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

We have many Police at our event and there really isn't much they can do. They might tell them to move away from the start or I tell them to at least wait until the payed riders have started. Are the Police going to tackle riders and runners and ask to see their race bib? Again I wouldn't do it. But stopping others from doing it? We would never be held liable for someone jumping in. I find that hard to believe.............

Interest Ed wrote:

That said, how do race directors think they own public roads? How can you legally prevent someone from running?

How can you legally prevent someone from driving a car down the road during a race? Why can't anyone who wants drive their car in the Rose Parade? Why can't I drive my car through the farmer's market when they close the road for it? Why can't I drive my motorcycle in the local crit?

You legally can close a road for an event if you get a permit that allows it. If the permit gives you exclusive use of the road for your event then bandits are trespassing.

I am really only a 'bandit' in less than 5% of the races that I do. I pay full entry for 20+ races every year supporting a myriad of charities. I am careful and respectful whether I'm running as a 'bandit' or not. Public roads are exactly that. I only run 5k's or 10k's and don't use aid stations whether I've registered for the race or not.

This thread shows how litigious and selfish our society has become. You were the people that wouldn't let other kids play with 'your' group when they showed up at the playground. Let's not forget that we run for fun.

At least smarter than the OP wrote:

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

I do. Not my fault that everyone shows up at the same time and place as I do to time trial.

Brian Wave wrote:

At least smarter than the OP wrote:

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

I do. Not my fault that everyone shows up at the same time and place as I do to time trial.

Not my fault if a bunch of pedestrians are clogging the public streets on a day I want to drive from Hopkinton to Boston.

Public roads are public all the time and I can drive on them anytime I want or I'm being oppressed! Ron Paul and Liberty forever!

If it has chip timing, then yes, I typically pay. On top of that, I pay for the really expensive races, like the Rock n Roll 1/2 marathon. Because if I pay so much for something, then I have to train for it. If I plan to bandit a race, I'm less likely to get my a$$ out of bed early in the morning.

That said, if it doesn't have chip timing, but there are 1000+ running, I don't feel guilty about banditting the whole thing. If I do want to bandit a chip-timed race, then I'll stop before crossing the finish line - 3.0 for a 5k, 6.0 for a 10k, 13.0 for a half.

I hope you are not including me in that statement. I am the one who trys to include everyone. Just to be clear. I really think the wealthy yuppie type is hurting running.If we have 8 to 10 thousand riders, do I really care about a few hundred that for what ever reason don't want to pay?

Basically obv if youre banditing youre being a jackass- as you know- otherwise there wouldnt be so many rationalizations and self governing rules etc etc about it. If everyone did that there would be no races. There are PLENTY of races for under 5 dollars- you just wont get a tshirt/other various crap or maybe much competition or a fancy expo.If youre that desperate to avoid paying though you cant expect these things. Basically every local running club will have at least monthly or often weekly races for like 2-4 dollars if youre a club member. Oh wait that would mean joining the club and actually supporting the sport- who would want to do that though?

There's nothing better than banditting a 5k, dropping a low 15, and keep running right through the chute for your 10k tempo. It feels good to be a sub 2:18 marathoner because nobody says shit to me when I want to race for free.

Spank It wrote:

There's nothing better than banditting a 5k, dropping a low 15, and keep running right through the chute for your 10k tempo. It feels good to be a sub 2:18 marathoner because nobody says shit to me when I want to race for free.

HAHAHA awesome.

I have no problems with being a bandit at a large, for-profit race that isn't donating crap to any foundation or charity besides their back pocket *cough* bolder boulder *cough*

i work at a running store tho so we get free registrations for those anyways, but otherwise i would bandit

except since youve never done that you wouldnt know what it feels like lol.

Again make sure you don't include me in the bandit bashing. Read my posts and you will see I don't do it, I just don't try to stop people who do. I have even told people they can ride in my event for free. If they don't want to pay I am not going to chase them. If you have the courage and you don't run through the shoot at the finish, big deal. we make enough with the ones who pay..........

Wow, 2:18?! fastest guy in the world! My old training group had 3 guys faster than that and another 3 of us from 2:20 to 2:23 and we were never so arrogant to think that we could race any small race that we wanted for free.I tell ya what though, if you did that in either of my races, i'd sure as shit say something to you.

colorundo wrote:

[quote]Spank It wrote:

There's nothing better than banditting a 5k, dropping a low 15, and keep running right through the chute for your 10k tempo. It feels good to be a sub 2:18 marathoner because nobody says shit to me when I want to race for free.

I guess we would have to smack you like a wiener on cheese log.

also a race director wrote:

Wow, 2:18?! fastest guy in the world! My old training group had 3 guys faster than that and another 3 of

us from 2:20 to 2:23 and we were never so arrogant to think that we could race any small race that we wanted for free.

I tell ya what though, if you did that in either of my races, i'd sure as shit say something to you.

colorundo wrote:

[quote]Spank It wrote:

There's nothing better than banditting a 5k, dropping a low 15, and keep running right through the chute for your 10k tempo. It feels good to be a sub 2:18 marathoner because nobody says shit to me when I want to race for free.

Mr. Gumpox wrote:

Interest Ed wrote:

That said, how do race directors think they own public roads? How can you legally prevent someone from running?

How can you legally prevent someone from driving a car down the road during a race? Why can't anyone who wants drive their car in the Rose Parade? Why can't I drive my car through the farmer's market when they close the road for it? Why can't I drive my motorcycle in the local crit?

You legally can close a road for an event if you get a permit that allows it. If the permit gives you exclusive use of the road for your event then bandits are trespassing.

And many, many small races don't close their roads. Try again Mr. G.

Sometime in the '80's a few of us registered for a (I think) March of Dimes walkathon which was 30km. There was probably 15 of us and we showed up in our shorts at the front and started running along and completely confused the police who were going to be in front of the crowd. They spent more than half the event trying to figure out what to do and/or trying to talk us into not running.

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

Pretty good rules. I've been banditing races in the Nashville area for years as well as a few other towns. I have bandied a couple of marathons, one in Knoxville and one in Nashville but they were both a few years ago.

I'm a college run and this is my logic: Why should I pay for a race that I would win but have to decline the prize because I'm a college athlete and in away I'm giving some of the other runners someone to run with so the race is getting something out of me.

We live in a very small town and our girls xc team runs a 5k/10k every week during the summer, Thursday evenings, as a little fund raiser - $5 to enter. I've been in other towns, like Charlottesville, VA where the the local track club runs very inexpensive track meets during the summer - most of the participants are just out there to exercise but occasionally there are some very good runners. All it takes is someone to organize it. For the person who said he had experience organizing large bike races, it should be a snap to throw together something for your daughter, and maybe others would benefit from it, too. I actually did the same with a soccer league many years ago - my kid wanted to play and there was nothing here, so I just put it together with a few other folks. The only problem was getting someone else to take over when he switched to running in high school - no one wanted to take it on, so I still reluctantly do it.