What are the cheapest and most expensive marathons to enter?
Belfast and New York are venues to avoid if you want to cut the costs of your marathon
The Belfast City marathon is the UK’s most expensive to enter, costing four times as much as Manchester, which is the cheapest, and nearly twice the average £47 entry fee.
London is the priciest part of the country for most things, but not marathon running. The cost of entering the capital’s event is the third-most expensive. Compared to global equivalents, London is relatively affordable. Its £79.99 entry fee is the lowest of the Abbott World Marathon Majors and half as pricey as New York (£230).
These entry fees make up just 10% of the average £528 cost of preparing for the 26.2-mile race, according to research from Monzo. The retail bank analysed the entry fees of the world’s biggest marathons and commissioned a survey of 1,000 marathon runners. This found that most financial outlay is on gear training and travel.
What are the cheapest marathons to enter in the UK?
Head to Manchester or the Isle of Wight if you’re looking for a cheap marathon. Cheap doesn’t mean good value, of course, so these races might not necessarily offer the best experience for your money.
1.Manchester (£20)
2. Isle of Wight (£27.80)
3. Richmond (£30)
4. Yorkshire (£35)
5. Norfolk (£38)
What are the most expensive marathons to enter in the UK?
Based on entry fees alone, these are the UK’s costliest to enter. But they could work out cheaper for you if you don’t have to travel far or stay overnight.
1. Belfast City (£82)
2. Loch Ness (£80)
3. London (£79.99)
4. Mid Sussex (£78.90)
5. New Forest (£66)
What are the world’s most expensive marathons to enter?
Monzo ranked the entry fees of the World Marathon Majors, which form a world championships series, in this order:
1. New York (£230.19)
2. Chicago (£182.69)
3. Boston (£182.69)
4. Berlin (£176.95)
5. Sydney (£143.56)
6. Tokyo (£92.44)
7. London (£79.99)
Preparation costs
The price of racing doesn’t tell the full story. Monzo found that runners spend £405 a year on average on kit such as running shoes, smartwatches and running shorts. Londoners average £477 yearly.
To keep tabs on the costs of marathon running, Monzo recommends setting up a marathon spending pot, taking advantage of running club sessions and Parkruns, and booking travel and accommodation early.
Lead image: Shutterstock
Jack Evans
