Blood, sweat and cash — it takes a lot of all three to run 26.2 miles, but runners who want to participate in the world’s largest marathon can expect to pay more this year than ever before.
The ING New York City Marathon entry fee has jumped significantly for 2012 applicants — $216, compared to $156 in 2011 for New York Road Runners members and $255, up from $196 for non-members, according to the New York Times.
The fee increase could stem from traffic control costs that race organizers will begin paying to the NYPD in 2012. Organizers were also reportedly considering increasing the entry limit and making the race a two day event in the future after the 2011 marathon saw more than 47,000 runners. The NYC Half will host 15,000 runners in March, up 50 percent from last year.
The ING New York City Marathon is now one of the priciest in the region, compared to the Chicago Marathon and Boston Marathon, which both charge runners $150.
