​Running is a low cost sport. Decent shoes, perhaps a GPS watch, comfortable threads and time is all you need to partake. Running in New Zealand is great – fresh air, heaps of interesting route and a large community of like-minded individuals who run to run Marathons or Half Marathons around the country. It’s the perfect way to spend your time meaningfully.
 
If you want validation of your efforts or a goal it’s great to train towards a race. When this goal is achieved and you get the bug you just want to do more – this is where it starts getting a little expensive. 
 
I want to do more Half Marathons and I started reviewing the options. I was surprised to discover the variance in prices between Half Marathon events around the country. I understand that overhead costs vary for each location and event, however charging upwards of $70 per event makes it unaffordable for your average person, particularly if the event has a major sponsor, a crap sample pack and no medal. Travel and accommodation costs should also be factored in, as should the leave days required to  travel to a venue to run in a new race.
 
As an example – in order to compete in the Waiheke Half Marathon I need to take leave days from my job, fly up to Auckland, commute into the CBD, ferry over to Waiheke, pay for accommodation on the island and then pay almost $100 for the privilege of participating. The Waiheke Half Marathon is the 5th most expensive event on the data below.
 
I am not saying that I will not participate in an event because of its cost. I am, however, unlikely to participate in the Half Marathon event more than once if it is too cost prohibitive. I realise I have a pragmatic approach to this but I want value in exchange for my investment of time, money and effort.
 
The following list is a random snapshot of the standard entry fees for Half Marathons around the North and South islands of New Zealand. The list is not complete, some items are missing because 2018 registration is not yet open.

I am not drawing any conclusions on this snapshot of random data however it does make for interesting reading. This list is sorted by the half marathon entry fee:

​Auckland Marathon
Sunday, 28 October 2018
Auckland, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $129.60
https://aucklandmarathon.co.nz
 
Queenstown International
Saturday, 17 November 2018
Queenstown, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $124.20
https://queenstown-marathon.co.nz/
 
Hawkes Bay International Marathon
Saturday, 12 May 2018
Hastings, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $106.92       
https://hawkesbaymarathon.co.nz
 
Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon
Saturday, 12 May 2018
Blenheim, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $99.00          
http://vineyardhalf.com/

​Waiheke Half Marathon
Saturday, 5 May 2018
Waiheke, North Island  
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $98.00          
http://www.waihekehalfmarathon.co.nz
 
Rotorua Marathon                                         
Saturday, 5 May 2018    
Rotorua,   North Island      
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $94.00          
http://www.rotoruamarathon.co.nz/
 
Buller Gorge Marathon                                
Saturday, 10 February 2018        
Westport, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $80.00          
https://www.bullergorgemarathon.co.nz/
 
Wellington Round the Bays
Sunday, 18 February 2018
Wellington, North Island              
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $79.00          
http://wellingtonroundthebays.co.nz/

​Christchurch Marathon
Sunday, 3 June 2018
Christchurch, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost:$75.00
http://www.christchurchmarathon.co.nz/
 
Run the Vines   
Saturday, 3 February 2018         
Clyde, South Island                   
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $75.00         
https://www.onthepulseevents.com/
 
Southern Lakes Half Marathon    
Saturday, 24 March 2018          
Wanaka, South Island                
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $70.00         
https://www.highlandevents.co.nz/product-page/mt-outdoors-southern-lakes-half-marathon-10k-run
 
Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon            
Monday, 12 February 2018       
Queenstown, South Island        
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $70.00         
http://shotovermoonlight.co.nz
 
Kerikeri Half Marathon               
Saturday, 17 November 2018    
Kerikeri, North Island                
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $70.00         
http://www.runwalkseries.co.nz/kerikeri/half-marathon-event
 
Devonport Half Marathon           
Sunday, 30 September 2018      
Auckland, North Island             
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $70.00         
http://devonporthalfmarathon.co.nz/
 
Christchurch Motorway Half Marathon
Sunday, 4 March 2018
Christchurch, South Island        
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $69.00         
https://motorwayhalf.co.nz
 
Mount Maunganui Half Marathon                      
Saturday, 25 August 2018         
Tauranga, North Island              
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $68.00         
http://www.mountmaunganuihalfmarathon.co.nz
 
Wellington Marathon                
Sunday, 1 July 2018                 
Wellington, North Island           
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $65.00         
http://www.wellingtonmarathon.co.nz/
 
Huntly Half Marathon                
Sunday, 25 March 2018            
Huntly, North Island                 
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $65.00         
http://huntlyhalf.co.nz/
 
Hamilton Half Marathon            
Sunday, 30 September 2018      
Hamilton, North Island             
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $65.00         

​Onehunga Half Marathon           
Sunday, 30 September 2018      
Auckland, North Island             
Standard Half Marathon entry cost:$65.00          
http://www.onehungahalf.co.nz/
 
Aoraki Mt Cook Marathon          
Saturday, 6 October 2018          
Mt Cook Villiage, South Island   
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $65.00         
http://activeqt.co.nz/event/aoraki-mt-cook-marathon/
 
Whangarei Half Marathon           
Sunday, 23 September 2018      
Whangarei, North Island            
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $62.00         
http://www.runwalkseries.co.nz/whangarei-half/event-information
 
Platinum Homes Orewa Beach Half Marathon      
Saturday, 17 February 2018       
Orewa, North Island                  
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $60.00         
http://orewahalfmarathon.co.nz/
 
Coatesville Half Marathon          
Sunday, 18 March 2018            
Coatesville, North Island           
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $60.00         
http://coatesvillehalfmarathon.co.nz/
 
Hanmer Four Square Half Marathon                     
Saturday, 5 May 2018               
Hanmer, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $60.00         
http://www.hanmerevents.co.nz/Races/2015-4squarehalfmarathon-2.html
 
North Shore Marathon               
Sunday, 2 September 2018        
Auckland, North Island             
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $60.00         
http://www.northshoremarathon.co.nz/
 
Whitianga Half Marathon           
Saturday, 26 May 2018             
Whitianga, North Island            
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $55.00         
http://www.whitiangahalfmarathon.co.nz/
 
Rotorua Off Road Half Marathon
Sunday, 4 March 2018              
Rotorua, North Island               
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $50.00         
https://eventpromotions.co.nz/rotorua-off-road-half-marathon/
 
Whenuapai Half Marathon         
Sunday, 29 April 2018              
Auckland, North Island             
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $50.00         
http://www.whenuapaihalf.co.nz/
 
Kaikoura Whale Run                  
Saturday, 8 September 2018      
Kaikoura, South Island              
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $50.00         
https://kaikourawhalerun.co.nz/
 
Mount Runners Half Marathon   
Sunday, 3 June 2018
Tauranga, North Island              
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $45.00         
https://mtrunnershalfmarathon.co.nz/
 
Kaiteriteri Gold Half Marathon    
Saturday, 10 March 2018          
Motueka, South Island              
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $40.00         
http://www.nelsonevents.co.nz/content/kaiteriteri-gold-half-marathon-and-10km
 
Cambridge Half Marathon          
Sunday, 16 September 2018
Cambridge, North Island           
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $40.00         
http://www.sporty.co.nz/cahcnz/Half-Marathon10k-5k/Race-Rules-Info
 
Hatuma Lime Half Marathon       
Sunday, 16 September 2018      
Waipukurau, North Island         
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $15.00         
http://www.sporty.co.nz/hatumalimehalfmarathon
 
Thanks for reading.