Of Clashing Events & Race Fees Inflation

Well, not exactly clashing…

More like back-to-back races featuring two of the more (if not most) prominent races in Malaysia’s running calendar.
Putrajaya Night Marathon (PNM) will be held on the night of Oct 11th, 2014.
Meanwhile, Standard Chartered KL Marathon (SCKLM) is going to be on the morning of Oct 12th, 2014.

These are the two races that runners look forward to be doing and after both having announced their respective race dates (which actually most of us knew even before it was confirmed via social media grapevine), there are plenty of whines and dissatisfaction by runners towards the race organizers because they wanted to participate in both races.

Well, unless we are willing to do a back-to-back and run PNM, finished, rest and then continue with SCKLM; we gotta choose.

Here’s my view on this. It won’t be the end of the world if we only choose one race in favour of the other. I doubt the race organizer even noticed we won’t be participating. Like, seriously.

The race organizer also won’t be the one footing our bill if we choose to do both and in turn injure ourselves anyway.

Choose wisely. What do you want to do? What is your training plan? And apart from the obvious issue of running in two races in a 12-hour span (more if you’re doing full marathons for both); have you thought of the after-race effect and the toll it’ll be to your body? And the effect to your family? Not many of us have the luxury on bonking for the whole day after the race at home and ignoring your spouse(s) and kids.

I am very clear in what I want to do. After discussing with my husband and son, I will do a full marathon at SCKLM this year. (Gotta discuss with them because running is not just about me. Don’t want the family to hate me running because I’m turning my back on them to do so, you know).

I registered for Back to Endurance in June and then Muar Cross Country Run came out and it's on the same date. I wanted to do it too but did I whine? Nope. Either I run around Lake Garden for 12 hours or I waste the RM137 I paid for it and pay another race fees to run in Muar. Simple.

Just gotta know that Alpha Run, a run organized by Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam Malaysia (JPAM) which will be held on June 8th has opened its registration.

But what shock!

I paid RM8 last year to run 8K. The fee was the same in 2012 too.

This year, a 12K Men category run is RM50.00

The race fees for 10K categories for Men Veteran, Women and Women Veteran is RM45.00!

Despite the awesomely late start of last year’s race, I enjoyed running in the Alpha Run and had actively promoted:it to friends to join this year but I guess I’ll be opting out from this.

I had always depended on “Jabatan Kerajaan” races for cheap & affordable races to run in and RM45.00 for a manual-timed 10K race is not cheap for me.

But those staying nearby Putrajaya, Bangi and Kajang… you can join this race.

Entry for the wheelchair category is free for OKUs. There aren’t that many races now that have OKU categories (that I know of la…) for wheelchair bound athletes can participate in.

Oh yeah, there is a free run this month. On Apr, 20th. A 3K “I’m Free From Corruption” run. Gotta wear own white t-shirt when joining this.

Last grouse : can we do away with “compulsory” medals for all runners, dri-fit t-shirts and whatnots and just concentrate on running and keep the fees down instead?  Like, seriously.

Comments

  1. Whee! I'm first to comment, for a change! ^^

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow!

      A certain somebody sure makes you coming to visit me more nowadays. Not only here but elsewhere. Ahem...

      Keep up the good job, dear jungle woman. ^^

      Delete
  2. Oh, I dunno, if the T-shirt were pink I wouldn't say no. Or if it had a picture of a certain detective ... not sure what detectives have to do with marathons ... but never mind ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Detective Conan, you mean? There is a summer marathon that features that fella and also involves a whole lot of watermelons? Hihihi

      Delete
  3. ALPHA Run last year RM10. THis year RM50. Baru je nak join. Skali letak harga tinggi terus malas. Mesti organizer kata naik harga sbb ada finisher medal

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tu la pasal...

      OK jer apa ikut the past years format. RM1 untuk setiap KM. Hahaha

      Sapa yang hadap sangat kat medal tu, gi la join Score Run ke, apa ke. Hish.

      Ni pun mesti sebab organiser duk terpikat tengok market rate races lain. Masyuk banyak ni. :(

      Delete
  4. Wow! Even running tournament is not exception huh? Talking about inflation. The fee really skyrocketting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The fees are getting higher. The runners are getting more demanding, for things that are not really essential to running. The organisers see a market to tap into. So... guess what? High fee.

      And yet, there are always people signing up. What to do...

      Delete
  5. yeyyyy fm for scklm!!!!

    mahal giler naik dr rm8 ke rm50?
    whaaaaa???

    p/s: teringat dulu2 zaman kita giler sign up races. kecik besar semua belasah. hahah.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeay! #eh! LOL

      Kan... And untuk larian government agency lak tu.

      Larian Bomba kat Dataran pun baru Rm25. Berpada-pada lah nak overcharge... ini mesti syiok sendiri tengok banyak race yg mahal melampau. :(

      p.s. teringat juga. Zaman kegilaan. Sekarang dah retire. wakaka

      Delete
  6. I wonder why the organisers wanna choose the dates so near to each other events.

    Not same organiser right? Competitions? See who will get the most runner?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course not same organiser la...

      Who gets most runners?

      SCKLM 2013 sees 33K runners

      PNM 2012 was capped at 12K

      I hope there won't be a trend that follows Penang Bridge International Marathon in getting the most runners and breaking/entering Malaysia Book of Records.

      Runners safety and well-being should come first. We have the right for it.

      Delete
  7. true...choose wisely coz in the end it's sendiri who will have to bear the consequences. If have enough training and think have the stamina for both race then can try but no use forcing least get injure and habis few months grounded

    ReplyDelete
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    1. EXACTLY!

      Of course there are those who are capable of doing both.

      But there are also some who just want the "glam" factor. Sure people look in awe because they join both mah. Later can brag all over FB, Twitter and Instagram. *evil chuckle*

      Delete
  8. why the fess shoot up so much? they giving super pricey goodies bag ka? Runners not kiasu those goodies bags right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. naik harga coz got finisher medal? made made of what...RM50-RM10 (last yr price) =RM40...for a finisher medal...hmmmm...

      Delete
    2. Haiyoh... those goodie bags we get are usually stuff they get from their sponsors la...

      Not like they are paying an arm and leg for it!

      Delete
  9. I will only doing SCKLM, reason being:
    1. I trained mostly in the morning, morning race means no adjustment needed on my side.
    2. PNM usually had limited full marathon runners (from 800-1500 only), with there will be even lesser people do FM in PNM. Less peoplr less fun.
    3. Pacers team in SCKLM.
    4..... I may as well put up my own blog post in this. ... LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Last year's PNM was a subdued affair with less runners running the FM.

      Running at night is already tough. Without the support of fellow runners all around us, it is tougher.

      And I do want to see people at least in front and a few at the back of me when I'm running at night! LOL

      Oh yes... please write about it. Looking forward to read it :)

      Delete
  10. You doing FM to in SCKLM? Good and see you there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't do it before because I don't know how my son and husband would feel waiting for me for hours.

      Now that I know and I have their blessings, I can run an FM at SCKLM in peace. Hehehe :)

      Delete
  11. Regarding the fees, I actaully don't mind to pay few hundrerd Ringgit for a full marathon, if the organizer actaully close the raod from motor traffic. Goodie, finisher-T and even the Medal should not used as justification for the fees (plus normally we only got rubbish from the goodie). Safety should be our priority.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agree.

      I have no problem paying more than RM100 for RJM because I know that runners are going to be well taken care of.

      And yes, the goodie bags aren't the important part of a run. Well, maybe for fun runs. Hahaha

      Delete
  12. I only wear 3 finisher shirts regularly *as in pakai masa training*, yg lain2 tak menepati syarat huhu. And oh my alpha run hmmm...

    Mcm byk race nak kena skip tahun ni huhu

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like to wear three jugak. hihihi

      One is the one that I did in Apr 2013.

      One is the one I didn't do but hubby did in Sep 2013.

      One is the pink one I got in Nov 2013.

      So far, masih takde tambahan untuk 2014. Huhuhu

      Delete
  13. The price increased quite tremendously eh?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Date so close, those who wish to join the two run will have to think abt which one to choose...

    ReplyDelete
  15. aiyoyo, two of the most prominent races back-to-back!! but what to do?? just have to choose one if you cannot run SCKLM a short rest after the PNM.. there isn't no choice at all, either you run back-to-back or you run either one.. hehehe!! of course easy said by an outsider like me~~ :p

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha

      But what you said is true la.

      Either choose one or do both at your own peril. :P

      Delete
  16. aiyoh, the run also NAIK so much?? from RM8 to RM50?? that is indeed a very steep increase dei.. but sure there is a reason or there are reasons behind the increase.. to stop those who just pay and grab the goodies but DNS?? to earn more since the response is always good?? ah, just some speculation from an outsider, i am sure the runners would be able to explain this more convincingly :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The organiser won't rugi if runners don't show up on race day i.e. DNS.

      The fees are after all paid for in advance.

      The goodie bags that are not finished can be donated what.

      The main reason to me is basic : $$$

      Delete
  17. yeah, i agree with you.. everyone doesn't need to wear the same official running tee lah.. make it like the free run, everyone wears a specific color and it could look nice too!! and all those goodies, all those medals and what-nots.. sometimes i do find many are just running for the sake of the merchandize and jumping on the bandwagon only, but not the true spirit of running :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah.

      And when people insist on getting medals when there aren't offered... to me that's like celebrating mediocrity. Sure getting one is a motivation. But do you need such superficial motivation EVERY time? Sad lah

      Delete
  18. After a while it's not about collecting medals and dry fit shirt anymore, kan? Hehe... I love PNM, organiser is always superb, but i love running around KL more. So SCKLM, here we come!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kan? :)

      Yeay! Jumpa lagi di SCKLM! ^^

      Delete
  19. Gosh, looks like you really enjoy running! Is that your pastime besides blogging? Admire!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My favourite pastime is being a lazy bum ;)

      Delete
    2. Muahahahahaha!!! What a hilarious past time!!!

      Delete
    3. It's a good past time. Lol

      Delete
  20. How come the price different so much? Just a year different?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Aiyo! I heard SCKLM and the haze automatically clouds my head again. I think it has become our annual haze seasons from Indon's peat fires. I might join this 2014 run if time permits. I love their singlets and when the guys wore them at the gym, we looked tougher! hihihihihi

    ReplyDelete
  22. Date is now changed from the usual last sunday in June to October dy, Anay. :-)

    ReplyDelete

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