Has the Central Valley reached the race saturation point?

Has the Central Valley reached the saturation point with running races? The answer may be "yes."

Take a glance at the calendar of events, and you'll see a myriad events. Some are perennial favorites, others are newcomers. Yet in any year, some will survive and others won't.

Many local groups think that putting on a 5K is an easy way to make money for their charity. That's the furthest from the truth, and you're lucky to break even the first year. These are the one-and-done types of events where their hopes of raking in some bucks didn't come to fruition.

Then there are the annual events, such as local turkey trots. Many continue to thrive with little promotion.

Yet still other events continue, but may have seen their heyday. Race organizers are trying to teach an old dog, so to speak, a new trick. This may mean new swag, bigger and glitzier finishers' medals, or other incentives. But these all cost money.

Will the race director each into his or her profits or pass the costs onto runners. And how big of an increase will runners pay before they refuse and just won't register. After all, there are tons of races out there from which to choose.

Just look at all of the half-marathons that have popped up the past few years. Events that once boasted a 5K and 10K now have a 5K and a half-marathon.

Some races, such as Disney Runs and the Nike Women's Half-Marathon, appear to be immune. With prices nearing $200 for a half (yes, we said a half), they still sell out in a As in a matter of minutes or have had to go to a lottery.

But other local races that increased their registration fees to cover the add-ons have seen registrations drop off.

As with any small business -- and these races are a form of small business -- a number will go under every year, with new ones starting out to replace them. And as in business, only those with strong business plans and the flexibility to meet changing consumer p
references will survive.

Market will dictate which half marathons will survive

Everywhere I look, there’s a new half-marathon popping up.

The event has been billed as the fastest-growing distance in the United States, and it seems like that growth has hit the Central Valley.

But with the proliferation of 13.1-milers, have we reached a saturation point?

The Avenue of the Vines in Lodi was one of the very first 13.1-mile races in the Central Valley six or seven years ago.

Shortly after, the Eye-Q, now Two Cities Marathon, added a half distance.

Four years ago, the Modesto Marathon unveiled both a half and a full marathon distance.

That’s when the flood gates seemed to open.

And some race promoters evidently believe that the Central Valley can handle a few more.

Take a look at Rina’s Run, which traditionally had been a 5K and 10K in May. This year, it’s a 5K and half marathon.

The inaugural Peace Officer’s Memorial Run in Modesto in September 2012 will be repeated agains this year.

The St. Joseph’s Half in October in Stockton is now in its third year, and Exeter added the Hell of a Half.

Then there’s the Pleasanton Half, Waskally Wabbit Half, End of the Trail Half and Eye Q California Classic Weekend Half. I'm sure I forgot a few.

That doesn’t even count any of the half marathons in Sacramento, San Francisco or along the coast.

Half marathons cost more to produce and therefore, charge more for registration.

In this economy, runners are being very judicious with their money. There's a finite pot of dollars to go around.

With more half-marathons chasing the pot, it will be diluted out.
 

As in any capitalistic society, market forces will dictate. Runners will vote with their registration dollars.

The popular and fiscally strong events will survive, and the less popular ones, such as the Modesto Midnight Half, will disappear.