Using another person's entry

[JennyDrake]

Please accept my apologies if this has been addressed before. Here is the situation: someone has a half marathon entry (January) that they are not going to use. They contacted rundisney 2-3 weeks ago, but have not received any response. She is offering her entry to me, obviously I would enter as her (no flames please) and she will provide the packet waiver pick up signature, etc.

My question/concern is: if I go back to pounding pavment to get ready for this, what are the chances that at any moment she will hear back from rundisney that her entry has been cancelled--or worse yet--I go to get her packet and find out it was cancelled.

WHAT IS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION????

TIA!!!

 

[JCH]

Please accept my apologies if this has been addressed before. Here is the situation: someone has a half marathon entry (January) that they are not going to use. They contacted rundisney 2-3 weeks ago, but have not received any response. She is offering her entry to me, obviously I would enter as her (no flames please) and she will provide the packet waiver pick up signature, etc.

My question/concern is: if I go back to pounding pavment to get ready for this, what are the chances that at any moment she will hear back from rundisney that her entry has been cancelled--or worse yet--I go to get her packet and find out it was cancelled.

WHAT IS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION????

TIA!!!

If she hasn't filled out the deferral form and signed up for another race, there is zero chance it will show up as canceled. In order to defer, you must first pay the registration fee for the race you are deferring to, and only then will there be a refund and a "canceled" race. Just emailing to say you want to defer won't do anything but get you the form and instructions to pay for the other race.

 

[cewait]

Actually, entries are non-transferable. So, if you are asking is this ok, the short answer is NO. If you are asking does this happen and will I get caught, then the answer is yes, folks trade and sell bibs, but they try to not make it public on a website monitored by the mouse. By running under another's bib, you are not covered by the race's insurance in the unlikely event that something happens to you during the race.

She will only receive an answer saying entries are non transferable and non refundable... it would be too late to offer up the deferral in their response. It would be so easy for the mouse to revise this policy but to date they have not. You are on the right path to picking up her stuff.

So, let your conscience be your guide.

 

[JennyDrake]

Thank you for the replies. I knew using her bib would not be 100% "legit", but I wanted to know if it was possible. F&W was my first ever half marathon and I only wanted a chance to improve my sloooooow time (My hip flexors HURT starting at Mile 9, which turned my walk-run-walk into stagger-gasp-stagger.) Even prior to F&W I had tried to sign up for Janaury, but it was full. I'm certainly not "in it to win it"--just to try to do better.
Thank you again for the responses.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Thank you for the replies. I knew using her bib would not be 100% "legit", but I wanted to know if it was possible. F&W was my first ever half marathon and I only wanted a chance to improve my sloooooow time (My hip flexors HURT starting at Mile 9, which turned my walk-run-walk into stagger-gasp-stagger.) Even prior to F&W I had tried to sign up for Janaury, but it was full. I'm certainly not "in it to win it"--just to try to do better.
Thank you again for the responses.

The other problem is that you will not receive credit for that run. You go for Coast to Coast, there is no record of you. Say you just happen to do really well (always possible) and you want to claim that time for a future race. You can't. Now, your friend could because essentially she ran, not you. If you are interested in the WDW Half Marathon, I know a couple charities still had entries available, one being A-T Children's project, so check out the runDisney website to see which ones are still available.

There is no way I would run if someone else got credit for it. Much less get up at 3 a.m. to run for that person! I hope you consider getting an entry through charity.

 

[JennyDrake]

I did check through charities and I either got no response or I was not eligible for that charity (ie. not local.). No chance of my doing a coast to coast unless I get a different husband!

I do appreciate what you are saying, but I am a new runner, middle aged and slower-than-Christmas. My goals for each event are : Upright, w/o medical attention and not swept.

 

[cewait]

I *** and slower-than-Christmas. ***.

Slower than Waivers....

 

[LSUfan4444]

she will provide the packet waiver pick up signature, etc

make sure she fills out the 2013 version of this form http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/media/ewwos/pdf/rundisney/wdwmarathon/2012-final-race-pickup-MarathonForm.pdf and has provided you with everything you need, but to answer the question, NO they will not cancel her entry.

Once you actually recieve the bib (packet etc) the only person who stops you from reaching the finish line will be you....and possibly Mother Nature.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I did check through charities and I either got no response or I was not eligible for that charity (ie. not local.). No chance of my doing a coast to coast unless I get a different husband!

I do appreciate what you are saying, but I am a new runner, middle aged and slower-than-Christmas. My goals for each event are : Upright, w/o medical attention and not swept.

Why not sign up for an even more fun Disney race? The WDW Half is not on the top of the list. Why not enter the Wine & Dine? Your husband would probably be on board with that one. Delicious food options while your runner is sweating on the course and having the option to ride the attractions was my other half's favorite. He can't wait until next year.

I hope your friend was able to talk to runDisney on the phone. They are horrible about e-mails. Although the deadline is tomorrow I think for deferrals, runDisney is always a little bit flexible because they seem to understand that reaching them is more difficult than running a race sometimes. Perhaps then, you can do the next race together. But, W&D is my favorite now because it was so cool to run through the parks decorated for Christmas!

 

[JennyDrake]

Why not sign up for an even more fun Disney race? The WDW Half is not on the top of the list. Why not enter the Wine & Dine? Your husband would probably be on board with that one. Delicious food options while your runner is sweating on the course and having the option to ride the attractions was my other half's favorite. He can't wait until next year.

I DID F&W this year and will likely do it next as well. DH doesn't "do Disney." Would rather have a root canal than go to the parks. And as he ONLY eats meat, potatoes and white bread, the whole F&W would be a waste for him. I once made the mistake of taking him to Boma....

 

[LSUfan4444]

I understand that alot of races have a no transfer policy. Many have a non defer and even more have a no refund policy and I get and understand why.

I also understand the "cheating" implications if you are running a race and put forth a Q time for Boston, NY, etc, but this is one area that I am quite liberal on.

I understand the liability issues.

I understand if you are competing for age group points, this can skew the numbers.

BUT, the vast majority of people who transfer bibs are middle to back of the pack competitors. No, it doesn't mean they should be excluded from following the rules, but it isn't hard to require that anyone who knowingly and willingly accepts a transferred or transfers a race entry cannot be eligible for any points or qualifying time from that race.

Many of these races you have to sign out months (if not a year) in advance. You have to commit $100 - $700+ (for Ironman races) and from that point on, you assume all the risk. This is 2012, it can be done. Signing a new waiver for a bib transfer is not hard. The reason races aren't doing it is simple, it doesn't benefit them.

Since I tore my rotator cuff in 2010 (after spending $700 on ironman registration) I decided to do the race anyway with the injury and over the next two years due to numerous setbacks (probably due to racing with a torn rotator cuff to begin with), I lost over $850 in races I couldn't start. My wife, due to pregnancy and two knee scopes lost over $700 in races she couldn't start.

These races increase the prices as registration close ends, many races sell out and in the end, when things go south for you, nobody even hands you a warm towel to wipe the tears from your eyes. Just a simple, "We hope you can register again next year.", or "Give us some more money and we will let you compete next year."

As far as I am concerned, I have no ill feelings behind those who transfer (or even sell) bibs/race entries. Race entries are getting insanely high and until they become more about the participant, those who want to circumvent this rule have my support.

 

[Stitch_lover_Sith]

So I am another liberal person about this. I have actually used a transferred bib. Finished solidly in the back of the pack about 3:30 for the half. I never once felt even a little weird about doing this. Race directors count on the money from people who for whatever reason cannot do the race. They use that persons money to pay police, buy water, make shirts for the volunteers. And they get this money for "free" because that person is not using any of the services they bought. In the digital age I see absolutely no reason why a race cannot transfer a Registration to another person for a fee. They get even more money and somebody is using the services paid for. To not offer this with a race that costs over $100 is criminal on the part of RunDisney.

So I would say go forth and use those services paid for. Every year on the first of the year I write both RunDisney and WTC( owners of Ironman) about this issue. I think with enough people brining it up maybe they will change their policies. This the season for miracles right.

Now with all that being said I am going Goofy and doing Ironman Lake Placid this year. Both of witch I had the sign up for way in advance.

 

[mousemgr2]

I registered for the Goofy. Due to a never ending injury, there is no way I will be doing the half or full. One of my buddies is doing her first full. I would never take a medal for a race I didn't complete, but is it wrong for me to jump in and pace her for a few miles towards the end of the full? I did pay for the race, so it's not like I would be a bandit. I would just like to be able to help pull her through during the last few miles.

Thoughts?

 

[scoolover]

I registered for the Goofy. Due to a never ending injury, there is no way I will be doing the half or full. One of my buddies is doing her first full. I would never take a medal for a race I didn't complete, but is it wrong for me to jump in and pace her for a few miles towards the end of the full? I did pay for the race, so it's not like I would be a bandit. I would just like to be able to help pull her through during the last few miles.

Thoughts?

Not wrong at all. I did it last year. I couldn't run the whole half so I took the monorail to TTC after the start and ran through MK hopping back on the monorail at the Grand Floridian - Monorail back to Epcot to watch the finish.

BTW, I personally would take the medal to give to some little kid and spread some magic around.

 

[cewait]

I registered for the Goofy. Due to a never ending injury, there is no way I will be doing the half or full. One of my buddies is doing her first full. I would never take a medal for a race I didn't complete, but is it wrong for me to jump in and pace her for a few miles towards the end of the full? I did pay for the race, so it's not like I would be a bandit. I would just like to be able to help pull her through during the last few miles.

Thoughts?

Since you are a paid entrant, I cannot see where the Mouse would have an issue. However, from a purely selfish perspective, I would ask that you try to bail before the sidewalk between DHS and the Boardwalk. That section of course is a notorious bottleneck due to the placement of the aid station and narrow course. I would add that there is significant support from that point on.

 

[JeffW]

This is where I wish Disney provided some additional options. I broke my ankle last year, 3 days after the deadline to do anything with my registration. This was almost a full month before the race. I called, asking if there were any charities I could give my entry to, or if they had a program to provide last minute entries to employees or locals. I didn't want my money back, I just didn't want the entry to be a waste. They had nothing. It would seem to me that Disney could help out the charities that the races benefit, and provide alternatives to bib trading, all at the same time.

I still refer to my 2012 marathon shirt as the most expensive shirt I've ever purchased

 

[LSUfan4444]

Not wrong at all. I did it last year. I couldn't run the whole half so I took the monorail to TTC after the start and ran through MK hopping back on the monorail at the Grand Floridian - Monorail back to Epcot to watch the finish.

BTW, I personally would take the medal to give to some little kid and spread some magic around.

Now that, I do disagree with. The finish line of any race (especially something like a half marathon, marathon, Ironman, etc) is hallowed ground and acceptable for only those who finish.

 

[cewait]

This is where I wish Disney provided some additional options. I broke my ankle last year, 3 days after the deadline to do anything with my registration. This was almost a full month before the race. I called, asking if there were any charities I could give my entry to, or if they had a program to provide last minute entries to employees or locals. I didn't want my money back, I just didn't want the entry to be a waste. They had nothing. It would seem to me that Disney could help out the charities that the races benefit, and provide alternatives to bib trading, all at the same time.

I still refer to my 2012 marathon shirt as the most expensive shirt I've ever purchased

It's time for RD's who all now rely on electronic entries (a service we pay for) to start taking advantage of the capabilities of these services. There is no real reason that a race could not offer a waiting list and transfer options to participants. I think most of us would be willing to pay a small fee for the service.

 

[michelle78]

Well in the runDisney is being super hypocritical side of things, they actually retweeted a message from Joey Fatone (of NSync fame) yesterday which reads: My wife hurt her foot and is a runner, so I told her I would take her place for the #GoofyChallenge what was I thinking! Lol but gonna do it.

So it's ok for a male celebrity to take the bib of a female, but no one else is allowed to transfer entries. OK........

 

[LSUfan4444]

I called, asking if there were any charities I could give my entry to, or if they had a program to provide last minute entries to employees or locals. I didn't want my money back, I just didn't want the entry to be a waste. They had nothing. It would seem to me that Disney could help out the charities that the races benefit, and provide alternatives to bib trading, all at the same time.

Oh, there is certainly something they can do, they just chose not to because they cannot benefit them. When they plan races, buy medals, logistically plan aid stations, etc. they use an approach like people do when they invite people to a wedding. They count on having less than 100% attendance rate.