Every year, there are hundreds of marathon and charity races held across the country. Fortunately, in 2022 many of these events are returning (YAY!), and we couldn’t be happier for the runners, communities, and charities these races support.
Suppose you are an event planner working on a race. In that case, whether it’s a Turkey Trot, Marathon, or 5K, you will undoubtedly need portable restroom rentals to provide the ultimate race day experience. So let’s address some of the most common questions we receive about renting portable restrooms for racing events.
How Many Porta Potties Are Needed For a Race?
The golden rule regarding portable restroom rentals is that there should be one porta potty per fifty people. So, the number of portable restrooms needed will ultimately depend on the number of runners registered to participate. For races, we generally recommend a few extra units than this calculation. Many runners will need to use the restroom within the first hour before the start of the race and again at the finish line. Depending on the length of the race, you may need porta potties in between. It is essential to have enough units on race day so that runners do not lose time waiting in a bathroom queue. For a marathon, you may want to station portable restrooms every few miles, but for a 5K race, it might be okay to only have portable toilets at the start and the finish lines. Don’t forget you may also need restrooms for vendors, VIP sponsors, and spectators. Although you probably can’t predict the number of spectators you will have, there need to be units accessible to them as well.
Where Should Portable Restroom Rentals Be Placed On A Marathon or Road Race Course?
When planning a race, you may be dealing with a number of overly hydrated athletes. Additionally, a third of all runners experience Runner’s Trot, a condition that makes runners want to poop during or after a run. For this reason, we recommend always having portable restrooms available at the event’s start and finish lines. For long races (longer than a 5K), we recommend placing a porta potty along the race route every two to three miles. Depending on the number of registered athletes, we may suggest placing several restrooms at each bathroom stop so that there is very little wait time. We also recommend promoting the locations of the portable restrooms to runners before and during the event so that a runner at mile five knows they can expect a bathroom at mile six.
How Much Do Portable Restrooms for A Marathon/5K/10K Cost?
The cost of portable restroom rentals for a foot race varies by several factors. For example, will you need standard porta potties, extra holding tanks, or wheelchair-accessible or ADA units? The costs will also depend on the number of required portable restrooms and the rental duration. In addition to those costs, there will be transportation fees. In general, marathons or race day organizers can expect to pay $140-$225 per unit.
Give us a call if you need more guidance on how to plan for portable restroom rentals on race day. We rent standard, ADA-compliant, and wheelchair-accessible portable restroom rentals to individuals and organizations throughout Portland and Salem, Oregon, and surrounding areas in Washington and Oregon. Contact us today to learn more about our different types of portable restroom rentals, or visit our portable restroom products page to learn more!