How the Malad Valley Marathon Stays One of the Most Affordable Marathons in the Country

A few months ago a runner emailed asking if our pricing was a typo. It is not. The Malad Valley Marathon is one of the most affordable road marathons in the United States, and we intend to keep it that way. Here is how the numbers actually break down, what you get for them, and every discount you can stack to drop the price even lower.

What entry costs (current 2026 tier)

We use a five-step tier ladder that steps up as race day gets closer, so the earliest signups get the cheapest entry. The current tier for each distance is:

• Full Marathon: $80 (early-bird tier was $70, race-week tier tops out at $90)
• Half Marathon: $60 (range $50 to $70)
• 10K: $45 (range $40 to $50)
• 5K: $30 (range $25 to $35)
• 1 Mile Fun Run: $20 (range $15 to $25)

For context, a typical road marathon in the Mountain West runs $130 to $200. A Rock ‘n’ Roll series marathon is often $200 plus a $20 service fee. Big city marathons routinely cross $250 once you add the processing. Our full marathon is $80 today and tops out at $90 the morning of the race.

The discounts you can stack

Every discount below stacks on top of the current tier price.

1. Skip the shirt and save $10

Every entry includes a Malad Valley Marathon tech tee by default. If your closet already has a stack of race shirts and you would rather skip one more, check the skip the shirt box at checkout and we knock $10 off your entry. You still get the medal (Half and Full), the chip timing, the aid stations, the photos, and everything else. We just save the shirt for a runner who actually wants it.

2. Crypto payment discount

Pay with Bitcoin, Monero, Litecoin, or any of the other crypto options at checkout and we apply an additional discount on top of everything else. Payment processors charge us 3% per credit card transaction. When you pay in crypto, we skip those fees and share the savings.

3. Use the coupon code RUNTHEVALLEY

Type RUNTHEVALLEY in the coupon field at checkout for an extra $5 off any entry. This one is open to everybody, no questions asked. Consider it our welcome gift for finding the race.

An example: a fully discounted full marathon

Say you register today at the current tier ($80), skip the shirt (-$10), and pay in crypto (assume a 3% bump). With the $5 RUNTHEVALLEY coupon on top, your full marathon entry lands in the low $60s. Try finding another road marathon in the country for that.

What that money actually pays for

A low price does not mean a stripped-down race. Every entry, regardless of discount, comes with:

• Fully stocked aid stations every 2 to 3 miles. Water, electrolyte mix, gels on the longer distances, fruit, salty snacks, and a friendly volunteer pouring it for you.
• Porta-potties at every aid station. Not one start-line bank of toilets and then nothing for 20 miles. Every aid station has at least one unit, the start and finish have several.
• Chip timing on the 5K, 10K, Half, and Full. Real chip-mat splits, real net times, results posted live to the operator console during the race.
• Finisher medal for Half and Full marathon finishers. Heavy, custom-cast, designed for the inaugural year.
• Race tech tee for everyone who keeps the shirt option on.
• On-course first aid with kits at every aid station and a roving sweep vehicle on the longer distances.
• Free professional race photos. No paywall, no upsell email a week later. Photos go up free for every finisher.
• Awards ceremony Saturday afternoon: top 3 men and top 3 women in Overall, Under 18, and 40 and Over per chip-timed distance.
• Finish-line food for every finisher.

Why we can do this

Two reasons. First, Malad is a small town. Permits, road closures, and venue costs are a tiny fraction of what big-city races pay. Second, we keep the back office lean. Local volunteers handle most race-day operations, which keeps overhead low.

The result is a race that any runner can afford. A family of four can run the 1 Mile together for $80 total. A high school cross country team can enter the 5K for $30 a kid. A first-time marathoner can earn a finisher medal for less than the cost of a pair of running shoes.

Lock in the lowest tier today

Prices step up automatically as we get closer to race day. The earlier you register, the less you pay. Register now to grab the current tier, then layer on the skip-shirt, crypto, and coupon discounts.

See you on Saturday, September 12, 2026 in downtown Malad City.