So I'm running this 5K race this weekend and its capped at 5500 runners. So a friend/acquaintance of mine just posted that she is running it. I told her I was happy that she got in because the registration closed early. Well come to find out, she is running it without a number. She asked me what the bibs look like so that she doesn't stand out and said she was going to stick one on that was similar in appearance. UGH... Really?  I told her to make sure she doesn't cross the mat because it screws with the timing, but if its chipped it really shouldn't. I shouldn't really care, but I just think ethically its wrong for those that paid etc. Maybe its just me and the fact that I'm a rule follower. I know that most of you understand my frustration with this.

I don't like racing in crowded conditions and I would think that bandits don't help with that. I also pay my share to ensure the race is set up properly. I'd like to think that everyone does the same. But banditting is not a big crime that hurts others in a major way, I'll admit to that.

Yeah, I know. I just think the way she said it, by slapping on a previous bib was wrong. Its not the worst crime though and I feel better now that I told her it would be obvious if the race isn't printed on the bib.

Can you even bandit a 5k?  I do not think I have ever heard of that!  That would be like eating a crap ton of fruit from the produce stand, then deciding you do not like any of it and walking away.

The consequences of getting caught as a bandit are just that you will get a ban from ever signing up for the race in the future and possibly get banned for that organizations future races so there really isn't anything solid in place to stop it.

I would bet that every race ever organized has been banditted by at least 1 person.  Hell even Boston Marathon gets banditted and they know it and don't do anything about it.

I don't normally care much, but I was very annoyed to find, when I read the results, that one of the small group of runners I chatted with for a mile or so had bandited a recent race.  It wasn't so much the banditing per se that bothered me, as that it was occurring at a very small (less than 100 finishers) charity race.  The race was benefitting research on a fatal childhood disease, and several children with the disease were there.  To bandit in those circumstances just seemed particularly crass.

Banditry ?

Very good!

Urban Dictionary has banditing as a word used for road races. But I like banditry better. 

I don't normally care much, but I was very annoyed to find, when I read the results, that one of the small group of runners I chatted with for a mile or so had bandited a recent race.  It wasn't so much the banditing per se that bothered me, as that it was occurring at a very small (less than 100 finishers) charity race.  The race was benefitting research on a fatal childhood disease, and several children with the disease were there.  To bandit in those circumstances just seemed particularly crass.

Yes, that's low.

I am afraid I do not get that analogy at all.

Taking something you did not pay for?  Yeah, I guess it was a bad analogy.