Run Run Away

Question:

        Several good arguements have already been posted about why you shouldn’t run as a bandit.  I can think of two additional reasons: 1.)  What if you got badly hurt on the course (heart attack, head injury, etc.)?  The race organizers will assume responsibility for your care, but they won’t have the slightest idea who you are.  This could cause serious problems for contacting family, etc. 2.) If you run as a bandit, some runner who actually qualified might take a swing at you.  When I was at the start of the Boston Marathon this year, a young college kid tried to jump over the barrier into the corral where the runners were assembling.  An older runner -I’m guessing he was in his 60’s – rushed up to the fence and pushed him back into the street yelling, "Get out of here! This race is for people who qualified!"  As he turned away he muttered, "Damn kids try that every year." – - – R. Walter What’s everyone’s take on the idea of running a marathon (i.e. Boston) without having a bib or qualifying time?  Do the bandits pretty much just sit in the back and wait for all the bib runners to start, then start themselves? Thanks, Rob   R. Walter,  CA

Response:

        Several good arguements have already been posted about why you shouldn’t run as a bandit.  I can think of two additional reasons: 1.)  What if you got badly hurt on the course (heart attack, head injury, etc.)?  The race organizers will assume responsibility for your care, but they won’t have the slightest idea who you are.  This could cause serious problems for contacting family, etc.

The same thing as if you out on your own and you had a heart attack, head injury, etc. Which is why runners should always carry some form of identification with a contact number. I’ve filled out very few race entries where an emergency number was asked for. I’d be more concerned about taking resources away from race organizers. But on the other hand if I were off on my own running off the course and an ambulance was delayed because it was covering a race I’d be pleanty upset. 2.) If you run as a bandit, some runner who actually qualified might take a swing at you.  When I was at the start of the Boston Marathon this year, a young college kid tried to jump over the barrier into the corral where the runners were assembling.  An older runner -I’m guessing he was in his 60’s – rushed up to the fence and pushed him back into the street yelling, "Get out of here! This race is for people who qualified!"  As he turned away he muttered, "Damn kids try that every year."

Bandits were once part of the Boston tradition and welcomed by race organizers. But I guess Boston has been gentrified. The older runner should have also included those running for charities (who didn’t qualify) and other "invited guests" (who didn’t qualify). Andy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – - – - R. Walter What’s everyone’s take on the idea of running a marathon (i.e. Boston) without having a bib or qualifying time?  Do the bandits pretty much just sit in the back and wait for all the bib runners to start, then start themselves? Thanks, Rob R. Walter,  CA

Response:

Actually, the first female runner (Katherine Switzer) wasn’t a bandit but rather (implicitly or explicitly) registered as a male under the name "K.Switzer". (I say "implicitly" because if the entry form says "for men only" by submitting an entry, you are implying that you are male) Rightly or wrongly, she was pulled off the course when her "fraud" became evident.

I think you are mistaken about the resolution of that event: (From another site) Women did not become "official" at the Boston Marathon until 1971.   In 1967, Roberta Gibb snuck into the marathon incognito, but it was another woman who got the headlines: Kathy Switzer, a Syracuse University student. Unlike Gibb, Switzer had a race number. Race officials never suspected that "K. V. Switzer" (as she signed her name on the entry form) was a woman (Tricky tricky!). About 4 miles into the race, marathon organizer Jock Semple spotted Switzer from the press bus. He jumped off and attempted to rip off her numbers (in those days worn on both the front and the back), but her running partners warded him off. Captured in photos that were published all over the world, the incident will long endure as a defining moment in the history of women’s running.   Check out this awesome picture: http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history/tindall/timelinf/marathon.htm   (end of excerpt) — Asya Kamsky I will complete a marathon and raise $5000 for the SF AIDS Foundation, Dec 9, 2001, Honolulu, Hawaii.   Sponsor me! For more information see http://www.things.org/~asya/why.html

Response:

X-No-Archive: yes As for a "good" bandit.  Well the first female runner was definitely a "good" bandit because she made it possible for other female to run in the Boston Marathon also. Actually, the first female runner (Katherine Switzer) wasn’t a bandit but rather (implicitly or explicitly) registered as a male under the name "K.Switzer". (I say "implicitly" because if the entry form says "for men only" by submitting an entry, you are implying that you are male) Rightly or wrongly, she was pulled off the course when her "fraud" became evident.

The first female finisher was in fact Roberta Gibb in 1966. She ran as a bandit. The second woman to finish was K. Switzer in 1967 who had entered and ran with a number. Jock Semple, the race director, attempted to pull her off the course when her boyfriend gave Semple a shoulder block while the press truck was busy photographing it all. The first official Women’s Champion was Nina Kuscsik in 1972 3:10. Source "The Boston Marathon" Joe Falls. Andy

Response:

Check out this awesome picture: http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history/tindall/timelinf/marathon.htm

Thanks for the URL.  I’ve read enough about that, but never saw a picture of it. As for Roberta Gibb, well my heart pours out to her.  It is too bad they still will not recognize her as the top female finisher for the years she ran it before females were allowed. Roger

Response:

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