Kid's race entry fee

Although I feel that $35 is egregious for a 9 year old, I would not just have one of them run it and not pay.  Either pay up for the family or sit out the race and find one more affordable.  There is a thread going on now half way down the page about entering a race without registering.  It is definitely worth a read.

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=441014&posts=54&start=1

We're a family of 4 and it does get expensive (my son ran his first 5k at the age of 3 and my daughter was 4). As a family, we have run in over 40 races and we have paid for each family member for all of them. It adds up, but we pick and choose the ones that we really want to do. My kids understand that we cannot afford to do all of them, so the ones we pick are picked with a reason/purpose. 

I do not agree with bandit'ing races. Some people think it's no big deal, but I feel as though it's cheating the system. I wouldn't do it, but that's just my opinion...

I've had a great experience asking for free/discount entry on race day for my kids.  So long as I sign the waiver, the kids have been entered for little or no money, and  we all race happily.

VERY funny! LOL!

Very good points. Yes, the money goes to Autism Speaks, and being in education, I have no problem with that.

Thank you all!

The color run isn't exactly your usual local 5k. It's a nationally advertised series with slick productions. I've had friends send me links to it because they know I run. I told them I doubt I'd drive 3 hours each way to go do a 5k. (I did fly to Florida for a 1/2 marathon at Disney, so I guess I can't say I'm consistent.)

I just RD'ed a local 5k which was to benefit a preschool. We offered a kids fun run for $3, or $10 with a tshirt. Kids entering the 5k paid the same registration as anyone else, and got the same long-sleeved shirt for $20.

We paid an arm and a leg for our total RunDisney experience, which included kids runs for both, special ears for them, and oh yeah - a vacation at Disneyworld. Whether or not the color run is for charity, it's one of those special event type things that you just have to consider a different cost than whether it's just a run of the mill 5k. Is the nature of the event cool enough? Maybe for you/them it is, maybe not.