Is it wrong to run in road races if you don't pay the entry fee?

Just a personal note--I was actually planning on banditting an upcoming race because finances are really tight right now and I've been injured and I know I won't run the best race but this thread's pricked my conscience and I'm going to register as soon as I stop typing this. Thanx

a lady wrote:

You're a great communicator. I think you should look into joining a debate team. I think you'd win all types of prizes. Maybe you wouldn't have to pay ANY fees then since you're so great at expressing yourself.

your post was funny after the first poorly-devised sarcastic comment. the next three comments' humor reeked worse than your moldy snatch you filthy slut

First have to admit I didn't read the whole thread.

Many people that are probably putting people don't have probably done it. I have done it, but now I don't think it's right. But I got some valuable race experience and yes it was stealing. No I didn't cross the line. I haven't done it for MANY years, didn't have the money back then to do the races.

would it be stealing if you hooked up to cable and didn't pay?? You bet your ass...

Will the Rigas family get free cable for the next 18 years?

It is stealing. Anyone who says that it is not a crime is ignorant. The term is

THEFT OF SERVICES

look it up. You can be cited.

I went to a race that had a 2 mile at 8:10 and a 5 mile at 8:30. I paid and entered the 2 mile. After I was finished, I ran the 5 mile course with the people who were racing it for a cooldown. Am I a bandit?

No

Years ago I got lost and arrived at a 5k about 10 minutes after the start. I wasn't pre-registered, so I just took off and ran the course and compared my time to the runners to see where I would have placed. Am I a bandit?

Thanks, I feel better now.

You said the key word in both posts. YOU PAID!

Thanks for helping OUR SPORT by paying to race...

You gotta ask yourself, if you were in a position to do so, would you organise and put on a road race?

If you love running would you ultimately like to see more road races?

first post no, second post yes,

maybe a map will help you get to the race on time or leave earlier...

No there is nothing wrong with bychance running the same exact course at the same exact time there is a race because that's what it really is when you boil it down. If it really was wrong then it would be enforced.

I have been at races where the race director has made announcement if you don't have a number you don't belong on the course...Many of the runners around me thank her.

Also, another race director stood in the middle of the bike trail and forced runners off the course. Yes there was also a police officre there.

Races are not open to people who don't pay. Nor should races have inline skates, dogs, babby joggers ect. on the running course

Hey Mr. Moral Majority. Have you ever been on a long drive and stop by a fast food place to take a dump? Did you approach the manager and offer him $5.00 for the water and sewage? Hell no, you left a forearm in the bowl, washed your hands and got back on the road.

They plan on holding a race on my training route next week, do I need to slip the director a race fee to run my usual route, which just so happens to run in front of my home and around my block?

Portland, a small part of me says you're tugging on puppet strings like Flagpole does...making the puppet dance. That same small part tells me you already know how you feel about banditing races...you're just tossing out morcels for the mosh pit to feast on. A moral issue...yeah, right. That toss-up term, moral, had the puppet's dancing. There's no way in Hell, MI you'd come to the letsrun audience for something like this.

I have, but I alway got a soda when I left...

NO!I am coming off an injury and was planning on running a 1/2 marathon on July 17th in about 1:16ish. Instead, I plan on pacing the Wife to a 1:39. I will pay the $22 fee or I will not run. No wonder I'm alway's broke!

Portland Runner wrote:

I have a bit of a moral issue here. I'm not racing yet but I want to run a few time trials during the summer to gauge what kind of shape I'm in. So, is it wrong for me to run my time trials during local 5ks? I have no intention of taking any prize and while I'm running near the front of the race I'm only running about 17 minutes and so it's not like I'm interfering with the runners trying to win the race. At the same time 20 dollars is a lto of money to pay for a clock and mile markers. So what do you think? Is it ok to run w/o paying?

And to top that, I paid $65 to drop out of a marathon at mile 12 with a hamstring injury. At the finish area I refused to take any of the free stuff, I figured that was for the people who ran 26 miles!