Has anyone gotten in trouble for running a road race that you weren't registered for?

I have been race director of many track meets to half marathons and many distances in between, and assist yearly at an ultra.

Bandits present risks to the paid entrants: blocking them at at aid stations, possibly even using supplies at aid stations, presenting other risks and liabilities to the race directors and sponsors if they have an accident or cause one, and as mentioned, messing things up in the chute with results at hand-timed events.

Run on your own or pay. Some of us love to put on races. Bandits are unwanted and unappreciated and disrespectful.

Betelgeuse wrote:

Jdh655 wrote:

If you ever do please don't finish in the chute, it can screw up results a lot of times.

That's what she said.

YES!!! i just broke out laughing in my cube at work. this is now awkward

If you are self supported, who cares. The prices are ridiculous. I often jump in things just to get a nice training run with a group of people; however, I have my own supplies.

Happy Banditing!

Have you ever done any races just for the cost so runners can race? No aid or awards.

dadcoach wrote:

I tried to bring up cost of races and posters didn't seem to think it was an problem. I have an 14 year old girl that ran 17:30 5k a couple of weeks ago and 17:40 two weeks before. I would like to get her more experience with racing but 25 to 30 dollars per race, and then another 15 to 25 for gas. My limit is about 15 dollars, not many of those around. Not sure I would ever have her bandit any race though.

If you think you can do it for cheaper, organize your own races. Or, get a small group together to time trial on a local course or track. Lots of options for alternatives.

However, if somebody is going through the trouble of organizing a race, no matter the cost, it seems morally questionable to bandit.

in a boot wrote:

its fine to bandit if its a low key race with an expensive price. IE the rinky dink 10k for such and such that draws less than 500 people but costs $50. My rules: 1. 5k 20 or under, 10k 30 or under, 10 miles - half 40 or under,marathon 60 or under. 2. If its a major race, thousnads of competitors and routinely won in fast times, rule 1 doesn't apply and unless your money is going to your college tuition, you need to pay

Sweet set of totally arbitrary rules.

We had a bandit in a race five years ago, who ran up on the sidewalk during the race and knocked over a woman and her child. She sued us and we sued the living crap out of the bandit.

We won - he lost a lot.

I said I didn't think I would let her run bandit.......I just think it would be nice if there was some lower cost opportunity to race..........Before someone else says something stupid. I run an biking event with 8 to ten thousand riders and have for twenty years. I know a little about what it costs and what is involved. Why not have a few races at local schools just to get some kids out? We also have hundreds of riders jump in and I think it's funny. They don't get anything free like the riders who pay. I agree if it is some charity ride it would be worse than just some local money maker.

That'll mean I'll have to drop you like a hot cow pie in the summer sun.

xeeexertf wrote:

Then ill drop you like a free throw after you drop him.

Handsome Devil wrote:

Chew me out and I will drop you like a three-foot putt.

That's silly, it's hard to time trial by yourself. Jeeszh! this is kinda basic, eh?

At least smarter than the OP wrote:

If you can't afford it, sorry, time trial on your own.

dadcoach wrote:

I said I didn't think I would let her run bandit.......I just think it would be nice if there was some lower cost opportunity to race..........Before someone else says something stupid. I run an biking event with 8 to ten thousand riders and have for twenty years. I know a little about what it costs and what is involved. Why not have a few races at local schools just to get some kids out? We also have hundreds of riders jump in and I think it's funny. They don't get anything free like the riders who pay. I agree if it is some charity ride it would be worse than just some local money maker.

Places like Boston that have a big club community have many low cost races that are basically run at cost. They don't offer t-shirts or food or chip timing. When I lived there (10 years ago) the prices for races could be on the order of $5. Places that don't have an active running community typically have more of the charity races that have all the added amenities that amp up the cost.

Bandits suck. There's a whole wide world for you to run in without paying a fee or entering so go do it if you don't want to pay a fee to race.

Races cost money to put on. If you want to race, then enter the race and pay the fee. If the fee is too high, then don't do the race, and the race organizers will get the idea.

I was race banditing the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati and got stopped by a cop with a stun gun and then arrested.

so yeah someone has gotten in trouble.

http://www.cantonrep.com/sports/x482563373/Naked-runner-arrested-at-Flying-Pig-Marathon

If you do that, I'll be forced to slap you like a game-show buzzer.

Redneck Auoita wrote:

That'll mean I'll have to drop you like a hot cow pie in the summer sun.

xeeexertf wrote:

Then ill drop you like a free throw after you drop him.

dadcoach wrote:

I said I didn't think I would let her run bandit.......I just think it would be nice if there was some lower cost opportunity to race..........Before someone else says something stupid. I run an biking event with 8 to ten thousand riders and have for twenty years. I know a little about what it costs and what is involved. Why not have a few races at local schools just to get some kids out? We also have hundreds of riders jump in and I think it's funny. They don't get anything free like the riders who pay. I agree if it is some charity ride it would be worse than just some local money maker.

Organize it. You have the experience and the know-how.

racedirector wrote:

We had a bandit in a race five years ago, who ran up on the sidewalk during the race and knocked over a woman and her child. She sued us and we sued the living crap out of the bandit.

We won - he lost a lot.

So how is that different than if a registered runner knocked over a woman and her child? You just like suen' people that don't pay for your race i guess.

Now see that was something positive. Ideas to promote running with out spending 65 dollars a week. I spent about four hours this week trying to find any race under 20, couldn't find any. But I still wouldn't have her run bandit. We don't live in Boston. I don't have any problem with adults who make money paying, it is just kids that should have some place to race.

Our running club once had to close a race and pay a bunch of money because a bandit ran and hurt himself. Because he was in our race but did not sign the waiver, we had to pay for the ambulance, etc.

Prior to this, I was not thrilled with banditing because a lot of work goes into putting on a race and I always viewed it kind of like cheating off of someones HW. But, I would not do anything about it.

Now, our club does not tolerate it at all and post a special notice that anyone caught running in a race without registering the police will be called and they will have to pay a fine equivalent to the county trespassing fine. We have used this twice and the bandits were not happy, but it is our only way to protect our club.