On Sunday, Newport native Fay Bowen will compete in a 10 kilometers (6 miles) competition for the first time.
“I initially thought running would be a relatively cheap way to get fit; however, I soon discovered that it wasn’t as cheap as I’d expected,” she stated.
Ms. Bowen noted that running had improved her quality of life, but cautioned that the cost of participating in the activity should be taken into account.
It’s been an inconvenience for me to participate in races that are located further away from my house. I considered the price of lodging and transportation.
Marathon and triathlon organizers said costs have climbed “exponentially” in recent years.
I would estimate that, depending on where you went, each race would cost you several hundred pounds. In the present context, I can see how that may be an obstacle for some.
Lee Smith, a fellow Newport resident, is also a candidate this Sunday. His twin brother Dean, a “football mad, warm, fun-loving” guy who died in a car tragedy at age 30, inspired him to train for and complete the marathon.
“This is huge for me and my entire family,” he exclaimed.
In honor of their late brother Dean, Lee Smith will be competing in the Newport Marathon.
Mr. Smith is committed to raising as much money as possible, although he recently expressed some anxiety over the expense of race registration.
“The price of the race isn’t the only consideration. It’s everything from food and footwear to a watch and a GPS watch that you’ll need for the big race. The sums may surprise you.
The Newport Marathon and the Cardiff Half Marathon both offered Mr. Smith a discount. More incentives, he suggested, may get more people to sign up for races.
Welsh Athletics CEO James Williams claimed record numbers of runners in Wales but voiced worry that organized races were not increasing.
Half a million individuals in Wales participate in regular weekly running. He said, “But that’s not necessarily translating into more people attending officially sanctioned events.”
Unless local authorities collaborate with our competition providers, I anticipate that prices will continue to rise, as event organizers are companies that must recoup their expenditures.
Mr. Williams noted that while there are obstacles, it is “encouraging” to see more individuals participating in the free weekly Park Run activities held in Wales.