Ghost Runners - General running

Home time

30/12/2008 at 13:53

Hi All,

anyone heard off people turning up for marathons without officially entering them,i did Edinburgh Mara this year and a guy i shared a few mile with says he just runs most years and when quizzed about number,responds that he lost it.

will i see people like this in London and does it happen often in other events

Mr Bump

30/12/2008 at 18:51

In FLM, unofficial runners tend to get removed from the course at the 25 mile point, so I understand.

Graham L

30/12/2008 at 19:35

I've often wondered why unofficial runners can't take part in any race run on public roads, as long as they don't expect to get a time, goody bag etc of course. I'm assuming the bye-laws which close the roads to motor traffic etc also exclude anyone not officially taking part..

Muttley

30/12/2008 at 20:44

Races take a lot of expense and effort to organize. Road closures and medical backup are only a part of what race directors (often volunteers) have to arrange.

Anyone who wants to take part should have the decency to pay the entry fee.

The guy you ran alongside at Edinburgh is a parasite, pure and simple.

Graham L

30/12/2008 at 22:08

I meant of course what's to physically stop them, rather than implying it would be right to do it.

Mr Bump

30/12/2008 at 22:32

Interesting point. Could cause chaos if all the ballot rejects decided to descend upon London and run the marathon unofficially.

Mr Puffy

30/12/2008 at 23:03

Wasn't there a thread this year with some photos of a bloke in a Wolves shirt with a fake number? I think there are quite a lot of people who will run London each year without an entry, I don't understand it myself, how can you enjoy the experience knowing you are, as Muttley so aptly puts, a parasite?

RunningCommentary

30/12/2008 at 23:59

I think "parasite" is a bit strong.

As long as you don't expect a medal, then I don't suppose it matters if the odd one runs on the same course for a while. If I had a 12 mile training run to do, it would be quite nice to run from Greenwich to Tower Bridge on marathon day.

There's quite a tradition in Boston of 'bandit' runners for the marathon.

Bear B.Hind

31/12/2008 at 08:56

There's very heavy security from Birdcage Walk onwards - so there's a good chance of you being hauled off from then onwards - the 'physical' bit is the army type guys who will actually stop you if you've been identified as not being a bona fide runner.

Home time

01/01/2009 at 21:12

i think i may have been understood,i have a place i was just enquiring as to how devious people can get ..

ie do they have fake numbers

just lie and hopefully get away with it

and apart from havin no number how do they tell you are'nt an official runner,as it wouldnt be the first time i have lost a number

RunningCommentary

01/01/2009 at 22:06

There was a case a couple of years ago of a BBC reporter who had a place but had lost his number, or left it at home, He created his own (using his bonafide race number) but was still hauled off the course just before the finish line. At the time, it was regarded as a sort of heavy handed outrage, but to be honest, I don't think they had much choice. I don't suppose the security guys can be expected to do ID checks in those circumstances.

Home time

01/01/2009 at 22:18

i can understand to a point ,but i think i would feel pissed if i lost my number and got hauled off because of it

Mr Puffy

01/01/2009 at 22:38

Well you won't get your number till you get to the expo, usually the day before the race, so you would have to go some to lose it!

Home time

01/01/2009 at 22:50

lost it during a race,and never really noticed till near end

Mr Puffy

01/01/2009 at 23:02

Oh I see! Well, extra pins then? Solvite Wallpaper paste?

RunningCommentary

01/01/2009 at 23:07

tick - tock wrote (see)

i can understand to a point ,but i think i would feel pissed if i lost my number and got hauled off because of it

I don't see an alternative. You are issued with a number and you're obliged to wear it during the race. It's not a lot to ask, If they announced that it was OK to create your own, you know what would happen -- you'd get loads of people turning up with home-made numbers, whether they were legitimate or not.

If you can't wear your number, for whatever reason, it's too bad. You'll be able to start the race but not finish it, or claim a medal.

It doesn't matter if it's issued the day before, you still have plenty of time to lose a number! I heard of one runner who got off the coach on the morning of the race, and as the coach disappeared over the horizon, he realised that his number had fallen out, and was still on the coach. He had to pull out.

Bear B.Hind

02/01/2009 at 15:58

Now they've increased security so that you have to show your number to gain access for all starts - the Red used to be 'open' - but the marshals still checked you had a number before you got into a pen. So no number no start either.

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