Pete, you did it three times? I don't like it. My issue is not really about the entry fee (but I think you should have paid), but about the CRUTCH you provided to your wife. Marathons are hard. You are alone for 26.2 miles and it's up to you to find the best race strategy, correct pace, and to learn how to deal with the pain and discouragement.
WHY does your wife even want to run a marathon if she needs you to help her along the way? For me, that's not a real experience. In a way, it's almost like the people using headphones in a race. They cut themselves off from the real experience, "needing" the music because their mind is weak.
Finally, it is not fair to the other runners. I saw that last year cheering on runners at my local marathon. I was located at mile 20 when it gets tough. Well a few runners had 'friends' ready to jump in at that mark. They were loud and arrogant...look, I'm so fast, I'm going to help this lesser (female) runner to finish...I'm awesome, a real man! Well, no, quite the opposite. The worst was to see the other runners, the real COMPETITORS, looking even more discouraged when realizing that the girl next to them had a huge help for the last hard miles.
Pete, how would you like it if a guy jumped in to help your competitor and left you in the dust at your next marathon?
It's just plain wrong. I usually like your posts Pete, but not this one, and sorry to say it but I have the feeling I wouldn't like your wife.
I think runners who use that crutch should be disqualified from the race, and people who help them barred from running the race in the future. I believe some races actually stipulate that.