Bandits

[Andrew A.]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/23/MN3I1EIEUV.DTL

When you see them in the finish area, grabbing water and Gatorade and bagels, you want to ask if they were raised by wolves.

[r-at-work]

   The first woman to complete the Boston Marathon was a bandit, because women weren't allowed to enter the race at the time.
 

     While she may have not been allowed to run 'by the rules' the first woman to run with a bib was not a bandit, Ms. Switzer registered & paid her money using her initials K.J. so she was not a bandit per se.     as for bandits' taking medals... don't races in Califonia require bibs & chips?

[Andrew A.]

While she may have not been allowed to run 'by the rules' the first woman to run with a bib was not a bandit, Ms. Switzer registered & paid her money using her initials K.J. so she was not a bandit per se.

Though Switzer may prefer that people not remember this, Roberta "Bobbi" Gibb preceded her in being recognized as the first woman to finish (and was retroactively recognized as the women's winner much later) the BAA marathon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Marathon#History

[r-at-work]

yes, and she was a bandit... no number... but at least she didn't take any water  (by her own admission)

[Andrew A.]

This is rather old, found it while I was searching for something else: http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2006/10/banditing_the_c.html

[Ryan]

The streets are public and some bandits carry their own water and gel. Considerate bandits jump off the course before going through the finishing chute, so they don’t count in the results or take a free medal or food.

I see that first argument often, it's a public street. It's not a public street when the race pays the municipality for permits to close the street. Once a permit is issued, for the duration of the permit, it's private property and the bandit is trespassing. If it's an open course, of course, that's a different situation but, while legal, that still doesn't make it right to purposely jump on to a race course and take advantage of the resources others have paid for, even if nothing more than marked miles and others to run with.

[Andrew A.]

Right, if a family paid money to reserve a picnic shelter at a park for a reunion cookout, is it cool if you or anyone else crashes the party?  Do not be a dick.