High Peak 40.
An event which sits pretty high in the value for money stakes.
A Siva headtorch in the goodie bag? Nice - but it's part of the compulsory kit list so not something i'll use over my Alpkit?
Top race - nice people
Anything's cheaper than Human Race triathlons, duathlons or Kingston Breakfast Runs
But then again that is a full blown commercial organisation based in the (most affluent part of the) South East who manage to sell out pretty much all their races
No offence to Londoners.
Now with so many other options, and the internet to find out about them it is rightly viewed as outrageous; although there are no shortage of takers, so you can't really blame the organisers and agents for hoovering up the available cash. Simple demand/supply economics. However, as a credible athletic event not so many serious runners bother nowadays.
Events organised by event companies are always going to be more expensive than ones organised by runners. Marketing of big events is getting much smarter these days. The Bupa Great Run series is a great example - they convince tens of thousands of non-regular runners to part with small fortunes to run the Manchester 10k (up and down a dual carriageway), or the Great North Run (dual carriageway and housing estates). But a bit of simple research will uncover hundreds of hidden gem races all over the place at a fraction of the cost. Same applies to ultras if you look about for the good 'uns.
Good point about Human Race. I did the Breakfast Run first time in 2000 for about £14. It's now almost treble the price for the same product. A good race though to be fair, but for the first time ever, I'm turning it down these days simply because it is too expensive.
UTMB incidentally is only about €130 - such good value I've done it five times!!
Longer ultras(100milers) unless they are loop races require plenty of man power to support the runners. one way around this is to insist on support teams. This is particularly useful for ist time 100 runners who need all the help they can get.
I see that the Hardmoors 110 is allowing unsupported runners to race if they have completed other 100s. They are up front about water only checkpoints, saying that as the race grows then they will think about food at checkpoints. Novice runners have to have support teams which must be a good thing. This has to be the way to run an event.
My view is that I am prepared to pay for food stocked checkpoints provided it,s done properly . By that I mean that squash , water and custard creams is not what I need after 50 miles when my body is craving salty foods (hence the UTMB food).
To host an unsupported 100 mile ultra aimed at 1st timers without even frequent water stops and minimum vetting will do the sport no good and thats without even taking cost into account.
Does anybody know anything about Rory Coleman's events? I just checked out the London Ultra and it's £40 for a medal and 4 drinks stations? It also seems that there is no baggage transport either, so you have to go to the finish to drop your change of gear before going 30 miles to the start. But I might be wrong on that point according to their forum.
Their 100 miler in the Cotswolds looks to be rather thin on support too.
Can anybody advise on the quality of the events as I'd like to take part despite the cost involved ?
all i will say is there have been similar posts about the perceived value for money in the past, and debate on the merits of commercial versus not-for-profit races.
Just come back to the Runners' World forum and this thread caught my eye. A lot of interesting comments. I think MdS is too expensive, but then again lots of people do it so they obviously are prepared to pay that price. Me I now do the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon becasue it is cheaper, oh yes and because I am the UK agent.
LDWA events great (they spoil us)
Endurancelife - more expensive but stunning locations
Extreme Energy Events - good value nice people
Rory Coleman's events (he can sue me if he likes I have no money) I have done a few of his events and they were good events, but nothing exceptional especially when compared to LDWA (ps Rory is a friend although I know he is a marmite character you either love him or hate him)
Food on checkpoints - I take my own because I am veggie
Goody bags - not bothered I've got enough stuff.
In summary isn't it great that there are so many events now with so many different approaches and price levels. It means you can choose which ones to do and what you pay.
I concur with Edward - it is fantastic that there is so much choice out there, I sometimes feel like a kid in a sweet shop. If you dont like the look of an event you dont have to do it....
Re - Rory's events I have done several and I have marshelled a few and so far I have not seen anything that would give the events a black mark. Some of the events certainly have the wow factor in terms of location. The CP's are normally well stocked so all in all no complaints.
The way things are going supply could outstrip demand . Demand may change as well . I suspect the short and sharp adventure type runs will become more popular. It takes a lot of time commitment to train for the longer ultras.
Choice of which ultra to enter will always be influenced by cost , locality, scenery, route and for many of us just how far we have to travel to the event.
INteresting thread - and interesting on the Ridgeway comment Bear - I think the Extreme Energy one was double that...but it is a bit further and three days. I think Extreme are good value. I've done afew VOTWO events as well which are more pricey but I've found them really well organised and with great support. Expensive, but I couldn't knock them really.
LDWA are amazingly cheap - I'm off to do the Punchbowl again next month which is I think about £12!
Might have to look at the ridgeway bear sounds fab!
Bear B. Hind I'll see you at Pilgims as I will be working on one of the checkpoints.
It's on July 8th.
I seem to have a gap in my diary that weekend so you may see me there.
Ian the website still shows the 2011 date.