I did a bib transfer once – my Dad’s number. I felt so guilty the whole race. It was a huge race, no results were skewed but oh the guilt! I would lean toward it being ok if the person wouldn’t place in their age group and if the emergency info was on the bib. For me, it just felt wrong. I am not sure why… It was my Dad after all but I wouldn’t do it again – just me… Banditing? No way!

this is really interesting & something i’ve honestly never thought about. whenever i’ve seen people running w/o a race number i always think, “good for them for getting out & doing it,” but i’ve never taken the time to see the OTHER side. such great points and you’re right – it really isn’t fair.

I personally don’t think its a big deal at all.

Like I tweeted to you earlier, I ran a race as “Cathy” last year. I will say though, kudos to the real Cathy for asking me how old I was to make sure we were in the same age category.

I had a shitty race, so I’ve probably screwed her amazing run times! 🙂

I’ve never done either, but I’m not sure the bib transfers are a big deal (as long as the two things you mentioned above don’t happen). I don’t like the idea of entering a race you haven’t paid for, the money is for the aid stations and charity!

I’m a total rule follower (for the most part) so I would say it’s a huge NO. I understand the reasons behind it, but to be honest, I just feel like there are rules for a reason, and just because we think it’s “not fair” or silly, it’s still not justification for breaking them. Everyone would agree that cheating is wrong (like people who skip half the course of a marathon), but then think it’s debatable in the “grey areas”. I think that breaking any rule, big or small, is disrespectful to everyone involved. There are tons of races out there, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t participate in one. Interesting topic!

I live in Boston and the Boston Marathon has a long history of bandits running the race. That doesn’t make it right, but a lot of people do it!

i don’t think it’s a big deal. you get to do the race, and the bib owner gets money back for an event they can’t do. unless you plan on winning I think the effect on the overall results is negligible.

I have been planning for the Princess Half for a full year, and was super bummed when I found out I am too injured to run this weekend. So when I saw someone tweet that they wished they could run this weekend, I offered to sell them my bib. If I can’t run, I want someone else to be able to! Plus, I will admit that part of the reasoning was that it is an expensive race, and a lot of money to be out for a race you don’t get to run!

That being said, I will make sure she changes the emergency contact info, and I know she is in the same age group as me!

I think being a bandit is fine if you don’t use ANY race resources – except maybe Disney, which is private property.

In cycling, selling a spot you can’t use is common. The few events that you can’t do this use picture ID and are extremely difficult, or so small everyone knows each other..

Bib transferring is like someone taking the SAT for you. Complete crap. Do the work yourself. I have always wondered if the same types of people who scalp tickets register for races like Chicago and New York only to sell bibs.

Do you think race bandits run to get the free food or medals? Both?

I have run in the place of an injured friend or family member, which I don’t think is a big deal. But, I have never bought a random BIB online. I think I would actually feel weird about doing that.

When I ran my first marathon, I had friends meet me at multiple points to jump in and run a mile or two with me. I loved that and don’t see that as a problem since they didn’t take anything that was meant for the paying race participants. I think running bandit applies to people running the entire race and taking water/aid meant for paying participants. I have never run an entire race bandit, but I have jumped in and run with a friend or family member for a portion of the race to keep them company. I wouldn’t take anything that was meant for the full-paying folks. That is where I think it becomes wrong.

Hmmm. that explains why in some races I have seen runners that AREN’T wearing bibs! those thieves! if I have to pay for a race, then so should they

I once ran a half marathon in place of someone who twisted their ankle and couldnt do it. It wasnt a big deal because we’re the same sex, age etc. I wasn’t in any danger of placing or winning anything, but I did have the fastest time ever! I scored a PR and I dont even have the official race time sheet! Boo…that was the only problem.

I dont feel bad about it at all because I didnt hurt anyone but myself!

I was wondering about this too, i’m registered for a race and may and at this point it’s looking like I won’t be able to run it, and wanted to let someone have my spot. Thinking twice about it now.

I’ve only accidentally did a transfer…. my mom and I got our numbers mixed up (hate when they don’t put your name on your bib at registration). But we got the results fixed.

I wouldn’t do either. Banditing is definitely a big NO NO. I can get why people might do a transfer, but I would hate never having that record with my name attached to it. If you set a PR, its this other persons name on your PR and not your own. Plus of course emergency info, etc.

I would never run a race as a bandit, but I don’t think bib transfers are bad as long as you don’t mess up awards or anything. For some races you have to register six or more months in advance…what if you get injured? That would be $130 out the window! You have to plan so far ahead for some of these races that it seems kind of silly to not allow bib transfers, although you don’t want people signing up thinking that they CAN transfer because maybe they will sell out more quickly…ah, what a fine line.

I’ve never ran as a bandit in the race, and it actually pisses me off when I see people doing it! Like you said, I pay the nutrients on the course, plus all of the other assistance, and these people don’t. I don’t find it amusing! On the other hand, I am into bib transfers just as long as you don’t think you will skew the results!

I had never even heard of race banditing until recently when I saw a friend’s husband at a race, told her I saw him, and then she said “Yeah, he totally pirate ran that race” then she had to explain to me what it meant.

Here locally, we only have a few races where banditing would be an issue, like our Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon & mini-Marathon (which gets sold out every year), and our Triple Crown Races, which start tomorrow! These all tend to be very crowded.

But the race where I saw my friend’s husband was a small race and there was only water at the end of it and no other amenities. They didn’t get credit for running or “place” anywhere. So I guess really, it’s up to that person’s conscience and we’ll never know.

I have never been in a race and had no idea there were issues like these! I’d say whatever doesn’t feel right to me, is something I wouldn’t do.

I would never bandit and run a race I didn’t pay for, but I have bought a bib to a sold out race. I paid full price so I wasn’t getting any steal of a deal.
I’d buy another one or sell mine if I had to. There’s no refunds on bibs so what happens if you get injured, have something come up and can’t run it? Why let the money go to waste? just my 1.5 cents.

I personally would not buy someones bib because I want the credit! haha Maybe for a 5k, but if I ran a half marathon or marathon I want my name on that time sheet in all its glory because of the time and effort that is put into training for a race. Maybe that makes me self centered? haha jk.

ooh a juicer! off to donate!

I think that ALL races should allow for bib transfers. I don’t think that the race organizers should have to handle the money side of things– if you sell it or give it away, that’s your deal to handle. But I do think they should allow for a name transfer. I think this would eliminate so many problems. I know it’s a bit of an added expensive, but there should be a way to submit most of the information online. Or for smaller races, you should be allowed to stand in line and do it on race day.
I just think it’s a shame that someone might mess up the results by running in an age group that isn’t theirs, etc.
As for bandits… I don’t think it’s a big deal to run along side a friend for a portion of the race. I think it’s fine- you’re not taking a medal or causing any extra work for the organizers. You’re just there to support your friend in his or her goals. Even an occasional banana or water bottle is ok– after all, they usually give those out after the race in the expo areas too, where ANYONE can go. But running an entire race that you didn’t pay for is a no-no in my book. Most of the races have charity donations, and I just think that is bad karma!
I recently ran a 5k, but what I didn’t know is that there was also a 5M that day. Somehow, I signed up for the 5M online, not the 5k. I had NO IDEA. After I ran the race, I realized that I was third in my age group. I knew that was IMPOSSIBLE, so I looked into it further & realized that my time for my 5K (in the 30s) was listed as if I had run 5 miles in that time. Thankfully, there were race officials with computers on-site, so they changed it for me. And they said that there must have been a glitch online because there were a TON of people changing from the 5M to the 5k. I had to laugh that people still ran the 5 miles faster than I ran the 5k!!!!

Banditing – no. You didn’t pay, or attempt to, in order to participate. Odds are, you could run the same course (or very nearly) any other day of the year.

Bib transfers – absolutely. I am currently attempting to get a bib to a race that’s been ‘sold out’ since I found out about it – back in April 2011. If, however, you were willing to pay twice the price, and book through an exclusive agent, you could still get a bib legally. (rip off?!) Legal bib transfers for this race concluded a month ago, and the race isn’t for another month – race directors have to expect that people will need to scratch w/in two months of a race, and that people will want to purchase a bib within 6 months of a race (at a reasonable price). Seriously, though, two months is a bit early to lock out bib transfers.

So, illegal bib transfer, here I come!

I’ll be running with a transfer bib today for the Disneyland Half Marathon. I don’t see the problem with it. I’m running in substitute for my girlfriend who recently got injured in a car accident. I don’t feel bad about it since I’m running it for her. Plus, I paid for it for her in the first place, so technically I did pay for it.

I don’t believe in banditing. I do believe in transferring. People should pay and be supportive. Registering for a race is legit to me. Buying/scalping a bib is as well. One can scalp or buy tickets from a third party to any sporting event. If person X buys a bib to a race, there is no reason that I shouldn’t be able to purchase it for the same price (or less. or more. more should probably be illegal but heck, like an NBA/NHL/NFL/NBL ticket, it technically isn’t. Supply and demand). Its super simple to write software to allow bib changes. I write software, it isn’t that bad. Don’t over sell, have a unique id per bib (with some security) and allow a transfer. If you choose to oversell, be like the airlines, offer some prize for not participating. Embracing technology and the fact that lives change over the course of the weeks and months required for race training is a win for race organizers and participants! I’m really bummed that I was injured and can’t participate in an upcoming race. I’m more than bummed, I’m devastated. Sure, I signed the waiver and I signed the form that gave away my money. I would love to ethically give my number to someone else FOR FREE and/or get FOR FREE or BUY a legal number from someone not participating in a shorter race! Either way, the cause made the money. I think it is sad that I’m not supposed to. I challenge race organizers to think outside the proverbial box. Its 2014.