Are road races dying?
Are road races as we know it on a steep downward curve to becoming extinct or is the state of our sport as healthy as can be? You’d be amazed by how many requests I get from running clubs to help secure sponsorship for their races. I wish I could help but honestly there is not much I can do. There are so many problems plaguing the sport that it’s hard to know where to begin.
Many running clubs are battling to secure sponsorship for their races. The first thing a sponsor needs to get is a return on investment. They need to get something back for the money they are putting in. We all like to think big business are a bunch of philanthropists but the truth of the matter is they’re in it for the money and let’s be honest, so are we. With very few races being shown on TV these days, the story of ASA selling their soul to the SABC is a whole different story, but this affects every race looking for TV exposure and ultimately sponsors. So it begs the question what do sponsors get out of sponsoring a road race? Looking at races in our immediate future, the Dischem half marathon makes sense. Many runners buy supplements & medication from Dischem as well as the runner’s staple of Vaseline, Deep Heat and plasters. Then take a race like the Johnson Crane. How many runners need cranes? I’ve never needed one, not sure about you? Johnson Crane obviously sees some value there because they have been involved with Benoni Harriers for a long long time with that race. The Cape Gate Vaal Marathon is another one. Cape Gate? What do they actually do? Your guess is as good as mine.
If you look at the numbers of runners turning out for races the sport looks incredibly healthy. In Johannesburg and Pretoria, weekend after weekend thousands upon thousands of runners turn up at road races, pay their entry fee, run the race and go home. Very few runners actually truly understand the logistics of putting a thing of that magnitude together. Never mind the cost. Many of the races are so dependant on the sponsors that if it weren’t for their generosity the race would simply cease to exist. We are unbelievably blessed to live in a large metropolitan area that has races twice, sometimes three times a week if you count the midweek night races in summer. Sometimes I think we’re too blessed. If we only had a handful of races maybe we’d value them more.
I know a lot of people are not going to like my next statement but it needs to be made. It’s an elephant in the room that no one wants to speak about. I think runners are cheap and stingy. There I’ve said it. A few things have led me to this conclusion. Just look at the secret code that exists between runners at running clubs. I think there is a prize up for grabs for the runner that arrives at their club run in the oldest, grimiest race t-shirt they own. I have seen a runner arrive in a 1987 comrades marathon t-shirt at a club run in 2011! 24 YEARS AFTER THE EVENT!!! Seriously now, if you are running in shirts that are older than your kids it is time to invest in some new gear. It might also be time to start using the shirts you got at races over the last year and give your stockpile of race shirts from the 1990′s to a needy charity.
I’ve also heard runners say a race like Comrades “is a money making scheme”. Seriously? Is that what you think? The entry fee for Comrades in 2012 is R300. Let’s put that into a bit of context. I recently did an Olympic distance triathlon that cost me R500 to enter. It took 3 hours to complete. The roads weren’t closed. There were no refreshment stations on the swim or bike course. I am guessing there was one every 2.5km on the run. That’s a total of 4 tables. Comrades on the other hand, there is full road closure, close on 50 refreshment stations. Should I continue? Let’s compare apples with apples then. Comrades is the ultimate road race. Ironman is considered the ultimate triathlon. My entry fee for Ironman 2011 was close on R4000. Comrades 2012, R300. Should I continue?
Don’t get me wrong I am not knocking triathlon or Ironman for charging that much. I am knocking runners for moaning that a race like Comrades is a money making scheme. I even know runners who boycotted the 2011 race for that exact reason. The difference between the organisations that organise triathlons and road races in this country is that the triathlon organisers run their event like a business. They are in it for the money and make no bones about it. If a race like Comrades can’t charge more for an entry what chance does (insert your running club here) have? I honestly think runners are spoilt in this country. Just Google road running in any part of the world and see what they pay to enter races. Here is one in Andalusia, Alabama. It will cost you $20 to pre register and $25 on the day. Oh, I forgot to mention that is for a 5km fun run. Would you like me to do the conversion to Rands? Here is a 10km in Sydney, Australia. 25 Aussie dollars on the day for a 10km. While I was at it I thought I would check what it would cost for a normal entry into the Paris Marathon. Between 65 and 95 Euros. I rest my case. Spoilt.
In my humble opinion I think if South African road races hope to survive they need to up entry fees and they need to be run more like a business venture than a charitable deed. I also think South African runners need to realise how lucky they are to have so many great races on their doorstep. Runners need to become pickier about which races they do as opposed to doing every race on the calender.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter. Please feel free to comment below.
