Yeowza, check out the comments Jeff B got after banditing a race. Whatever your thoughts on banditing (I say go for it, though I've never done it myself), I think it's a bit harsh to call into question integrity and parenting skills over saving a few bucks on a race rego...
Your thoughts on banditing???
14 comments:
I may have bandited once or twice when I was a high school kid (more than 20 years ago), but I wouldn't do it now. It's not fair to the other runners, not fair to the race organizers.
Yikes, that was a beating. Especially since he saw all hits and was probably expecting a big list of "Congrats" comments. Oops.
I've got to say, I agree with the comments in general (although, yeah, get a grip people, let's dial it back a bit, way back).
I've never gotten the "that's too expensive, so I'll do it for free," when, to me, the obvious choice is "that's too expensive, I guess I won't do it." There were a whole lot of 13 mile loops he could have run that day, and he chose the one that others had paid for.
His apology came too late though. Since he already banditted the race, according to the comments it looks like his kid and the US Army are doomed. Oh well.
Yeah, I have done it, but it was also nearly 20 years ago, and I'd not do it again. It simply is not the right thing to do.
Anyone remember the "winner" bandit at Pikes Ascent in 2006? That sort of sealed the deal for me. I thought it was pretty sad that the bandit took something away from Simon's victory.
Ouch! Better watch what you post, you never know who is reading. Brownie, of course, that doesn't apply to you because that is why everyone reads your blog. I'm sure JB learned his lesson. Pacer is the way to go for a free race. Plus you can kick everyone's ass after they have already run 50 miles and you haven't. Oh yeah, I forgot you are actually supposed to be pacing someone.
I didn't know a bandit won Pikes Peak. I see bandits as slow peeps. Did the bandit in question run the whole race (in which case Simon should have ran faster) or jump in at the end (in which case Simon should have beat his ass)?
I'll take a bandit over someone who gets into Boston by raising money anyday!
Hahaha... Some of those comments were hysterical. I guess someone pissed in their Cheerios that morning because there was some serious anger going on.
Overall, I am against running bandit, and even more now as I was enlightened on additional reasons i hadn't even thought of (that the first few commenters mentioned).
However, I don't think we need to be calling people's bosses or alerting the us army over such a small thing, it's not like he hurt anyone, or destroyed private/public property!
As for charity runners in Boston, they should let them run on Sunday, and open up more spots for real qualifiers. Those Boston bandits are pretty much accepted as there's even an official "Bandit corral" listed on the hopkinton starting grounds map, but I still think it's a shitty thing to do in general.
But wow, what kind of idiot runs a race as a bandit then openly writes about it on the Internet!?!? People search for ""name of race" race report" all the time! For that he wins November's Darwin award for sure.
Nothing like beating a dead horse after the guy says sorry. Everyone makes mistakes, it is human nature, there is a difference between pointing them out and being a rude a-hole about it.
Remind me not to go race in Tucson, I would not want to support a community of a-hole runners.
If an Anonymous post falls in the woods....does it really make a sound. I think this kids mom should take his computer away until he can man up.
Not quite the same but 2 ladies got charged with felonies for trading an entry in the Leadville 100 last year when the one couldn't race. Race organizers do generally pay a lot to get a course whether it's on the road or on a trail. Although I can understand not wanting to pay to just "train", he got the extra benefit of going harder since other people are racing. If there wasn't any benefit, he would have done his training run somewhere else.
Okay, so he was a bandit. In the big scheme of things not such a big deal, but judging by the sanctimonious comments, you'd think he killed someone. Right, you shouldn't bandit, but the outraged responses from their stupid little yuppie race makes me want to go bandit next year, in fact I think I will.
devil's advocate: organized races use public land, streets, parks, etc. plus cops, plus whatever other pieces of publicly owned infrastructure. a running race is not ever "yours." it's like a parade. i pay taxes. i paid to have the roads paved, trails maintained. i'll run that race or walk in that parade if i want! U! S! A!
in the case of a "cause" i.e. breast cancer or whatever, hey, i'll always pitch in some dough for the rego, but if someone runs it bandit, you (as race director) gotta relax about that...you're putting on a fundraiser using land that isn't yours, blocking traffic, etc. and should be pleased with the money raised and be happy (this is coming from a guy who's organized a few fundraiser races).
on the other hand, an "official" type of race where everyone gets their running shorts in a bunch over times and places...well...you know what official time you ran and you know what official place you got...if a bandit wins pikes...well he doesn't get the special prize now does he? boo hoo. but practice harder next year, 'cause you still got beat.
and when i ran as a bandit in the Big City Mega-Bank Life-Insurance Half-Marathon...well i could not care less about them, the race organizers or the money they didn't get from me. if they don't like that, don't hold races. your companies suck at doing what they purport to do. plus, the city does not belong to you beyond your front lawn. are there new yorkers who think ING owns them? ha. could you imagine telling a new yorker that? telling anyone that?
bottom line: whoever runs fastest wins. all these debbie downers need to spend less time on the internet and more time in their running shoes! to anyone short on funds and long on legs...go run the hell out of those "stolen" races! personally, i welcome competition no matter what.
if i weren't so hammered i wouldn't have posted anything at all. this whole big argument is silly. that poor guy shouldn't have apologized for anything. calling his military service into question over a running race? the list of better ways to spend your time is so long it's covering up your common sense, apparently.
drink/run on, brownie.
love,
pat.
i can't remember how i came across this collection of blogs, but i couldn't help but 2-centing on it.
run well guys. healthy, wealthy and...something something.
As a race director, I didn't mind much when bandits were in my races. I've run a half mar as a bandit (to pace a 2 hr finisher friend). I figure it's fine as long as you stay away from the food/aid and don't cross the finish.
I once had 30 hashers bandit my st pattys day race in Charlotte nc. They set up their own beer aid station and hung out afterward. I had a blast with them there even though it was roughly $500 out of my pocket (their non-paid reg fees).
There's more in the world to worry about than someone not paying (often exorbitant) reg fees to run with a group of folks.
big deal, I mean really. Runners sometimes disgust me when certain aspects of it are taken so seriously or to holier-than-thou levels.
Topic reminds me of the movie, On The Edge w/ Brude Dern. If ya ever get the chance, check it out.
Great topic.
I found it hilarious how irate some people got. Especially the EverybodyRuns organization - what a bunch of crybabies. I mean, I can see why they would be upset, but they acted like kids. And 95% of the comments were Anonymous...just like a bandit runner.
I don't really have a horse in this race, but generally/historically I think bandit runners will run part of the race but exit stage left and not start from the start and finish through the finish. The more you take from a race while banditing, the more you will tick people off and cause trouble.
People do fundraising walks all the time (Walk to Cure X) without ever raising a penny. I mean come on, lol. Should everyone go around and police every person at every event?
If you want to be a bandit, go for it, take that risk that your name might be in lights.
If you are running a race and don't like it, then set up corralls and things to make it more difficult and put people's names in lights that you catch banditing.
Whatever.
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