text: why do people pay $15 or $20 or more to run in a 5k? i've always wanted to run in an organized 5k.  but whenever i check it costs about $20 to enter.  i don't understand why people will pay that.  i can go up to the high school track and run a 5k for free.  that's like earning $40 an hour.  so why do so many people pay to run? the admission fees for races cover lots of things: closing the streets (and all the permits involved), food and water, usually you get a t-shirt and there is an after-party, plus just all of the overhead.  if you want to run, you certainly can do that for free.  but if you want the experience of running in a race, you are going to need to pay for it.