Race bandit... Report 'em or not?

Triathlon Forum
1

So I got an email off a local listserv from a douchebag selling a spot to a large half marathon this weekend. I replied with the standard “it’s illegal, unethical, lawsuit-for-the-RD-situation” stuff. I got back this amazing email justifying why it was totally cool and that he would t rescind the email. Here is his response, obviously edited for names and identifiers. I ask, WWSTD? (what would slowtwitch do?)

I completely understand your viewpoint, and I know many people out there share your opinions.  However, I’d like to address a couple of your points, if I may, with my outlook on them and why I’m okay with this kind of action in this instance.

In terms of being illegal, that depends.  If you are planning on finishing in the top 3 and winning prize money, then yes, that would probably be illegal.  I’m a 1:24 half marathoner.  I might win an age group prize, but I’m not going to win the event, so I’m not worried about that happening if I take someone’s spot.  Yes, I probably should have pointed that out, since there are some really fast people in Tri.  I would hope they would also recognize the problems that could cause if they took prize money under a false name.  But aside from that, in terms of prizes, there’s no reason it should cause any trouble.

From a race director’s viewpoint, yes.  They want to have medical information correct and such in case someone gets sick/injured during the race, and such.  However, I didn’t have to provide an insurance card or anything, so medically, it would be totally the same procedure for anyone to receive aid other than me even if they were racing under my name.  I don’t have any unusual medical conditions, so they wouldn’t be treated abnormally if anything happened and medical staff thought they were someone else, and I would hope that if THEY had a preexisting condition that they would have some sort of bracelet or marker to indicate such in case of emergency.  At any rate, that shouldn’t be an issue under these circumstances.  The race director should be cleared from liability by the fact that he/she went to reasonable effort to ensure that so-called “bandits” didn’t get into the race, so while any race director would go on the record as saying it’s not okay, they wouldn’t actually get in trouble in this type of situation.

Anyone can file a lawsuit for whatever reasons.  The fact that they’re running under a different bib number doesn’t make any difference.  If someone wants to be a jerk and sue for something stupid, I would guess that they would probably be able to do it anyway.

Ethically, I see no problem, in this instance.  Granted, there are cases where I would see this type of activity as completely unethical.  For example, in any USATF-certified marathon, because it could qualify an unqualified runner for Boston (or the like).  That’s not cool,  Yes, I’m sure there is some benefit that could be gained similarly, in some half-marathon, somewhere, through a better start corral, or an elite entry, or such, if someone ran a much faster time than me.  However, that’s not likely, and (on my honor) I would never take advantage of something like that for personal gain.  Also, I’m not giving anyone an advantage of any sort in the competition.  The race is on my 20th birthday.  Whoever took my spot would be running in the M20-24 age group, which along with M25-29 is the most competitive age group in the race, usually.  No one would be cheating high schoolers out of the 19 and under medals, or taking women’s medals as a man, or the like.  If anything, anyone other than a male aged between 20 and 24 gets a harder race - but that’s perfectly fair, because they’re taking that deal by signing on for this.

In fact, I have been on both sides of this practice before, never using it to cheat, but in order to not waste race spots.  I looked at the situation before racing each time and made sure that I was competing on an even playing field, and I would never take advantage of an unfair opportunity if such a situation existed.  Also, I would recognize that by racing under another name I gave up the right to win anything significant from the race.

I would hope that anyone who took me up on the offer would do the same, and that this type of action would always be carried out in a responsible manner.

You’ll be pleased to know, though, that no one from Tri club has requested the number.  So either none of them want to or can race this weekend, or perhaps they all share your viewpoint.

Partially for that reason, and partially because I disagree that it is a “lapse in judgment”, I will decline to sent out an email rescinding the offer.  However, I will absolutely not hold it against you if you choose to do so - I would only ask that you also include my rationale behind making the offer along with your reasoning against its prudence.

Respectfully,

2

He says he’s ok with it, so why bother withholding “names and identifiers”?

You obviously feel strongly about this, so what’s holding YOU back from reporting it?

3

Well, I will admit. After his response, I may have emailed the RD with a bib# to watch for. I think I am just super shocked/offended by the brazeness and openness about doing it before. And if I told you the university listserv I got it off of, by default, he’s highly intelligent. (I however just work there…)

So is it just me, or is this obscenely unethical and shameless? For whatever reason, this rings the same to me as cutting the course or doping. Why, Im not 100% sure of. I’d be willing to bet that there are folks out here who think otherwise though.

4

Dude this is the perfect opportunity to race and break any and all rules!!! Hell catch a cab to mile 12, and throw some water on you at the last aid station and go for the win!!

5

And give an interviewid train rode ala Rosie Ruiz? I could PR something like a 58:00. That’d be different.

6

Depends on if you have any morals or a belief in God.

7

pick yer fights dude
.

8

It would serve him right if the buyer doesn’t break 2:00. He’d get the credit for that time over at Athlinks.

9

Empty post contents.

10

I honestly do not see a problem with someone bandit racing at the local scene. I have a buddy that does it with local road races all the time to get in a hard run in preparation for another race, because it is hard to replicate a race setting on your own. He usually don’t even bother with race numbers, he just shows up and runs with the group, which is what I would probably do anyways. I have never sold my race number because I don’t like the idea of someone being out there under my name.

However, I would probably buy someone’s number from them if the race were sold out and I really just wanted to be a part of it. Like the guy said, if you know this person is just going to blend in with the crowd, I really don’t see the issue with it. I would probably only do this with a 10k, 1.2 mary, or something local along those lines. I would probably not want anything to do with it regarding a Tri because their are just too many variables, and it could end up being a real headache for the RD should anything happen to that person.

If someone outed a race bandit at your local 10k, I would say yes, you sir are a dick, but if someone outed a race bandit at say, an ironman, I would have no issue with that due to anything and everything that could go wrong at an event like that.

11

easily distracted much?

12

Your “local meaningless 10k” is someone elses Ironman.

Looks like everyone has their level of justification. Coming from someone with coach in their sig I find yours pretty disturbing.

13

Given the vast importance of this issue, you would think the RDs would check IDs like they do at triathlons.

PS: I thought a bandit was someone who ran without paying for a number.

14

or god forbid everybody just follows the rules, plays fair and is honest.

PS- Not sure of the the technicalities but my understanding has always been bandit = no number, fraud = somebody elses number.

15

bandits are sweet, i approve 100%.

buying numbers/bibs and all that jazz is a different subject all together, and i dont really have a strong opinion either way.

16

You know what?

If you are a man you take the number and race.

Wear a mask or something concealing your face (hat, 80’s sunglasses, mustache) and make sure you race # is clearly visible.

Make sure you hide your identity from the guy offering the # and from the race photographer (see above or drop out before you get there).

Depending on your level of disgust you then do the following:

Run with some obscene comment written across your chest and back.
Do something really offensive, like effing off competitors, spectators, or push other runners.

Depending on the amount of anger and rage, you may consider exposing more or less of yourself to (selected) spectators…

Then let him deal with the aftermath.

That is how a man would do it… if he would really care about this kind of behavior.

17

for large running races, i dont really see whats the big deal.

18

Glad someone died and left him hall monitor. I probably wouldn’t do it in todays world, but have been guilty of doing just that many times. I do know 100% for certain I wouldn’t report him like the OP did.
The guy had several valid points. If the race director made a reasonable effort to have everyone registered I doubt you would win in court. If you were the guy and got injured, Tough Shitski. Unless you mess with an award spot, I don’t see a foul. Like who really cares if you get 42nd or 43rd in your age group?
In the Honolulu marathon in the early 1990s we would enter the "good buddy discount " for locals in April you could enter for like $5. We would sign up several of the local homeless dudes then have whoever felt like running under their name raced. Sometimes just a twenty miler or sometimes a finisher. Next time the dude came into the ER we would give them their finishers medal, a new shirt and their marathon finish certificate. Never will see a homeless dude happier or looking better than give them a shower and a new shirt.
In the 1980s we used to run under one of our friends name who failed to show for some race. Then the next days paper would read the guy ran a 25 min 5k when he usually went a 16 and low change. Or a 10 k in about an hour when he was always around a 35. Man that chapped plenty of guys into not missing a race.
I also ran under one of our heart patients name once. The guys doctor called him the next day wondering what the hell he was up to running that fast.And his son was pretty impressed and the old man never told his son any different.
I am not too sure why you polled the Slowtwichers when you knew you were going to report it before the peanut gallery had spoken. The world needs hall monitors. l really do mean that, it keeps us rascals on our toes.

19

Pure Genius.

20

So basically the point seems to be, there a lot more unethical people out here tonight than those interested in doing what’s right and following the rules, including some “coaches”. And I’m a dick for having a problem with that? So I must also a mega asshole for objecting to a similar email on the same listserv from a “coach” who blantently advertised knowingly taking a banned substance during a race and joking about it.

I’m not sorry fo having the opinion that I do about this. And it’s very telling that most of the responses here are to cheat freely. I guess I’ll see you guys at Ironman Florida. I’ll wave when your draft pack goes by me.