But running would be a good time with family and friends on Thanksgiving AM so I want to bandit the race. There is almost no charitable benefit that the race supports, I don't feel like running fast, won't take aid, cross the finish line, etc. So, rather than paying $40 to run around the town I grew up in I am not going to pay and instead run and have a good time and then go spend the $40 on something more worthwhile. Thoughts?
write them a letter explaining your thoughts. they probably won't give a fck. but it might make you feel better...for a little while. (or you can vent your frustrations on letsrun like everybody else - oh wait! you just did.)
Works for me. Don't impede the progress of the paying customers in any way and you are fine with me.
Ballbeenhammer wrote:
But running would be a good time with family and friends on Thanksgiving AM so I want to bandit the race. There is almost no charitable benefit that the race supports, I don't feel like running fast, won't take aid, cross the finish line, etc. So, rather than paying $40 to run around the town I grew up in I am not going to pay and instead run and have a good time and then go spend the $40 on something more worthwhile. Thoughts?
40 bucks is friggin' absurd. Have a good run.
What do you think would be a reasonable entry fee then? Remember the race organizer has fixed expenses and bears the risk of loss in the event of a low turnout.
If you don't want to pay, then pick your own 4-mile course and take your family for a run but stay the hell away from the organized event. Bandits are thieves and scumbags, period.
monkeyblossom wrote:
What do you think would be a reasonable entry fee then? Remember the race organizer has fixed expenses and bears the risk of loss in the event of a low turnout.
If you don't want to pay, then pick your own 4-mile course and take your family for a run but stay the hell away from the organized event. Bandits are thieves and scumbags, period.
thieves and scumbags. my, you do have a way with words.
someone charging 40 bucks for a 4 mile run is a thieve and scumbag in my book.
oh look, the same words applied to opposite people. intriguing.
The seller offers his product at the price he chooses. You can choose to buy the product or not. Taking the product and not paying for it is not one of the options. That is stealing. If it is too expensive, don't buy it.
$40 is stupid money for a 4 miler. So don't pay. Hope others don't pay. Watch the race fold. You'll be proven right and all will be good in the world.
Or . . . others will pay. You won't, but others will, enough to support the race anyway. It'll make money (for the profit/non-profit, whatever) and will come back in 2012. You'll be home again, longing to participate but unwilling to pay the $45 (oh, it'll be $45 in 2012, trust me).
America. This is how it works. Costs too much, people will balk. Seems reasonable/people want it bad enough, people will pay. But while the race is on the level, a legit enterprise in all, do you really think hopping in the thing is the right thing to do? Taking advantage of the shutting down of roads, aid stations, mile markers, etc.? That shouldn't be what any one of us is about because, frankly, that's stealing. $40 for a 4 mile turkey trot? Hell no, that's my answer. But I'm not hopping on the course either. I'm taking my family out for a fun loop around the neighborhood.
Be classy and do the right thing here.
To the OP, do you take things from the store that you feel are too expensive? Of course you don't. There is ABSOLUTELY no difference.
If you think it is too expensive, don't buy it and don't steal it.
dukerdog wrote:
To the OP, do you take things from the store that you feel are too expensive? Of course you don't. There is ABSOLUTELY no difference.
do the op's taxes pay for the items in that store like they pay for public roads and access to said roads?
so there is a little bit of difference then, huh?
less typing, more thinking. you'll sound less stupid.
I agree.. I looked up five local Turkey Trots, all $30+ dollars to register. I have opted to run a time trial/workout instead.
Majority of all events that advertise "proceeds to charity" are a scam. 5% gets donated after all expenses and RD takes his cut. We have a 4 miler at $35 a head which pulls in about 2000 runners, and $165 was donated.
The prices for these events have really become absurd. I just pass on those events and support the ones with more reasonable entry fees. I have a rail trail I sometimes go to about 30 minutes away for a tempo run. They are using this for a turkey trot to run 1.55 miles out and back. There is absolutely no road crossings and they need no police or any services. They are charging $30. I just laughed.
In 1980, you could run the Chicago Marathon for $8 and the minimum wage was $3.10. Now the marathon is approaching $150 and the minimum wage is $7.25.
taxpayer wrote:
dukerdog wrote:To the OP, do you take things from the store that you feel are too expensive? Of course you don't. There is ABSOLUTELY no difference.
do the op's taxes pay for the items in that store like they pay for public roads and access to said roads?
so there is a little bit of difference then, huh?
less typing, more thinking. you'll sound less stupid.
Good point. I know for darn sure that my gas taxes go to pay for public roads. You are saying i have the right to drive through the race course runners be damned, right? after all, my taxes paid for the road and i should be able to use it whenever i want, right?
This killed it for me...
http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2011/11/occupy_detroit_building_float.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5wOoOOcbEE
...no more Turkey trot until the city council pulls their head out of their ass.
Ballbeenhammer wrote:
But running would be a good time with family and friends on Thanksgiving AM so I want to bandit the race. There is almost no charitable benefit that the race supports, I don't feel like running fast, won't take aid, cross the finish line, etc. So, rather than paying $40 to run around the town I grew up in I am not going to pay and instead run and have a good time and then go spend the $40 on something more worthwhile. Thoughts?
Don't run it. Are you being forced to run it? You have a choice as a consumer, vote with your feet by not participating. Otherwise STFU.
don't buy the product wrote:
The seller offers his product at the price he chooses. You can choose to buy the product or not. Taking the product and not paying for it is not one of the options. That is stealing. If it is too expensive, don't buy it.
Your reponse does not address the OP's post at all...it's just your own rant...he was simply stating that he felt $40 is high - that is it...
Another irrelevant response...where does he say he's going to enter and not pay?...he says he'll do something else with his $40 that's all...COMPREHEND WHAT YOU READ PEOPLE!
dukerdog wrote:
To the OP, do you take things from the store that you feel are too expensive? Of course you don't. There is ABSOLUTELY no difference.
If you think it is too expensive, don't buy it and don't steal it.
SimpleJack wrote:
Ballbeenhammer wrote:But running would be a good time with family and friends on Thanksgiving AM so I want to bandit the race. There is almost no charitable benefit that the race supports, I don't feel like running fast, won't take aid, cross the finish line, etc. So, rather than paying $40 to run around the town I grew up in I am not going to pay and instead run and have a good time and then go spend the $40 on something more worthwhile. Thoughts?
Don't run it. Are you being forced to run it? You have a choice as a consumer, vote with your feet by not participating. Otherwise STFU.
Another post not addressing the OP's thoughts and feelings - all he wants to know is who thinks the price is high? It seems high to me...I'm not saying it's wrong or I'm going to run for free...or steal anything - it's just HIGH!