Remember when you got into running because it was a low cost sport? All you needed was a pair of sneakers and nowadays some people run with bare feet! I already have feet, so I should be all set! $200 for Running Shoes, $80 for a Fuel Belt, $60 Compression Socks, $90 Compression Pants, $20 head band, $50 Sunglasses, $100 Wicking Wind Breaker, $40 Phone Case, $300 Running Watch, $60 Tribe Shirt, Gels and Glide and Sunscreen and Race Fees makes a Marathon Medal and a Banana priceless! We could all use a break on some race fees right?

There are many ways to lower race fees.  Joining a race organization like The 50 States Club or Marathon Maniacs will get you 10 or 20% off at some races.  Knowing where you want to race, you can sign up for notifications of sales or contests. Many races have extra special sales on the first day of registration or on their actual race day for the following year. Black Friday and holiday sales occur in the race world too. You can also buy race series at a discount. There’s other ways to lower or eliminate a race fee which we’ll cover in another article.

It has been argued that the race fee is a small price to pay in your over race weekend trip. Especially if you are traveling, you have your lodging, gas, flight, parking, restaurants, tolls, and other costs that dwarf your regular $100+ race fee. I do not expect people to plan a huge trip on the merits of these low cost marathons because some of them are out of the way, so time and money will add up quickly. However, some of these races may be in your back yard.  Maybe your sister or college roommate lives in one of these towns.  This list is for reference as a quick check.  There’s currently 4 FREE races on this list. Another 7 of the marathons are under $35.

Many of these races came from an informal poll taken in some online forums. Thank you to everybody who contributed! I did take the time to look up and link all of the races listed here. Some of these prices may have already expired. Look at the dates of the lowest price and save it in your calendar. This list will be updated if you leave comments, however the list will be updated faster if you include a link that shows the price. Only races that are $60 and under will be listed (not including taxes and fees). We needed to draw the line somewhere. If you are suggesting races in the notes PLEASE DO NOT LIST ONE DAY OR HOLIDAY SALES OR DISCOUNTS FOR AMBASSADORS OR ORGANIZATIONS. Prices should be as they appear on the most recent registration schedule for the race.

We are still looking for low cost options for 13 states, highlighted in red: Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Wyoming.

Alabama

Dizzy Fifties Trail Run 50k and 40&50 Miler – Huntsville, AL. $26 Early Entry

Alaska

King Salmon Marathon – Cordova, AK. $50 Marathon Early Entry

Arizona

SP Crater Marathon – Flagstaff, AZ. $35 Early Entry

Arizona Marathon – Glendale, AZ. $60 Early Entry

Arkansas

LoVit Trail Marathon – Mount Ida, AR. FREE!!!

Midsouth Marathon – Wynne, AR. $40

California

Charlie Alewine Racing – Long Beach, CA. $55 Multiple Races. 5th Race Free.

• Colorado

Connecticut

Roxbury Marathon in Roxbury, CT.  $15

Oh Boy Marathon – Waterbury, CT. $50 Early Entry

• Delaware

Florida

Florida Marathon – Melbourne, FL. $60 early entry

Georgia

Thrill in the Hills Trail Run – Winder, GA. $50 early entry

• Hawaii

Idaho

Mesa Falls Marathon – Mesa Falls, ID. $60 Early Entry

Pocatello Marathon – Pocatello, ID. $60 Early Entry Special Rates first 3 days.

Illinois

Rockford Marathon-Rockford, IL. $50 ($25 for the first 200 entrants this year)

Indiana

Hayes Arboretum – Richmond, Indiana. $45 Early Entry.

Circular Logic Marathon – Lafayette, IN. $33 Early Entry

Veterans Marathon – Columbia City, IN. $50 Early Entry

Iowa

University of Okoboji Marathon – Arnolds Park, IA. $50

• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana

Maine

Millinocket Marathon & Half – Millinocket, ME. FREE!!!

Maryland

Seneca Greenway Creek Marathon & 50k  – Gaithersburg, MD. $35 Early Entry

George Washington Birthday Marathon – Greenbelt, MD. $50 Early Entry

Massachusetts

Cape Cod Trail Race – Falmouth, MA. $55 Early Entry

Michigan

First National Bank of Wakefield Marathon – Wakefield, MI. FREE!!!

Kal-Haven Trail Run 50K-Kalamazoo,MI. $50

Minnesota

Mankato Marathon –  Mankato, MN. $49 Early Entry

Run for the Lakes Marathon – Brainerd, MN. $55 Early Entry

Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon – Duluth, MN. $35 Early Entry

Mississippi

Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon – Gulfport, MS. $35 Early Entry

Missouri

Heart of America Marathon – Columbia, MO. $50

• Montana

Nebraska

Nebraska State Fair Marathon – Grand Island, NE. $55

• Nevada

New Hampshire

Ghost Train Trail Race (30,45,60,75, 90, 100 Miler) – Brookline, NH. $50

• New Jersey

New Mexico

Sierra Vista Trail Runs 50K – Las Cruces, NM.$50 plus a used pair of shoes for donation.

Shiprock Marathon – Shiprock, NM. $50 Early Entry

New York

Presidential Inauguration International Marathon – East Meadow, NY. $25 Early Entry

Dick’s Greater Binghamton Marathon– Vestal, NY. $35 Early Entry

North Carolina

Tobacco Road Marathon – Cary, NC.$55 Early Entry

North Dakota

Harmon Lake Trail Festival -Bismarck, ND. $10 First 20 Entries. $50 Next 25. $60 Next 30.

Ohio

ORRRC Marathon – Xenia, OH. $35 Early Entry

• Oklahoma

Oregon

Timberline Marathon – Timothy Lake, OR.$60 Early Entry

Pennsylvania

Naked Prussian Marathon and 50K – Leesport, PA. $35 Early Entry

Veteran’s Day Marathon – Indiana, PA.$26.20 Early Entry

Lt. J.C. Stone 50K – Pittsburgh, PA. $60 Early Entry

Rhode Island

Black Goose Marathon – Seekonk, MA. $45 Early Entry

South Carolina

Altamont Marathon – Travelers Rest, SC. $48 Early Entry

South Dakota

River Rat Marathon – Yankton, SD.$55 Early Entry

Brookings Marathon  – Brookings, SD.$55 Early Entry

Swan Lake Marathon – Viborg, SD. $55 Early Entry

• Tennessee

• Texas

Utah

Morgan Valley Marathon – Morgan, UT. $60 Early Entry

Logan View Marathon – Logan, UT. $55 Early Entry

• Vermont

Virginia

Virginia Creeper Marathon – Abingdon, VA. $15

Washington

Green River Marathon – Kent, WA. FREE!!!

West Virginia

Barnum Rail Trail Marathon – Keyser, WV. $55 Early Entry. First 10 people take 50% off!

Wisconsin

Minocqua No Frills Marathon – Minocqua, WI. $45 Early Entry

• Wyoming

 

 

Canada

Quebec
– “Marathon des Érables”, end of April, $57 (rural setting, maple taffee on snow on the course, approx. 30-40 minutes south-east of Montreal)
– “Marathon SSQ de Longueuil”, May, $46 (Montreal South Shore)
– “Marathon des pompiers de Laval”, June, $35 (Montreal North Shore)
– “Marathon de Rimouski”, early October, $38 (flat out-n-back along the St-Lawrence river, which is quite wide and beautiful up there, but 6h drive north of Montreal)
– “Marathon de Magog”, October, $50