Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Bandit Apology - I'll Send a Check

Wow, I just saw the comments about the 1/2 Marathon and I feel awful.  There is no excuse, but I did rationalize since I did not take anything from the race, but like many of you pointed out I did enjoy a safe race and great competition, which does not come without a price. 

I take great pride in my reputation and do not intend to let that slide.  I will send a check (sent $8 as of 5 Dec) to the race right away and I make a huge public apology.  The race was great and even though I didn't even take a sip/bite I now see that it is about the same as theft, because there are other things that the race provides. 

I volunteer at several races a year and value the running community more than you can imagine.  I do not wish to burn bridges and hope that you can take this along with the proof of my payment (race director, can you post a comment once you receive it) as an apology and accept me at a future race (not as a bandit).  I didn't think it through and will not do this type of unethical activity in the future. 

Again, I'm sorry and hope I can make it up to the community, my family and ultimately my reputation in the US Army.

10 comments:

  1. Holy crap, quite a few negative comments for such a minor infraction. If that's the worst thing you ever do you're OK in my book. As a CIB holder, whether an officer had ever bandited a race or not really wouldn't cross my mind. I'd be more surprised to hear he/she could run a full 13 miles.

    We have that issue here in Colo Springs, we worry more about it messing up the results than anything else. We've certainly never called anyone names over it.

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  2. Thanks Brownie....I was sure not to mess any results up or "take" from the race, but as you see it is REALLY frowned upon and I will never do it again. I sure hope I don't end up with IT band issues. Just got to get over this embarrassement and make it right. See you in the future when I get the guts to take on a Mountain Ultra....Leadville is on my agenda, now just have to decide on "when". Don't think I'd ever have the guts for HardRock.

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  3. Steve @ Everyone RunsNovember 24, 2010 at 11:49 AM

    Jeff, I ask your apology and am glad you now understand that it takes a lot of time and money to put on quality events. As for the comment from Brownie, you need to realize that this is exactly the same as walking into someone's store and stealing their goods or services. Stealing is not a minor infraction and it is wrong and unethical. Please don't attempt to minimize this type of behavior, as it could cause others to think it's ok to bandit a race. Steve @ Everyone Runs.

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  4. It's not "frowned upon"... You're a thief and I really hope you get demoted. Why are you jeopardizing your job to save $50? And you're so retarded to blog about it. World's dumbest criminal!

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  5. Make sure they send you a shirt (c:

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  6. Sounds like you runners in Tucson take yourselves a bit too seriously. Very similar to all the whining during and after Mt. Lemmon (don't yell at me, I did pay my rego fee there!).

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  7. Thief? Whatever. I've organized, paced and worked at races a million times and bandits never bothered me. Volunteer for a race or two and the big Karmic wheel will come back to you. Steve @ everyone runs, please do get off your high horse. It's clear that Jeff B. feels badly about it, there's no need to shove his head in the dirt any more. IMHO, your haughty attitude is far more offensive than Jeff's bandit running.

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  8. Steve @ Everyone RunsNovember 24, 2010 at 2:13 PM

    Not to take this any further, but I absolutely accept Jeff's apology (I meant to say "accept your apology" not "ask" your apology.") That was a typo - sorry. The rest was meant for Brownie. There is no high horse here, just asking for people to pay for what they take. These events don't happen for free. As for volunteers, I always let them run for free, but I offer first. I have never had a volunteer just assume that it's ok for them to run for free. If I forget to offer and they ask, then the answer is always yes.

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  9. I think it's very gracious of you to apologize. Looks like you did pay attention during some of the time they were talking about intergrity after all. ;)

    I as pretty rough on you yesterday when it looked like you were still going to be a "bandit" in races so I apologize for that. (Don't make me regret it. :) )

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  10. The Bisbee 1000 Stair Climb is great race course located about 90 miles SE of Tucson - it is my favorite short race. It climbs stairs scattered around old bisbee and descends winding roads to the next set of stairs. It is now way overpriced 4 miles for $50 and increasing (t-shirt is an additional $20). I called the director and asked what the deal was with annual $10 increases. She went on a rant about charities and write-ups in Wall Street Journal and her race being of Dipsea quality and told me flat out that she is going to raise the entry fee every year until it hits $100. I told her that is fine - I am out and it's no longer a Cochise County race it is now a race for the rich looking for a weekend getaway. I know there are many bandits at that race from Bisbee - guess they don't see much in the way of "stair repairs" as noted in the brochure.

    After the comments on your blog - glad I did not bandit at Bisbee. I thought about after that phone call with the race director.

    Oh and you should run Hardrock -- the price is right and the journey is the best out there. $2.40 per mile and if you condsider the hourly cost --- $7.00 an hour. I know its not a fair comparison for a race director of a half-marathon but hands down the best run I have ever done - now if my lottery luck will hold out for another year.

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