Are Triathlons Too Expensive? | GTN Show Ep. 389

[@gtn]

What’s the most expensive triathlon you’ve ever entered & was it worth the money? 💰

[@olasonn]

About $50 and yes! :)

[@HighwireMarketing]

Escape from Alcatraz and yes it was well worth it!

[@moorseytours]

€650 for an IM (Maastricht) and was definitely disappointing for what you get especially finish line 'party', only the crowd & atmosphere in the city made it somehow worth it. Now I mostly do local races, my last 4 halves were between €80 & €150 & with more flexibility to e.g. transfer start number

[@xander0901]

The most expensive events I have done are Ironman 70.3s (Oceanside, Indian Wells) and I have always felt that the experience was well worth the price.

[@romancakajda5455]

Roth and YES YES YES

[@TheTinyMouse]

There’s a company down here in the south of UK called Challenging Events, they do something that I 100% agree with, when you volunteer for their events they’ll reward you with credit towards one of their events or a Free entry. I think more companies should take on this approach

[@Marytrimum]

I think most small organisers do this. Outlaw uk do,

[@wyattanton208]

You ignored the part where Ironman bought up lots of local races and then cancelled them to monopolize the market and drive prices up

[@TriathlonDan]

Entry fees are a small part of the ‘get to the start line’ cost in triathlon as we know, add in bikes and wetsuits and it’s thousands. Running still has that ‘get to the start line’ cost comparatively low, hence participation shooting up. Making road/ drop bar bikes more socially accepted in triathlon would be a good step towards lowering both the perceived and actual cost of entry to the sport. Good discussion Heather & James 👍

[@3WalkingPoles]

+ travel and accommodation

[@panzerveps]

To be fair, most of the equipment will last several seasons, and can be bought 2nd hand. Entry, travel and accomodation is the real money pit.

[@jonathanwales5949]

@TriathlonDan I’ve done 4 Ironman branded fulls 3 x Ironman UK and 1 x Ironman Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 main cost is accommodation Tenby generally expensive and doing that race can easily go into thousands once you count everything in. Course Recce / nutrition / bike bits entertainment costs during your stay.

[@olivert.7192]

road bikes are still the main weapon of choice in my local city triathlon (not an ironman event). But alas it's true that the equipment is wildly expensive when you put it all together.

[@deanb61]

I've done Barcelona Ironman last couple of years, one of the flattest fastest on the circuit; but still over half the age groupers are on standard road bikes.

[@KyleLanmon]

I love the idea of splitting the age group into competitive and non-competitive

[@trifitguy]

Same here...yet people who are not competitive or are really in the race for age group wins, think they are...

[@forgetful212]

It is bloody expensive, especially when you consider how you want younger folks to get into the sport...

[@w.nas.9806]

its not just the entry fees. The kit is crazy...1000 dollars for garmin pedals? Bikes at 6-10k$$$? the cost of getting to these places to race? the list goes on.

[@gabscar1]

The premium products that GTN and GCN, etc. shill are not needed.

[@gtn]

@w.nas.9806 we know what you mean about the price of premium equipment, but not everybody needs that, but of course we see your point that a very high entry cost to the event, could be a high percentage of the equipment costs too. It's a strange situation that we have found ourselves in!

[@jonasvieth]

I’m happy to pay for being safe in the water, closed roads and getting cheered on during the run. After all I want my first ironman to be an event and a half. What I don’t need are fancy goodies. That’s why I chose a local race with a sub 500€ entry fee. For anyone starting with our beloved sport, probably olympic or sprint distance, a big financial hurdle is the wetsuit. Yes you can rent one but that adds to the event costs and you’re experimenting on race day. The good thing on the other hand is that triathletes are quite inclusive and you won’t be judged by your gear. So don’t try to impress with kit, impress with speed and power 💪

[@thenayancat8802]

I got a 2nd hand tri wetsuit for £50, it's barely been used (unfortunately still true since I bought it last year lol), also well worth keeping an eye out for

[@jonasvieth]

@@thenayancat8802well done mate that’s a bargain 👍 Did you know your size from previous models or did you go by the manufacturer measurements?

[@suttonfarms2343]

Entered and completed Chattanooga's full ironman in 2023....it was nearly $1,000. Swag was alright, got a bag, the cap of course, a t and a medal. Did a half ironman in 2024 and it was nearly $500. This year I'll do local races; Olympic distances, sprints and some marathons/half marathons in lieu of ironman to save money. Doing Ironman is a treat that I'll give to myself every couple of years, but definitely too expensive to do yearly.

[@sebastienbrochard9812]

Triathlon is my hobby, and I'm training mostly to keep fit. Because of cost of races and cost of getting there, I only sprinkle a year with a couple of events.

[@jayclay1]

I like the segment where they question if triathlon has become too expensive, followed by a segment about a bike that cost up to £10,000

[@thenayancat8802]

Which marathons are 300+?? I've paid for 3 entries so far. Albeit 2 were smaller events ("only" 5k entrants), £70 or so. Other event is a big city marathon in the UK, about £100. Plenty local 5k-10k races for £20-£50 too and I'm in a big city. Even cheaper trail races going. Plenty of 50k++ ultras for £100-150. Ironman Wales, starting prices about £650.

[@DanBirasi]

Hamburg Marathon roughly 100€

[@moorseytours]

I think the marathon majors are expensive, the rest not too bad +/- €100. London is more than twice as expensive for non UK folks, so locals get a discounted price

[@jonathanwales5949]

New York marathon $315 for non NYRR members

[@thenayancat8802]

@@jonathanwales5949 holy cow, that's crazy. Still not typical by any means

[@samg8929]

Escape From Alcatraz- basically a longer/augmented Olympic distance race for the price of an Ironman. Worth it one time, but not an annual race

[@gtn]

that is a real bucket list triathlon!

[@bethanygodfrey5745]

After many years of putting it off this year I’ve entered my local sprint triathlon, half the cost of some of the others I’ve looked at and this year it’s thriving with both sprint, Olympic and even some junior events. I think as much as I’d love to do more events I might just stick to the local events where it’s smaller and cheaper

[@kerrynball2734]

The leader of our club explained that the road closures are a main reason for the big $$$. There is a higher expectation than there was in the past, for example a traffic controller on every blocked intersection rather than just some barriers with controllers on the big ones only.

[@mikew6840]

Agree with @TriathlonDan - also, the thought of paying heaps in advance for entry fees, travel & accommodation, and then possibly losing it because of injury or illness, can be pretty daunting. More local races please 😏!

[@torbenb.6179]

With a small club of about 40 members, we organize a local triathlon annually. We ourselves are not happy with the entry fees. But unfortunately, we are forced to regularly increase prices. Our goal is to offer a great competition for new and ambitious athletes. Starting with Mountainbikes to high priced Time Trial bikes. Beyond that, we also want to keep club membership fees low and have financial support for club activities. But it's getting increasingly difficult. As a result, we are currently reducing our events for members to avoid having to increase entry fees too much. It's not allways all about profit. It's about having fun and to surround yourself with great people. That's one of our club values.

[@mathieunorry]

Delighted to see Heather back

[@gtn]

thanks, weather permitting - Heather has a nice coastal run this weekend for a video!

[@RhinoJoeOutdoors]

It’s a gamble. Signing up for a big event and there is almost no deferment for Ironman events. If you get injured or seriously ill you can’t defer and that’s a lot of money to give up. I wanted to sign up for a full IM race but it’s too much of a risk and not enough reward

[@trifitguy]

That is not true at all!

[@nickvandam1214]

There aren't any long-distance (1/2 or full Iron) near me, so my plan is a self supported event.

[@achapmaninhk]

Me too, in Hong Kong if anyone is interested.

[@aliherbert8519]

The most offensive price for me is with ironman when you qualify for a worlds and then pay double the price for the pleasure of attending something special you have earned it should be half price not double. And then to have to foot the bill that same day is brutal as i found out after Weymouth in September 2024 .

[@martincjm9]

My last full distance race was in 2001 at the Great Floridian. Cost was around $250 which was very reasonable. I actively avoided the IM brand of races due to the posh factor, and not wanting to pay twice as much for 100 meters of red carpet and a backpack. Plus, smaller organizers are like a family, vs the larger corporations.

[@stuntcrashes]

I did my first triathlon and duathlon in 1989. I raced all distances from sprint to ironman over the years. I continued to race every year for over 20 years. The entry cost has been a deterrent for me over the last 5-10 years. I've been selective on races. I come to the realization I enjoy the training more then the race itself. Cost is the biggest reason.

[@ashmonkstri]

Great convo highlighting event fees, you do get what you pay for with the events that have been around for longer- more experienced in safety and creating a race atmosphere

[@derekjohnson9995]

Different athletes want different things: a first time ironman likely wants the swag bag, but for another completing their 15th ironman...not so much. The solution is simple: Make the swag optional.

[@kelownatriathlonclub]

As a race director, I saw traffic management expenses triple just from 2019 to today. The regulations to meet the municipal and provincial requirements to put on a race in Canada is definitely squeezing small, local races.

[@DigininjaRobin]

My most expensive event is either my first Ironman where I did so badly I had to go back two years later to put in a better effort, or last year's Challenge Almere where I wasn't planning to go back but then won free entry so going to have to cover all the travel expenses again.

[@timobrien256]

I can enter and support three local races for the entry fee of one Ironman. Plus I don’t have to pay for hotels and travel expenses.

[@trifitguy]

And?

[@minicampo]

Great to see you guys covering NZ Triathlons too, i ran the Tauranga (pronounced toe - rung - a) Half IM on the weekend and it was a great race. Looking forward to 1 March and the Full IM in Taupo (pronounced toe - pour/paw). Come on down all you fellow tri enthusiasts, the water is fine!!

[@CliveStephenson-w9y]

🥰🤩

[@marcuswills6569]

At the beginning of 2024 I decided to track everything I spent on Triathlon for the year. I already owned bikes so didn't include them. Of the total cost only 14% came from entry fees, and a couple of races were "expensive". Top spend was Travel/Accommodation at nearly 40% with Kit/Equipment just over 30%. I agree with Helen at around 19:25 where the cost of entry appears higher (excluding big brands) because the general public have less disposable income so the issue is exasperated. Most local race entry fees are more than acceptable.

[@SBoots29]

I would say entry fees are only the small part. Travel and accommodations are the large part. My most expensive is the Riding Mountain Triathlon, In a National Park here in Canada, but it is a beautiful course. Too bad they had to make it a Duathlon because on no swim last year. No matter the cost, If I want it bad enough I will go.

[@andrewdutton1003]

Lovely to see Heather back :o) Welcome back!

[@gtn]

Thank you!! 😊

[@AeroComfyTri]

Ive just entered 2 Sprint Distances Tris here in Scotland. £45 each, one pool and one open water. Run by local clubs. Prices seems fair to me.

[@lwittrock1]

We all want safe events but the cost of an Ironman is stupidly high, especially when you consider how many volunteers they use (no pay) and how many age groupers are there to ensure a huge profit to IM corp. It's too high.

[@bollard49]

The biggest problem with ironman is the debt the parent company carries. The brand has been sold back and forwards mostly with leverage. Same phenomenon as businesses like Manchester United. The owners are so beholden to paying debt interest and taking a profit (this was the case pre COVID so just worse now) . A huge chunk of your entry fee is paying corporate mismanagement. It is a crisis for the sport because it inaccessible. Who on earth is going to pay a grand to ride around Bolton. It's a dump, people won't and therefore the race has gone.

[@thestreakpodcast]

Excellent comment.

[@marcuswills6569]

Good comment, I think a lot of people just assume that IRONMAN is this juggernaut company that has million $$ profits but forget the financial difficulty they have got themselves in the past.

[@ronknoll9390]

Event costs for RD's have gone up substantially. Shirts up 2.5 times. Law enforcement from $11 to $29 per hour (or more), Permits and venue fees have quadrupled. Medals have tripled. Porto's have tripled or more. Post race food increased and the list goes on and on.

[@gtn]

We are thinking of trying to get an event organiser on the channel to go through the costs involved

[@RobShannon-e2g]

I have done full ironman, 70.3, olympic and sprint. But the $400 entry fee for the nyc triathlon which had a swim cancelation and run in Central Park which was not on a closed course, seemed a bit high.

[@coachjohn]

Ironman Louisville in 2018 cost me $795 and then over $2000 in travel expenses. I would say at 42°f and driving rain to finish in 11:55 was one true life experience

[@McMurraysAus]

Most expensive was $1250 in 2022 for Ultra355 in Hervey Bay Australia. Roads were not closed, running on a footpath that was open to the public. Was the greatest race I’ve ever participated in. Only about 30 athletes, it was a real community to join. Would do it again in a heart beat.

[@lucasherculano5563]

Swimming classes are expensive where I live, so that’s the main barrier right now. But a decent road bike and good running shoes were attainable for me. Still , I’m training for my first race (10 years after saying I was going to do it 😅)

[@gtn]

Hopefully 2025 is the year you get to do the race!

[@untypical7404]

The cost of triathlon - the concern lies outside of whether the costs are justified. Even if they are, the sticker price itself of the race is undeniably higher than running races. Even if running races have increased prices at the same rate, $300 is much more affordable than $1000 (obviously). But the GEAR - yes we can opt for more affordable options, but you're still going to be surrounded by all the age groupers that are decked out in all the right gear (and not afraid to make it known)

[@atfitzpatrick]

I live in Singapore - went to sign up for t100 in April and stopped at the cart when the price was $599 SGD. And I live here. T100 also has a problem basing itself in hot locations that don’t suit many (most) age groupers - me included

[@philscott1105]

I do fewer Triathlons per year now largely due to value for money. But huge shout out to Alpe D’Huez in France - Epic event and 2025 Long Tri €245. Last Ironman event was 2019 and I don’t think I’ll do another…113Events, Outlaw and local events for now

[@gabscar1]

I'm surprised that you didn't investigate the profit margins of the large triathlon events companies.

[@jonathanzappala]

2005, the good old days. You could pre register for a 5k for $15 or day of for $20. I don't mind the local race increases, so many have disappeared now that running and triathlon participation has declined, I want to support my local RD's

[@GDubyah]

I will "take the bait" and say cost isn't the primary issue driving popularity. Look at hyrox, it is gaining massive popularity. In the US, it has similar cost to local tris but is booming. Triathlon has equipment cost, but if someone learns how to do their own maintenance and is willing to ride an older second hand bike. A lot of the purchases are one time and can be brought down a ton by going second hand. At least with people I talk to, they associate triathlon with full distance/ironman races and that is too hard of a race to ever want to do the sport. I think if people were aware of sprint distance races, they would be more apt to join them. However, swimming does keep a lot of people at bay regardless the distance.

[@gtn]

Maybe we should give it a go!

[@annadiamantopoulos3797]

The last triathlon I did was ironman Barcelona a while ago now. I would love to go to Kona but you need at least 5 grand to go there. I find races are expensive and the courses are boring. I still swim , bike and run but i find trail running more fun, so ultra running races are more appealing

[@zerodQI]

For the running events, in France the entry fee are around 5 to 30€ for a 5k and around 35 to 150€ for a marathon. Where do you find a marathon that cost 300€? For exemple the Paris's Marathon was 130€ last year and I think it's one of the most expensive. It's understandable that triathlon are more expensive than running but 6 or 7 time more!!

[@ironman140.6]

The price of top-end brand tri bikes is a bit pricy. The entrance fee is fair to cover the costs of running an event. The sponsorship of events and safety is super poor. Need a better sponsorship overall and more focus on safety on roads.

[@teresaalmeida8622]

The race fees are high and if you factor in travelling and accomodation you are paying the same as you would for a holiday. Also refund/rescheduling policies in case of injury/accident prior to the race are terrible. This is affecting the quality of the AG triathletes competing in world/european champs as some of the qualified (faster athletes) won't take their place because of the costs associated.

[@xander0901]

Events in general are more expensive than they have been in the past, and event organizers are starting to experiment with ways to improve the cost efficiency, such as pairing triathlons with 5k/10k runs. I also think it’s very important to have a healthy balance of events at all levels of organization (local, mid level, large scale). Each type of event has their own unique feel from very intimate local events to epic/high energy Ironman events. I think the sport as a whole benefits when events of all levels can exist in a reasonable balance.

[@Nandoman520]

It's more than just the entry fees though. Hotel rates are expensive and some hotel chains raise their rates because of the event so there's a bit of price gouging as well. The most expensive triathlon for me was IM California, which was in my hometown, and it cost somewhere around $700 (don't remember the exact amount). This was my first and only full IM so it was worth it to me. Fortunately since it was in my hometown I didn't have to worry about hotel expenses. I've done IM 70.3 Oregon twice and they cost around $500 and fortunately my sister-in-law lives in the venue city so, again, hotel costs were nil. I wish Ironman could provide an option of swag or no swag and adjust the price accordingly. Someone who's done 15 IM branded races may have 15 different backpacks not to mention the finisher's shirts.

[@steveosborne9273]

Entry costs are moderately priced for Sprints in my area, $100-150. However, the cost of bikes is "over the top" expensive!

[@pugsreeves9719]

I love the discussion on the tri cost.. yes they are getting more expensive but you can't put a price on life changing experiences..... think I've paid 650 plus travel ect for an ironman and 400 for 70.3 but branded event I've also paid alot less for same distances but still jist as much fun

[@Lindemann0815]

Entry fees are also paid way in advance. I have to register early to get a spot and pay my fee and wait 9months or a year to actually compete. If i register an Ironman a few 70.3s and shorter distances plus marathon etc I am spending like 2000€ without getting anything in return for a long time. travel costs etc not even included.

[@joshbarnes3419]

The cost of the event isn’t the put off as I agree you tend to get what you pay for with the events. But as someone who only got into triathlon in the last 12-16months the cost of getting a bike, (that since Covid have skyrocketed in price) a wetsuit, an indoor trainer, a good pair of shoes and the nutrition to keep you going when training and competing is just too much. I purchased a second hand road bike and second hand trainer to get me started, mid range shoes and still spent about £500, which I’m aware in the grand scale of triathlon isn’t that expensive but that was all second hand (and the bike was awful) let alone entry fees on top of that with monthly nutrition to keep you going it all adds up.

[@olivert.7192]

triathlon would be cheaper if we werent all stealing the gels during the races lol Most expensive for me is Ironman Thun, hope it's worth it. Fingers crossed!! Usually I am happy to pay the sign up fee. A lot goes into it (e.g. food for volunteers, blocking the roads, freebies, etc.).

[@888jhs]

Many amateur races are so crowded on narrow roads that I am not sanguine that Race Ranger is going to be practical. Maybe for certain Ironman races but it would have been of no use in a crowded Italy 70.3 last year where packs were rife.

[@Underdog_Triathlete]

Race Ranger or no, the concept of a “competitive heat” is a great idea all its own, and I definitely wish I had it while I was racing age-group. It would make it much easier for high-level age groupers to tell who they’re competing against, AND for those hoping to go pro, it would give them more of a taste of what pro/competitive racing is like. You can’t get that with time-trial starts, as important as those are for safety, and this would be a happy medium to let some age-groupers really go for it while not subjecting EVERYONE to a messy and potentially-hazardous mass start.

[@thestreakpodcast]

Here in Germany it costs on average €80 for a local Olympic Distance. And maybe €50 for Sprint Distance. I can build a season of 10-12 of those. Near-weekly gun to taping. Also. I keep my equipment pretty simple. So don't put loads of money there.

[@The_classicnoob]

Price of bikes have gone up more than 2.5%, travel, shoes

[@rongatenby8963]

I have long asked for the option of not having a swag bag as part of the entry fee. I don't really need 2 swag bags every year.

[@oscargomez-uw8xm]

Race entry fees have gone up quite a notch, but I would say the real struggle is accomodation. Im looking to finakly go up from 70.3 to full distance next season (2026), and while living in the north part of Spain the only IM branded race is Vitoria. 700€ right now, dont know how much ill be on the pre-sale next time it opens up. We do have some non IM brandes races that are only 250€ to race, problem is accomodation would probably be around 300€ at least, plus food, plus gas and some other expendatures that would add up to more than 700€ as they are at least 6-7h away... Also, like it or not, somehow IronMan delivers a whole party around the race that no other race does, the amount of people cheering in Vitoria is surreal... And the fact that is only 1h by car makes the decision quite easy for me. Also, Im staying local this year and trying to race within 1h-1h30 by car so that I keep the expenses low and can properly save for the big year.

[@stephaniedannenberg901]

I would say no, the price seems in line with other events, even non athletic ones. However, the 200 miler from a certain US company has just hit the $2000 mark with fees included from ultrasignup! That got people talking, when no other events of that length are that price. Also British triathlon still hasn't resolved (it seems) anything for international athletes participating in events. So while I'd love to do a tri in the UK, there is a barrier to entry and losing my registration cost last year rubbed me the wrong way, because while triathlon isn't out of line price wise, it is expensive to do the longer ones, and losing that money sucks.

[@abegoldberg4030]

If Triathlon is declining - and cost is considered one of the key reasons - I think it's hardly just due to entry fees increasing. The sport of Triathlon as compared to running (or swimming), for example, is simply more expensive. The gear, the travel, the BIKE/maintenance $$$, indoor trainer, Zwift, logistics i.e. finding time, pools, adequate roads to train, etc. It's just an expensive/higher demanding sport as compared to running - so maybe running is not a fair comparison. If you took up hiking/climbing in serious way (i.e. traveling to destinations to hike/climb) I think you would find yourself investing a fair amount of time and $$$. Someone else mentioned in the comments that training for triathlon is a lifestyle to stay in shape. While I enjoy competing and trying to do well in my AG, training to stay fit is my mindset/lifestyle + the like minded community is amazing!! I'm 65, have been active all of my life, and have been doing to triathlon for 15 years. For me, the cost to stay fit and healthy is money well spent!! I've already signed up for another IM 70.3 this year - may do another one later in the season, as well. Cheers! PS - Swag should be optional/selective during registration. I do not need any more backpacks, hats, etc. Thanks GTN for all the content.

[@CristovamPeres]

I stopped participating in Ironman events because it is a mercenary company. I found out it the worst way possible. I've postponed a race following all they're rules and they would not let me enter next year because "the voucher has expired". They wanted me to pay again to race. In the I managed to race after opening a case against them.

[@alanuren4160]

The huge cost of an ironman entry is definitely a major factor why I haven't yet signed up for one. Considering a challenge event or outlaw.

[@thestreakpodcast]

@@alanuren4160 Outlaw is an excellent event. Did it in 2010 and 2018. Would definitely go back.

[@petermyers4409]

Yep I’m tri curious as I already have all the kit and I run and bike already , but honestly the price of events puts me off going to one. One less person in your sport. Entry fees are the barrier for me .

[@gtn]

Hi, thanks for the comment, we're sad to see that the entry fee is the blocker. Now we're curious, what are the maximums you would pay? Cheers!

[@triathlonlen]

I have been racing triathlon for 13 years including finishing 18 fulls, 2 DNF & 1 DNS. I can say I have NEVER entered a race for the “Freebies”. This was started by the organisers to advertise their events/brands. The brands could offer a NO freebie offer but the entry costs would not be reduced by much. Ps Challenge Roth is bar far the most expensive race I have entered and when It comes to race day you forget about the costs due to excitement. Roth is worth it though!

[@triclerockrollrun1787]

There is a whole business side of racing that most athletes never even consider or understand. Planning the experiences athletes want takes a lot of time and people.

[@ws5246]

Hi Guys. I agree that there are more expenses in running a triathlon however, I don't think the closed roads for Triathlon is a valid cost consideration. I completed Outlaw back in 2014 and I think it cost me about £180 to enter. I considered it this year and it would set me back almost £400 (including a £25 booking fee!), no closed roads for that event. Even the Half is £250. There has been chip timing for years, not sure that's a valid reason. I decided better of it and have registered for a Half-marathon and 100 mile sportive, total cost for the 2? £65!! No brainer. I'd be interested to see a similar comparison of how cycling events have increased in price over the years as I think many are going to cycling instead, especially with the growth in Gravel.

[@untypical7404]

I think the decline of triathlon in recent years also has to do with more people returning to office. It's logistically way more challenging to train the 3 disciplines when you can't fit in a workout at lunch or log in fresh out of the pool.

[@gtn]

very good point. If a workplace doesn't have shower facilities etc, it isn't fair on the rest of the office to suffer after a sweaty workout!

[@jamiefuhrman403]

For the amount Ironman charges, there's no excuse for not closing roads on the bike course. Safety needs to come first.

[@thestreakpodcast]

Old guy rant. I've been triathloning since 1989. And I'm still truckin'. Season 37 coming up. Back then you built your season around your local triathlons. They were affordable and you were supporting the local triathlon community. Most races were short so you could race often. They were also a proving ground. To see if you were ready to race longer and / or out of region. It seems triathletes now want to jump straight to the big time. And, of course, longer and bigger name races are much, much more expensive than racing locally. Add travel and accommodation to that too. Hot take. A few big brand events I've raced have not been as well organised as my local stuff.

[@gtn]

hi, thanks for the comment. That is a great period to have been doing tri for so long, you've seen some real changes in the sport. We are curious, do you still have many local triathlons to take part in?

[@thestreakpodcast]

@gtn Yes. Something every weekend here in Germany. May to September. France very similar. I raced there for 20+ years. When I'm in the UK I search out small events too. Always succeed. I did LPS Wednesday race like you last year. The July one. Also. Crazy thing. When race calendars were on paper, you got a season-long view of what was available. Now, I guess, people just go to individual race websites.

[@nickmallett7391]

The entry fees are just part of it. The outrageous race entries sometimes pale in comparison to the hotel costs at race locations.....I have been doing this stuff a long time and have raced everything from sprints to Ultraman and the costs are stupid. $500 Aussie for the Sunny Coast 70.3 and $2,500 Aussie (yes,you read it right) for Ultraman Australia in Noosa. Throw in stupid hotel costs and I am priced out of the sport. I can ride across Australia for four weeks for less that just the entry fee for Ultraman Oz.

[@jasonross8096]

Yes they are costly entry fees, only because then there's usually accommodation, travel fee, and everything else that comes with it, I no longer compete because of the cost

[@kevinclark5122]

This year probably going to do only one Ironman branded race, as much as I love them, and all others will be local races because even the 70.3s, with travel and all other expenses involved is just too steep

[@gtn]

Which Ironman event are you looking to do this year?

[@888jhs]

It now also costs USD250 or so to travel one way with your bike. So another USD500 on top of the entry fee.

[@Microbit0]

You should start the first GTN 100 and olympic distance

[@gtn]

Haha, we have a feeling James would make the course brutal!

[@Microbit0]

@gtn we wouldn't expect any less haha but seriously you need to think about this and the first place gets to make an episode with you guys

[@bikeanddogtripsvirtualcycling]

what are your thoughts on Rouvy becoming an official sponsor of ironman and 70.3 and also buying out Full Gaz cycling platform? It looks as though they have already ported over a lot of the routes - so it should lead to some new / interesting training for competitors

[@gtn]

It looks like a good thing if it means you can ride a route before travelling, so you know what is waiting for you!

[@bikeanddogtripsvirtualcycling]

@gtn yeah, so they are now sponsors for both ironman and the challenge series. I wonder what's next

[@trifitguy]

Talk to the local government, local businesses charging what they do for closed roads. The organisations have to pay more each year for the costs. They have to pass it on to the athletes. Many local clubs can not afford to put on events any more. So don't blame the organisations at all!!

[@michaelbenedict2961]

I've been predicting Ironman going out of business for several years...cost of entry being one of the numerous reasons.

[@blueeyes3810]

I think it is worth the money for the swag, support, safety, and experience. I have paid $750 for a full distance but its was worth it.

[@lizzobeach5179]

Might be nice for the big races to offer a cheaper option with no medal, etc.

[@roygsxr600k7]

Ironman group could get rid of the bag, cap, shirt, etc but you can guarantee the price wouldn’t come down. IM group have bought so many local races and shut them down.

[@kidsroaming]

I have done 3 Ironmans and now have two kids. I have no desire to do an Ironman because of the cost and even just small triathlons are expensive and allllll the gear. I stick with my favorite sport - running and only do 1 race a year

[@gtn]

hi, thanks for the comment and your experience on it. We're curious, is it the same 1 race you do each year? or do you mix it up? thanks!

[@kidsroaming]

@ I mix it up! I find one marathon that is in a spot I’ve been wanting to check out and is family friendly and also no more than 200 dollars. I still enjoy running and exercise but having kids just shifted how I want to spend my money.

[@jamesswinnerton513]

Yes small to midsize triathlons organizations Have way less overhead and cost 😊 More family friendly events and all shapes and sizes of real life and athlete’s

[@magnemmar4869]

Yes. Even for sprint distances, prices are over $100 per person. That is not how you grow the sport.

[@gtn]

what is the most you would pay? We're keen to know!

[@magnemmar4869]

@@gtn That's the issue. I am already invested in the sport. I'd go up to 120 for a sprint, low 200 for an Olympic. And 4-550 for a half. In truth, I'll end up paying for the race regardless, but I'll be annoyed about it. But, only because I've poured into the sport already for equipment, training, hotels, travel, and race fees. It's new athletes that are at risk with these prices.

[@magnemmar4869]

​@@gtn Following up, here's an example of what I mean for new athletes. Years ago (early 1993 - 2001) I used to be heavily into Live Action Roleplaying (Yeah, total nerd). Those events were Fri-Sun and cost around $35 - 55 per weekend. Did that for years. Then, I got into Everquest, which at the time cost somewhere around that amount for a full month of access. I quickly realized that it made no sense to pay the same amount for a single 2-day event when I could play for an entire month. Where I see the issue with Triathlon is that a single tri will be compared with other events. You can still find road racing events for less than $50, 5 and 10k for $30 or less, 10 - 13 milers for less than $100. Open water swims for $60. Sure, you could still say, "But if you do all 3, the Tri is less expensive" and that's mostly correct (race dependent). But it ignores one important question. "Do you want to do Triathlon, or do you want the experience of competing."? If all you want is to compete in something, to help drive your training and fitness, then Triathlon becomes a single expensive purchase and everything else is a greater value.

[@Aeronwor]

​@@magnemmar4869 now you've given me an idea to plan my year. I already have a triathlon in september, but building up to it I will only enter single sport events, keeping things fresh. A sportive one weekend, a trail run two weeks later, the local HM, some OWS events and so on, then to round off the season do THE triathlon.

[@chrissmith8527]

I’m doing Iron Man Lake Placid most expensive Iron Man I’ve done but the housing for the week cost me nine times the entry fee

[@joannabarlow864]

The price of T100 London is absolutely insane at £400. Accommodation for one night in London isnt much better. Add on travel and you're looking at ~£700 for a middle distance race for an event that is pretty local to me. Its a great event, with good merch, but still ...

[@RaffaRuns]

Completely agree! The worst bit about it is that you're just doing loops around a construction site!!!! Was much better when it was 'London Triathlon'!

[@froggerabc]

Wasn't the one of a kind New York IM a grand a good few years back. IM has got to keep it's share holders happy and I hope it really suffers in the long run.

[@OAMADOR]

Tri-Spy: Sara Pérez Sala

[@jackatmensacosacoaching]

Running a 5K for 25 to 50 USD? ...... A Park Run is Free!!!!

[@thetrifox]

Trispy: Matthew Marquardt

[@Davidparle71]

I roll my eyes at the gimmicky souveniers and spectacle...they seem to think by pumping up the ephemeral they can white wash the exorbitant costs.....im just as happy on my FREE local club training sessions tbh...its me against the clock at the end of the day...comfort is important but faster kit is a tad delusional for someone whos not into rankings. I shop second hand, I make my own nutrition and salts...there are ways to cut costs

[@gtn]

perhaps there could be an option to tick when entering an event, that way making the event a bit cheaper - we feel you are not alone in being the only one who doesn't want lots and lots of extra bits - and would rather have a cheaper event

[@jamesdarklighter8169]

I would expect that the main reason for price increases is due to Insurance

[@garethmcguire632]

Yes!

[@nick-AG]

triathlon fees is not the problem. The problem is the cost of being a runner, cyclist and swimmer

[@gtn]

😂 great point! But it’s a wonderful thing to be!

[@gabscar1]

I do triathlons myself. No need to pay £500 for some crappy medal and t-shirt.

[@gerardkein]

At the end of the day, it’s business. Business owned by china’s Wanda Sports Group. The governments of each countries play an important role too. Road closures, establishments, etc.) The ironman race village itself is a business. We all have a choice, I chose a healthy lifestyle business 😅