New York’s Alberto Pena discovered himself within the highlight on Reddit after he was noticed crossing the end line of the 2024 TCS New York Metropolis Marathon carrying a bib from a special race. The 44-year-old sported a bib from the 2024 Jersey Metropolis Marathon, which he ran in April in three hours and 48 minutes.
The unconventional strategy—recognized within the working neighborhood as “banditing”—has raised eyebrows, not solely as a result of it avoids the USD $400 marathon entry price but in addition as a result of it violates the ethics and guidelines of the New York Highway Runners (NYRR), who set up the race.
Pena was first noticed crossing the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan together with his outdated bib, #6,555. To keep away from detection, he had hopped onto the course carrying a black sweater that hid his chest. By the top, Pena discarded the sweater, proudly exposing his Jersey Metropolis Marathon bib for all to see. Including to the apparent distinction in bib, it was much more noticeable as a result of there was already an official runner with bib #6,555 within the race.
Whereas Pena might have managed to run within the NYC Marathon, banditing means he gained’t obtain an official time. Photographs present him crossing each the Queensboro Bridge and the end line in Central Park, suggesting he might have joined in Queens slightly than in the beginning line in Staten Island. In truth, on the bridge, Pena was photographed alongside 2:20–2:30 finishers, suggesting he joined partway and ran with quicker runners. He was pictured ending with athletes who crossed the road between 2:45 and a pair of:50.
Greater than 55,000 members paid the registration price for the marathon, with some elevating hundreds of {dollars} for charity to earn their bib. For them, the bib serves as proof of registration and covers race-day assist like hydration, medical help, safety and post-race refreshments.
The NYRR competitors guidelines are clear: all runners should put on an official, seen bib on the entrance of their torso. Banditing not solely skirts the principles but in addition locations additional pressure on sources meant for registered members. In recent times, the NYC Marathon has seen an estimated 200 bandits yearly—although few are as daring as Pena, who repurposed his spring bib for a fall race.
@ilanawiles “Subsequent yr, strive qualifying” 😂😂😂 Congrats to all of the runners! #nycmarathon #nyc #nycmom ♬ Transfer Bitch – Ludacris