WWHFD? Possibly flame worthy....

KeweenawLove · April 2012

My mom was supposed to run Boston with a family friend who fundraised in. He came down with a horrible sinus infection, is burned out, and decided over the weekend he's no longer going out there. He signed over this card to her to pick up his packet so he can get the t-shirt. He knows I'll be out there and said she could give me the bib to run with her as long as I don't "finish."

I'm having a serious moral dilemma now. My mom really wants me to run with her for part of it. I'm supposed to do an 18 mile training run that weekend so I'd be ready to do a big chunk. I just don't know if I'd feel right doing it since it's not my bib. I know people that have done it for other races and I've always had the opinion that as long as someone paid the money to race and you're not taking away an AG award from someone else, it's not a big deal. I'm still just not sure.

Is this one of those, if it doesn't feel right, don't do it situations? Input is appreciated!

Mrs Manners · April 2012

I'd go, enjoy the run with your mom (seriously, how cool is your mom!) and not finish or remove the bib/timer just before you cross the finish and discard.

MommaInTheSouth · April 2012

I know NOTHING about this so FWIW- I read the article in Runners World about the Boston Race Director and it sure gives the impression that while banditing the race isn't encouraged it's also not something they get too worked up over. I have zero opinion other than that b/c I'm just too new to running to really understand.

Brie2010 · April 2012

Race banditing bothers me. I can't really put a finger on why, but it does.

It especially bothers me at a race like Boston. People work like crazy for years and years to BQ, and I would feel really awkward about running it without "earning" it, so to speak.

I wouldn't do it.

jay-tea · April 2012

I did it for cherry blossom under similar circumstances. Go for it. If your brother cant run, dont let the bib go to waste.

gt7301b · April 2012

KeweenawLove:
My mom was supposed to run Boston with a family friend who fundraised in. He came down with a horrible sinus infection, is burned out, and decided over the weekend he's no longer going out there. He signed over this card to her to pick up his packet so he can get the t-shirt. He knows I'll be out there and said she could give me the bib to run with her as long as I don't "finish."

Your mom's friend fundraised in so it isn't like you are posing as someone who qualified via time. I would go support your mom and run with her.

kat.in.the.hat · April 2012

Brie2010:
Race banditing bothers me. I can't really put a finger on why, but it does.
It especially bothers me at a race like Boston. People work like crazy for years and years to BQ, and I would feel really awkward about running it without "earning" it, so to speak.
I wouldn't do it.

This

taratru · April 2012

It's not like you're taking the place of someone who didn't get in, ya know? He basically bought his way in, so I would run and not finish.

jgleespen · April 2012

kat.in.the.hat:
Brie2010:

Race banditing bothers me. I can't really put a finger on why, but it does.

It especially bothers me at a race like Boston. People work like crazy for years and years to BQ, and I would feel really awkward about running it without "earning" it, so to speak.

I wouldn't do it.

This

Tritto

GRKaters · April 2012

I can't say that I'd personally do it, but IMO this is a little different than the RW columnist banditing Chicago. He wasn't accounted for. You wearing the bib of a runner who *was* planned for doesn't stress the course resources any more than they would've been.

gumiberg · April 2012

i would do it. well, i personally wouldnt do it because i wouldnt want to start in the back, but he earned that bib by fundraising. its a legit bib - and he earned the right to pass it with you so that someone could run with your mom is in his absence. you are not even finishing the race - frankly, i dont care who runs the course as long as they 1) dont finish and 2) dont pace a runner who is trying to place (or jump in at the end to give them a boost).

if you decide to go, i think it it sounds like a great 18 mile run!

clseale13 · April 2012

jgleespen:
kat.in.the.hat:
Brie2010:

Race banditing bothers me. I can't really put a finger on why, but it does.

It especially bothers me at a race like Boston. People work like crazy for years and years to BQ, and I would feel really awkward about running it without "earning" it, so to speak.

I wouldn't do it.

This

Tritto

There are several things that bother me about race bandits, but it's not race banditing. It's paid for. She's not taking anything away from anyone & plenty of people run Boston without qualifying. I don't really get the moral dilemma.

jgleespen · April 2012

I had a reading comprehension fail..I see now that he got in for fundraising....I change my vote to ok.

KeweenawLove · April 2012

Thanks for the input. I'm leaning towards doing it. My mom really wants me too. When she first registered, she told me I should just jump in with her for a few miles but I said no too that. Now that there's a real bib involved it sounds more legitimate.

kirkette · April 2012

I don't see anything wrong with it.

It's a fundraising entry, not one from qualifying by time.

shorty20 · April 2012

I agree, I would run most of it and just not finish. The bib is paid for, so you're not taking anything away from anyone. I read that Runners World article too, and they're not the same situation.

Cinco · April 2012

I don't see anything wrong with it either. If you intend to qualify and run at a future time, do you think it would take away from that experience at all? That is the only thing that would give me pause...

daisysle · April 2012

Run it, but do NOT finish. Stop well before the finish line and discard the bib.

FWIW, I would be 100% against you running this had he been a qualifying individual. But since he got in by fundraising, then I do not see the harm. Again, as long as you do not finish.

shelby.ann · April 2012

Cinco:
I don't see anything wrong with it either. If you intend to qualify and run at a future time, do you think it would take away from that experience at all? That is the only thing that would give me pause...

This. I don't know how old your mom is, but assuming you're running with her, you must be a pretty decent runner who could potentially hit the mark yourself, if you haven't already.

And also, won't it feel weird to just step off of the course partway through? Like, people spectating around will ask you what's wrong and you'll say you were just running with someone else's bib and weren't planning to finish? Personally, I'd feel kinda douchy doing that.

But I agree that it's not banditing, and it's not taking resources from a qualified runner, so I don't really think it's an ethical dilemma.

Brie2010 · April 2012

gumiberg:
i would do it. well, i personally wouldnt do it because i wouldnt want to start in the back, but he earned that bib by fundraising. its a legit bib - and he earned the right to pass it with you so that someone could run with your mom is in his absence. you are not even finishing the race - frankly, i dont care who runs the course as long as they 1) dont finish and 2) dont pace a runner who is trying to place (or jump in at the end to give them a boost).
if you decide to go, i think it it sounds like a great 18 mile run!

Except it specifically says on the BAA website that bib transfers are not permitted. So, he doesn't really have the right to pass it along if he can't run.

But, I'm a square and a hopeless rule-follower. I just couldn't do it. I would just feel wrong out there among people who worked hard to either BQ or fundraise a shitton of money knowing I hadn't done any of that.

kmartini1021 · April 2012

Brie2010:
gumiberg:
i would do it. well, i personally wouldnt do it because i wouldnt want to start in the back, but he earned that bib by fundraising. its a legit bib - and he earned the right to pass it with you so that someone could run with your mom is in his absence. you are not even finishing the race - frankly, i dont care who runs the course as long as they 1) dont finish and 2) dont pace a runner who is trying to place (or jump in at the end to give them a boost).
if you decide to go, i think it it sounds like a great 18 mile run!
Except it specifically says on the BAA website that bib transfers are not permitted. So, he doesn't really have the right to pass it along if he can't run.
But, I'm a square and a hopeless rule-follower. I just couldn't do it. I would just feel wrong out there among people who worked hard to either BQ or fundraise a shitton of money knowing I hadn't done any of that.

I'm right there with you. I was reading along, thinking, "Well yea, if you're not banditing and you're not taking away from anyone else, I don't see the problem." Until I got to the point that it specifically says in the rules bib transfers are not permitted. Then I had to hop off the "go for it" bandwagon.

I also agree with Shelby.Ann that you might attract some unwanted attention when you do make your exit from the course. It's not that I would feel like a fraud, but I wouldn't feel right telling people that I had no intention to finish the race.

Mush-Tastic · April 2012

Ditto this! I would NEVER do it for Boston. People work their asses off for years to qualify. I understand wanting to run and support your mom, but I find it disrespectful to the runners there for actually qualifying.

Brie2010:
Race banditing bothers me. I can't really put a finger on why, but it does.
It especially bothers me at a race like Boston. People work like crazy for years and years to BQ, and I would feel really awkward about running it without "earning" it, so to speak.
I wouldn't do it.

Mush-Tastic · April 2012

Sorry. I didn't catch the part that he got in through fundraising. My bad. I still wouldn't do it. Maybe cuz I'm chicken and that's such a huge ass race.

Mush-Tastic:
Ditto this! I would NEVER do it for Boston. People work their asses off for years to qualify. I understand wanting to run and support your mom, but I find it disrespectful to the runners there for actually qualifying.

Brie2010:
Race banditing bothers me. I can't really put a finger on why, but it does.
It especially bothers me at a race like Boston. People work like crazy for years and years to BQ, and I would feel really awkward about running it without "earning" it, so to speak.
I wouldn't do it.

ChiTownBelle · April 2012

I just want to say kudos to your MOM for running BOSTON!!

Do you plan on hopping in at mile 8??

abvernon · April 2012

I am not sure if I would do it. I have issues with running something that I really did not earn (fundraising or qualifying). Since Boston is such a HUGE race, people do work their asses off for it. Also the fact they say bibs are non transferable, is leaning me more towards no.

Then again, you are there to support your mom.

WWHFD? Possibly flame worthy....

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