Policy reminders on bandits & illegal bib transfers

We are thrilled to have hit capacity on all race distances for Saturday’s Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon, Team 26.2 Relay and Charity 5K.  We love that you love running with us, but attempting to do so without your own race bib is not acceptable.

 

To be clear here, anyone attempting to run the race without a bib or with someone else’s bib will be removed from the course and barred from future HMF Events.

 

There is simply no way to register or get in at this last-minute date. Legal bib transfers were allowed up until October 4, one week before race day. Nobody is allowed to use someone else’s race bib, no exceptions.

Illegal bib transfers

Illegally swapping bibs presents a significant safety issue – we don’t know who you are if you get hurt or there is an emergency.  Not knowing who you are adds another layer of complexity for the medical professionals trying to do their jobs and makes it impossible for us as a race organization to alert an emergency contact. Nobody goes into a race thinking they’ll be the person that needs medical support – however, anyone could be that person. 

Runner to runner, using someone else’s bib alters results. This can impact division awards and prevent legit race participants from getting the recognition they earned.

 

Bandits

There is no excuse or allowance for running without your own race bib on the courses during the permitted time of the road closures on October 11. It’s dangerous and creates safety concerns that can impact others who rightfully belong. Oh, and it’s stealing.

 

Everything a bandit uses is a stolen service from those who registered – volunteer support, water, portalets, timing, not taking a medal or getting a shirt doesn’t make it ok.  Bandits are stealing. Please don’t do it. Please discourage others from doing it.  If you don’t believe us, hear Runner’s World’s take on it from the May 2024 article, When You Bandit a Race, You Ruin it For Everyone.

  

Race planning takes many months and is done in conjunction with a plethora of security and medical professionals to ensure adequate support services based on set course capacities. Everyone who registered and paid the entry fee is entitled to the services provided and to enjoy the road closures and all amenities of the race.  Additionally, our permits allow only the number of people set by course limits to run, so bandits are also jeopardizing the race itself by not adhering to those permits.

Capacity updates have been shared for weeks on hartfordmarathon.com and regularly in our social posts, we have not been quiet about the status. Those who have not registered are responsible for repercussions of their own inaction!