Comments on: Never bandit a race under any circumstances http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html Marathoning Made Simple Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:39:35 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v= hourly 1 By: Isabelle http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html/comment-page-1#comment-41795 Isabelle Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:38:26 +0000 http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html#comment-41795 I don't think I could ever bandit a race. I do not see the point anyway. If I want to try myself at a course, I can run it on my own anytime... right? I don’t think I could ever bandit a race. I do not see the point anyway. If I want to try myself at a course, I can run it on my own anytime… right?

]]> By: The #1 Reason Not to Bandit a Race @ Run to Win http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html/comment-page-1#comment-41791 The #1 Reason Not to Bandit a Race @ Run to Win Sat, 18 Oct 2008 01:55:18 +0000 http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html#comment-41791 [...] couple of years ago, I wrote an article about race bandits and offered up a general opinion about why you should never bandit a race. This evening, Tom came [...] [...] couple of years ago, I wrote an article about race bandits and offered up a general opinion about why you should never bandit a race. This evening, Tom came [...]

]]> By: Tom http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html/comment-page-1#comment-41790 Tom Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:39:36 +0000 http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html#comment-41790 I am planning on bandit-ing an upcoming marathon. I would certainly pay if I had the money - gladly - but I don't. Maybe I'm a thief. But at least I'm an honest, responsible one. Awhile ago I got arrested for 'stealing rides on trains' - they called it Theft Of Services. Looked to me like that train was going somewhere whether or not I was on it. On the other hand I recently registered the car I just bought and paid all my taxes on it - I think I was the only person in the title office who hadn't happened to come by their car as a 'gift.' I know bandit-ing is stealing. The same way waiters steal when they take tips under the table. The same way you steal from someone by paying them an unfair wage. The same way, if there's going to be a middle class, there has to be a lower one. Evidently some theft is ok in this world, but other theft isn't. I'm going to live my life by looking at my actions and asking, honestly, who they hurt, who they help, and, in the end, how the world will be different for my having been here. To me, that's being responsible - imagining my actions, multiplied 7-billion-fold. That's why I paid my taxes. That's why I would pay for this run if I could. That's why I wouldn't be doing it if I thought it was going to hurt anyone. But to me it looks like that course is going to be there whether I run it or not. I am planning on bandit-ing an upcoming marathon. I would certainly pay if I had the money – gladly – but I don’t.
Maybe I’m a thief. But at least I’m an honest, responsible one.
Awhile ago I got arrested for ’stealing rides on trains’ – they called it Theft Of Services. Looked to me like that train was going somewhere whether or not I was on it.
On the other hand I recently registered the car I just bought and paid all my taxes on it – I think I was the only person in the title office who hadn’t happened to come by their car as a ‘gift.’

I know bandit-ing is stealing. The same way waiters steal when they take tips under the table. The same way you steal from someone by paying them an unfair wage. The same way, if there’s going to be a middle class, there has to be a lower one.

Evidently some theft is ok in this world, but other theft isn’t.

I’m going to live my life by looking at my actions and asking, honestly, who they hurt, who they help, and, in the end, how the world will be different for my having been here. To me, that’s being responsible – imagining my actions, multiplied 7-billion-fold. That’s why I paid my taxes. That’s why I would pay for this run if I could. That’s why I wouldn’t be doing it if I thought it was going to hurt anyone.
But to me it looks like that course is going to be there whether I run it or not.

]]> By: Alan http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html/comment-page-1#comment-39008 Alan Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:42:35 +0000 http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html#comment-39008 I can't see what the distinction is between an unregistered biker and an unregistered runner who is pacing an entrant. If anything, the unregistered pacing runner takes up less space on the course than the biker. As long as the race isn't already filled to capacity, and as long as the pacer isn't mooching off the water stops, I don't see anything particularly unethical about this form of banditry, in fact, it provides a service to the race organizer by assisting a race participant. Note that official pacers in marathons are not registered entrants( although they are serving in an official capacity). If everyone brought a bandit as a pacer, there could be an overabundance of runners, but this is unlikely. I can’t see what the distinction is between an unregistered biker and an unregistered runner who is pacing an entrant. If anything, the unregistered pacing runner takes up less space on the course than the biker. As long as the race isn’t already filled to capacity, and as long as the pacer isn’t mooching off the water stops, I don’t see anything particularly unethical about this form of banditry, in fact, it provides a service to the race organizer by assisting a race participant. Note that official pacers in marathons are not registered entrants( although they are serving in an official capacity). If everyone brought a bandit as a pacer, there could be an overabundance of runners, but this is unlikely.

]]> By: Wes http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html/comment-page-1#comment-20909 Wes Thu, 05 Oct 2006 18:41:08 +0000 http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html#comment-20909 Wow! I didn't even know this was a problem. If I ever decide to bandit a race, do I need to wear a mask ;-) Just kidding. I can't imagine banditing a race. The entry fees just aren't that big a deal. Wow! I didn’t even know this was a problem. If I ever decide to bandit a race, do I need to wear a mask ;-) Just kidding. I can’t imagine banditing a race. The entry fees just aren’t that big a deal.

]]> By: Blaine Moore http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html/comment-page-1#comment-20883 Blaine Moore Wed, 04 Oct 2006 19:50:02 +0000 http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html#comment-20883 It doesn't bother me if people don't finish a race, or who pull off if they aren't happy with their time, as long as they are actually a part of the race. I personally do not have any problem with somebody riding a bike to support a runner, or somebody that waits on the sidelines with a bottle of water that they hand off to the runner, as long as that person does not interfere at all with the race. Basically, I consider anybody on a bicycle during a race the same way that I consider anybody in a car during a race: they are either pacing the race to show the route, or they are just going along their own merry way and need to wait for the racers to go by. If somebody <em>is</em> riding their bike along a race course, though, they should carry their own water and food and should not be mooching off of the official race support stations. It doesn’t bother me if people don’t finish a race, or who pull off if they aren’t happy with their time, as long as they are actually a part of the race.

I personally do not have any problem with somebody riding a bike to support a runner, or somebody that waits on the sidelines with a bottle of water that they hand off to the runner, as long as that person does not interfere at all with the race.

Basically, I consider anybody on a bicycle during a race the same way that I consider anybody in a car during a race: they are either pacing the race to show the route, or they are just going along their own merry way and need to wait for the racers to go by.

If somebody is riding their bike along a race course, though, they should carry their own water and food and should not be mooching off of the official race support stations.

]]> By: David Colby Young http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html/comment-page-1#comment-20882 David Colby Young Wed, 04 Oct 2006 19:40:42 +0000 http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html#comment-20882 THere might have been as leasr two bandits in the Half Marathon on Sunday who finished about 90a & 90b I have photos of them on my web site and I have not been able to ID them as I do not see any bib numbers and/or chip on their feet. That is not to say they to not pay a fee as they just might not wanted their times to be knowm. I have know some tunners not to cross the finish line because they were perhaps not happy with their time. aaathe caes of not crossing the finish line is their right to drop out of the race but they should be listed as DNF. At any point I have photos of most of the people that finish behind me so at least I can see how I compare to the field of runners behind me. Many times I get photos of family members who have been standing on the sidelines and in the excitemnet of the day the jump into the race to run the final leg of the race with their relations. This should not be done and in some races (i.e. Track/Field) the runners they are trying to support would be DQ The rules for road racinf must be different as I saw a few runners seem to have their own race support mounted in bicyles pacing the runners. THere might have been as leasr two bandits in the Half Marathon on Sunday who finished about 90a & 90b
I have photos of them on my web site and I have not been able to ID them as I do not see any bib numbers and/or chip on their feet. That is not to say they to not pay a fee as they just might not wanted their times to be knowm. I have know some tunners not to cross the finish line because they were perhaps not happy with their time. aaathe caes of not crossing the finish line is their right to drop out of the race but they should be listed as DNF. At any point I have photos of most of the people that finish behind me so at least I can see how I compare to the field of runners behind me. Many times I get photos of family members who have been standing on the sidelines and in the excitemnet of the day the jump into the race to run the final leg of the race with their relations. This should not be done and in some races (i.e. Track/Field) the runners they are trying to support would be DQ The rules for road racinf must be different as I saw a few runners seem to have their own race support mounted in bicyles pacing the runners.

]]> By: Blaine Moore http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html/comment-page-1#comment-20881 Blaine Moore Wed, 04 Oct 2006 19:11:54 +0000 http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html#comment-20881 Many races will allow you to defer your registration for a year if you can not make it the year you paid; you often have to pay again but it can act as a guarenteed entry. Chances are at this point that it is too late, but you could email the race directors and ask if they mind if you pace some of the middle miles. Most of the time they probably will not mind at all, and you can then jump in with a clear conscience. I do have to note that getting permission to be on the course does not mean that you are banditing. Many races will allow you to defer your registration for a year if you can not make it the year you paid; you often have to pay again but it can act as a guarenteed entry. Chances are at this point that it is too late, but you could email the race directors and ask if they mind if you pace some of the middle miles. Most of the time they probably will not mind at all, and you can then jump in with a clear conscience.

I do have to note that getting permission to be on the course does not mean that you are banditing.

]]> By: Danielle in Iowa http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html/comment-page-1#comment-20880 Danielle in Iowa Wed, 04 Oct 2006 18:47:06 +0000 http://news.runtowin.com/2006/10/04/never-bandit-a-race-under-any-circumstances.html#comment-20880 Thanks for the thoughts, as I am in a really similar position. If the race wasn't full, I probably would be running the whole thing. But alas it is, so I am just there for support. Although, I do have to say that I did pay for Chicago last year and didn't get to run it because of injury - does that make it okay? ;-) Thanks for the thoughts, as I am in a really similar position. If the race wasn’t full, I probably would be running the whole thing. But alas it is, so I am just there for support. Although, I do have to say that I did pay for Chicago last year and didn’t get to run it because of injury – does that make it okay? ;-)

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