Why do people get so upset about running a race unregistered (bandit)

Look, just because the bus is going downtown, doesn't mean it's free to get on. Passengers have to pay.

Free riding just makes it more expensive for those who do pay.

If you want to run a free time trial, run a time trial by yourself. If you want an environment with others and the feeling of a race, pay for that experience.

Either way, you sound like a leech and a jerk. You're probably someone who when a group goes out and throws in money, instead of splitting evenly, you count the exact amount of your drink conveniently..insist on only paying that all the while forgetting tip. After all, the server was coming over anyway, so why should you pay for tip.

See that's just it...."A small percentage." So it's no big deal if you have a dozen or so bandits. But wait....why should I pay when I can just bandit and the race director isn't enforcing the "no bandit rule?" So next you have twice as many bandits. Then people begin to notice and they decide to bandit too. What if this snowballs and the "small percentage" that doesn't bother you in the slightest gets bigger, to the point that race directors decide that it's simply not profitable to put on the race since people are deciding not to pay? The cost of a race is a lot more than just a t-shirt and medals to the winners. A small race (up to about 600 participants) can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 . Fixed costs that will have to be paid no matter how many participants include insurance, permit fees, possible course certification, marketing, website hosting, medical assistance on site, rental of tables, chairs, timing system and chips or bibs, porta-potties, course markers, etc. The fewer people that actually pay to run this race means the cost per racer will increase. A race that might cost $35 will increase in cost per person when there are fewer people that pay to run the race. If fewer and fewer people pay, the cost will increase to the point that people will say, "Screw this! It's too expensive! I'll just bandit!" And then the race is on its way to being canceled. Another road racing opportunity bites the dust. So that is why people get upset about bandits. A few of them, no big deal. But if race directors turn a blind eye to them, the bandits will ultimately kill the road race by participating and not supporting.

neverbeenabandit wrote:

Banditing doesn't bother me in the slightest. I think people get way too worked up over this. A small percentage of bandits don't appreciably affect water / gatorade supplies or crowding or anything else. I really don't understand why some people care so much. I've run a lot of races and never even noticed bandits, never mind had one actually interfere with my race.

A bandit is like a parasite on a race.

Bandit = Leach.

Star wrote:

Outlaw wrote:

Clearly you've never parked in Newport Beach, CA. 8am, they are out there ticketing for parking violations!

I agree though overall: Running as a bandit in a race is STEALING.

Should bandits be ticketed then?

(I really don't care about race bandits, actually. By I certainly can't defend them)

Yes, if possible. Of course enforcement is another issue for discussion.

Because most serious distance runners are insecure, sanctimonious douchebags. That jacked dude who is only at the race to spend some quality time with his gorgeous, 28-minute 5ker girlfriend... such minutia is not even on his radar. You see... while you are proudly accepting your trophy for running a time that would get you lapped by a D-level Kenyan, he's already back home boning his girlfriend in the shower.

Bob Schul Country wrote:

i bandit all the time.

Never cross the finish line, dont take a medal, dont eat the food, dont start in front at start line.

Nothing wrong with it.

You a dumpster diner too?

Bob Schul Country wrote:

i bandit all the time.

Never cross the finish line, dont take a medal, dont eat the food, dont start in front at start line.

Nothing wrong with it.

Do other runners give you a hard time? Do you feel kinda cheesy if you don’t have a bib number and other runners start looking at you funny? Aren’t you afraid of getting caught? ?

The last race I was going to run as a bandit didn't go very well, which was at a fairly large charity race held every fall in my city. After warming up, I discreetly went to rear of the pack to start the race. At that moment, a middle-aged runner came up to me and sternly asked, "where's your bib number?...did you register for this race? I said no...I'm just running the course for training and I'm not going through the finish line." He says, "like hell you are!" and proceeds to call over his wife/girlfriend saying, "we've got a bandit here...let the race director know...quickly!"

The women starts screaming "bandit!...bandit!...bandit!" as she runs to the race director, who has a megaphone and was giving pre-race instructions. Soon many other runners near the rear of the area, start chanting, "bandit!...bandit!...bandit!" The race director shouts over his megaphone, "folks...sorry...the race will be delayed...we have a bandit at the rear of the field!" Drawing all this attention, I decide to run off and high-tail it out of there to my car parked about a half mile away. As I'm running away from the start area, I'm getting catcalls such as "F*ck off bandit...and don't ever come back!" Someone even launched a water bottle almost hitting me!

I learned my lesson...I'll never try to bandit a race again. ?

What if you are ust outside the venue sitting in a lawn chair listening to the music? Is that stealing?

NYRR holds many of their races inside CP and I'll be damned if I pay a ton of money to run a race on a course that I can run on any time I please(including during races). If someone would like me to pace them there's not a shot in hell that I'm going to pay to do that. I won't take a medal or free shirt but I'll sure as hell take a cup of water as I'm a yearly member of NYRR anyway and they're making a killing on these events.

Blumly wrote:

irunfastXC wrote:

Sigh.

https://giphy.com/gifs/a6WgZGYRLzp5K/html5

What's wrong with going to your favorite musician's concert in a public place without a ticket?

They are selling a service - an event. It costs money to put on an event and you're stealing.

It isn't a 'race rules' thing. It's a crime thing.

What if you are ust outside the venue sitting in a lawn chair listening to the music? Is that stealing?

In some countries it is.

neverbeenabandit wrote:

Banditing doesn't bother me in the slightest. I think people get way too worked up over this. A small percentage of bandits don't appreciably affect water / gatorade supplies or crowding or anything else. I really don't understand why some people care so much. I've run a lot of races and never even noticed bandits, never mind had one actually interfere with my race.

So the same as shoplifters then?

NotPC wrote:

The only time I think it's OK to bandit is if you are a) not racing it b) you are pacing a friend c) you do NOT cross the finish line

No, no and no.

spenser wrote:

runn wrote:

Basically, it's theft of services. The race director and volunteers put in a lot of work and you're stealing a product.

If you cross the line or interfere with another runner- you mess things up.

Not if it's on public roads or public property.

Not true. During that time the road is rented by the RD.

What world are you living in where a 5000 person race nets a 200k profit? If race entry is 50 bucks a person,that's 250k. So you think each entrant only costs 10 bucks? Your friend is lying to you.

Calling BS, but I think the person is BSing.

midwesta wrote:

What world are you living in where a 5000 person race nets a 200k profit? If race entry is 50 bucks a person,that's 250k. So you think each entrant only costs 10 bucks? Your friend is lying to you.

Some resources on putting on a race.

Luv2Run wrote:

spenser wrote:

Not if it's on public roads or public property.

Not true. During that time the road is rented by the RD.

THANK YOU.

As OP said himself, people that bandit races just think that people are uptight about breaking the race director's rules.

While ignorant, they don't realize the costs that they aren't contributing towards covering. Pretty much trespassing and stealing.

Takinadump wrote:

NYRR holds many of their races inside CP and I'll be damned if I pay a ton of money to run a race on a course that I can run on any time I please(including during races). If someone would like me to pace them there's not a shot in hell that I'm going to pay to do that. I won't take a medal or free shirt but I'll sure as hell take a cup of water as I'm a yearly member of NYRR anyway and they're making a killing on these events.

-Right on, the NYRR is a FOR-PROFIT MACHINE!!!! The have multiple Employees making well over 100K and they making a killing off their Members/Volunteer Work Force.

But honestly when you just want to get a good hard effort in, and they want you to pay 80-100 bucks???