Comments on: Broadening the Definition of ‘Bandit’ http://completerunning.com/archives/2006/11/08/broadening-the-definition-of-bandit/ Runner's Information & Advice Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:57:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Mikehttp://completerunning.com/archives/2006/11/08/broadening-the-definition-of-bandit/comment-page-1/#comment-252975 Mike Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:49:56 +0000 http://completerunning.com/archives/2006/11/08/broadening-the-definition-of-bandit/#comment-252975 I have paced as a sanctioned pacer for the NJ Marathon nine times and I have paced friends and family as a non-sanctioned pacer and I think it's really the same thing. My purpose is to help people by talking, encouraging, and even singing to them, but they still complete the distance. As long as the pacers don't use up any resources supplied to the official runners, except the port-o-johns and they don't get in the way, I think it is OK. Also, the bandit pacers can't try to get a finisher medal or other schwag. Last time I helped my cousin finish NYC, I jumped out at mile 25. She didn't need me anymore and I didn't want to be to tackled by race crew. I have paced as a sanctioned pacer for the NJ Marathon nine times and I have paced friends and family as a non-sanctioned pacer and I think it’s really the same thing. My purpose is to help people by talking, encouraging, and even singing to them, but they still complete the distance.

As long as the pacers don’t use up any resources supplied to the official runners, except the port-o-johns and they don’t get in the way, I think it is OK. Also, the bandit pacers can’t try to get a finisher medal or other schwag. Last time I helped my cousin finish NYC, I jumped out at mile 25. She didn’t need me anymore and I didn’t want to be to tackled by race crew.

]]> By: Adeelhttp://completerunning.com/archives/2006/11/08/broadening-the-definition-of-bandit/comment-page-1/#comment-4292 Adeel Thu, 09 Nov 2006 07:06:48 +0000 http://completerunning.com/archives/2006/11/08/broadening-the-definition-of-bandit/#comment-4292 Mark, I'm feeling crappy in a race, the last thing I want is to do try and run with someone who's feeling great. The exception, of course, is when it's close enough (500 m or less) that you can simply "gut it out". I don't think bandit pacers are a great idea, but I've been the bandit pacer on more than a few occasions for slower runners. I've done it and I doubt anyone around the runner I paced cared, but I certainly wouldn't want one of my competitors to be paced by someone out of the crowd. I'd probably try and hip-check the pacer. Mark, I’m feeling crappy in a race, the last thing I want is to do try and run with someone who’s feeling great. The exception, of course, is when it’s close enough (500 m or less) that you can simply “gut it out”.

I don’t think bandit pacers are a great idea, but I’ve been the bandit pacer on more than a few occasions for slower runners. I’ve done it and I doubt anyone around the runner I paced cared, but I certainly wouldn’t want one of my competitors to be paced by someone out of the crowd. I’d probably try and hip-check the pacer.

]]> By: Mark Iocchellihttp://completerunning.com/archives/2006/11/08/broadening-the-definition-of-bandit/comment-page-1/#comment-4286 Mark Iocchelli Wed, 08 Nov 2006 19:55:33 +0000 http://completerunning.com/archives/2006/11/08/broadening-the-definition-of-bandit/#comment-4286 Hi and welcome to CRN EJ. That Lance thing really bugged me until I realized the entourage was more for themselves than for Lance. I read various interviews of those people saying they were thrilled to *get* to be near Lance for his marathon. That aside, I have no quarrel with bandits as long as they (as you've suggested) don't take resources from runners or clog up the race. My approach is generally what you suggested near the end - to latch onto someone who's running strong and feed off their momentum. Hi and welcome to CRN EJ. That Lance thing really bugged me until I realized the entourage was more for themselves than for Lance. I read various interviews of those people saying they were thrilled to *get* to be near Lance for his marathon.

That aside, I have no quarrel with bandits as long as they (as you’ve suggested) don’t take resources from runners or clog up the race.

My approach is generally what you suggested near the end – to latch onto someone who’s running strong and feed off their momentum.

]]> By: EJ Murphyhttp://completerunning.com/archives/2006/11/08/broadening-the-definition-of-bandit/comment-page-1/#comment-4285 EJ Murphy Wed, 08 Nov 2006 19:27:54 +0000 http://completerunning.com/archives/2006/11/08/broadening-the-definition-of-bandit/#comment-4285 If Lance Armstrong did it then is it OK for anyone to do it? I have to admit that when I heard that Lance had coaching during his virgin marathon run I was a little disappointed. I had never heard of this practice and knowing that he had world class runners pacing him diminished his accomplishment for me. The time for coaching is during training in preparation for the race. Now the race itself has become the training session. A venue to get that "Personal Best" time. If this is what the athlete wants then they should go in knowing that they have in fact disqualified themselves from placing in the race. If Lance Armstrong did it then is it OK for anyone to do it? I have to admit that when I heard that Lance had coaching during his virgin marathon run I was a little disappointed. I had never heard of this practice and knowing that he had world class runners pacing him diminished his accomplishment for me. The time for coaching is during training in preparation for the race. Now the race itself has become the training session. A venue to get that “Personal Best” time. If this is what the athlete wants then they should go in knowing that they have in fact disqualified themselves from placing in the race.

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