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When I was in Chicago during the marathon last year, they had a segment on the local news station about the average cost for a participant. Travel to Chicago, hotel, meals shoes, entry fees, it was like $3,000 USD. that doesn't include training up to that point and qualifying at another marathon, etc etc

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Yeah the $3k figure I can believe, but then again Chicago is one of the World Marathon Majors. There will be another marathon aroudn Chicago that'll be <$300 all in.

I don't know where they got that stat but it must be very inflated.

* entry fee < 200

* airfare < 500

* hotel x 2 days < 300

* food x 2 days < 100

So if you try hard you can break $1000. I don't count shoes because you use them for months, not one event.

One the other hand if you live in Chicago the cost goes down to entry fee (I think marathon entry fees are insanely high though), and if you're a member of a local running club you can often even get around that.

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