Race Bandits

There was an article in the newspaper today about how one runner was stopped from participating in the Nike Human Race last Sunday. This person did not register (registration was full when he tried) and did not intend to make use of the water points. She was considerate enough to queue behind the second wave so as not to impede the registered racers. So she was upset when she and her friends were pulled out by "bouncers" in black.

What's so wrong about participating just to enjoy the atmosphere?

A race bandit in is any person that runs the course and makes use of the race support but has not paid for the right to be there.

To put it in perspective, there is the absolute zero tolerance camp that compares bandits to cheaters -- thieves -- immoral scums. This is why race bandits are frowned upon:

Not only is it theft, but it is not safe, either. Races have entrance caps because that is the most number of people that a race can support. Volunteers and race directors only scrape together enough supplies for the number of people that they expect to have to support. Non-profits often sponsor races in an effort to raise capital for their charitable work, which is not helped by people who skip paying the fee. Bandits have not signed any sort of liability waiver, and as ridiculous as it sounds the race directors would probably be found liable if the bandit did something stupid like run into a car or trip over a curb.

Clearly safety and liability concerns are important.

But what if the runner brings along his own water, gels, and support. Push it further a little, say he starts 10 minutes after all the registered runners have left the starting line. He is just an ordinary guy who runs along a route that happens to coincide with the race route. He is what is termed a low or zero impact bandit.

Suppose also that the bandit is simply there to run a few miles with a buddy for moral support. Pacers are officially allowed for ultra-marathons, but what if we apply it to pacing with a friend for a marathon? (then again, why not register if you are really a good friend?)

Perhaps it is not so black and white. The middle ground possesses a little forgiveness for the low-impact bandit.

What is your view?