I agree. And I've found some local races that cost $35-45. Sprint tris at suburban YMCA or Park District. They aren't fancy. You do get a t-shirt. The Leaning Tower YMCA had a contest last year, and a HS senior had the winning t-shirt design. They had cheering squads from a local HS on the corners. OK, the kids kind of wandered out onto the course sometimes...but it was fun. Nothing glamourous, but neither did it break my bank. You never know. You might find some good "little" triathlons out there.