That's Fit

Running race bandits wear all sorts of hats. Despised by some registered racers, bandits join the course on race day without paying an entry fee. The most flagrant bib-free bandits run the race all the way through the finish line, reaching for as many bananas, gel paks and water cups they can suck down along the way. Other bandits pop into a race to run a few miles with a buddy for moral support. Others might run nearly the entire route, but carry their own sustenance and kindly step off the course before the final chute. Some bandits claim they are unable to afford the ever-rising steep entry fees -- banditing affords them the joy of racing.

Runners World is in the midst of an e-conversation about race bandits. The absolute zero tolerance camp compares bandits to cheaters -- thieves -- immoral pond scum. Others possess a little forgiveness for the low-impact bandit. Some share they've bandit-ed in the past. From the wide-range of responses, banditing reminds me of tax time. Some filers are highly honorable. Others might report 100 percent of their income, but over-inflate their charitable contributions to Goodwill. Then how about those who claim their taxes are on the up and up, but oh yeah, they don't pay their Nanny Taxes. Some never file a return.

Banditing is a hardly a black and white issue. What's your take on the masked road racer? I'm in the gray camp.

Right now over at Runner's World a bunch of runners are e-bantering on the pros/cons of race bibs. Considering the microchip is now recording racers' finish times, other than preventing race bandits or helping with photo identification, what's the point of printing bibs anymore?

Readers have weighed in with thoughtful and hilarious insights, including these choice replies:

• To increase wind resistance to keep speeds down.
• To have a safety pin handy to pop post-race blisters.
• Chip devices fail -- video records of bib numbers can determine finish times.
• Other than the race t-shirt, bibs are a souvenir to take home ... and perhaps pin-up on your garage wall with all those license plates from 1967?
• Like a baby bib, keeps the sports drink off your shirt.
• I.D. for medical purposes, you can also write your medical history on the back.

I once saw a guy puking in a garbage can after running a particularly hard race. I must say, if I ever overextend and lose my cookies post-race, a bile-blocking bib might save my favorite hot pink racing shirt.