A lttle rant about entry fees....

[MINIskirt]

Triathlon is definitely an expensive sport! I'm just getting started with it this year and I'd really hate to add how much money I've spend in the last few months.

[JenLeath]

I totally agree. I just started doing tri's two years ago. The first year I only did one because I spend the whole summer learning how to swim. But the next year I didn't plan for it, and wasn't able to get into quite a few races. They sell out pretty fast here. I learned my lesson and started a race budget in December. Now I register as soon as they open, if I didn't plan WAY ahead there is no way I could afford to do this sport.

On the other hand, I did a running series last year. It was only $30 and it included 3 races to prepare for the local marathon. I wasn't doing the marathon, but I thought the races would be fun. I am not speedy, but usually finish in the middle of my age group. After every race, all the bagels and hot chocolate (January - February in Utah, BRRR!) were gone. I left the first race cold, wet and starving. I won a technical shirt that was XS (I am a large.) I learned my lesson and brought my own snacks and a blanket. I would've paid more to get a bagel and some warmth after the races, and shirt that fit. There was this girl I chatted with at the starting line, she was very obese and had started running as many races as she could register for. She had already lost 75 lbs in 6 months. She was always the last to finish, and most of the people had gone. They prizes had been giving and all the snacks, even water was gone. That made me kind of mad.

So I will pay $65 for my favorite triathlon locally and smile because my teeshirt fits. Any somebody is always there still there to welcome you to the finish line.

Happy Training,

Jen L

[MINIskirt]

Don't even get me started on races that don't plan well for the number of participants. My DH, my IL's and I all did a fairly expensive half marathon last year. My MIL was definitely at the back of the pack and there was no food left when she finished. We're hoping it was just a fluke since it was the inaugural year and that this year they'll have figured it out.