Running is Expensive

Now before you inform me that running is actually free (minus the shoes and the gear), I’m talking about races. Up until now, I’ve been doing 5ks and I ran my first 10k in November. These short races only run me about $15-$30. Half-marathons in my area do not seem to be as affordable.

The fact that a half marathon is going to run me close to $100 at this point is somewhat my own fault. It was about $60 back when registration opened in the summer. However, last summer and even last fall, I wasn’t sure I could run a half. I only really made the decision in early December, but put off registering because I had so many gifts to buy. Fast-forward to Jan. 31 where I sat on my couch poised to register for the Longbranch Half Marathon, when my brain suddenly held my finger back from confirming the entry. Couldn’t I buy something more fun with that amount of money? Clothes? Accessories? Did I really want to spend $95 to sweat and pant along for 13.2 miles? I kinda didn’t.

So here I sit on Feb. 1, with the price going up again, debating. Can I just map my own 13.2 race and run it for free and then spend $95 on clothes as my “medal”? My fiancé says there is something about running a race with other people and the crowd cheering you on that makes it worth the money. I am not sold. Yet.

I came up with a few cheaper options; however, I don’t think my friends will be as interested in watching me run in these locations:
http://www.halfmarathons.net/usa_half_marathons_pennsylvania_lehigh_valley_half_marathon.html

http://www.halfmarathons.net/usa_half_marathons_delaware_running_festival_half_marathon.html
http://www.halfmarathons.net/usa_half_marathons_pennsylvania_oddyssey_half_marathon.html

Am I being really cheap? Should I just suck it up and pay? How much do you think is too much for a half?