bandit

Definition

Someone who runs a race without registering or paying, stealing finisher medals and course support meant for legitimate entrants. Part rebel, part cheapskate, wholly frowned upon.

Example Usage

Race organizers are cracking down on bandits who jump into the marathon at mile 20 to snag free medals.

Origin

Road racing culture, term emerged in the 1970s-80s with growing race popularity

Fun Fact

Some famous runners started as bandits—Kathrine Switzer's 1967 Boston Marathon entry as a numbered bandit helped change women's running history.

Source: Road racing culture and etiquette

Related Terms

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Intermediate

stim-free

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Intermediate

base building

A training phase focused on developing aerobic capacity through high-volume, low-intensity work before adding harder efforts. The boring foundation that nobody wants to do but everyone needs.

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working set

The actual challenging sets where you're using serious weight and trying to induce adaptation, as opposed to warm-up sets that are just rehearsals. Where the real work happens.

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Intermediate

finisher

A brutal exercise or circuit performed at the end of a workout to ensure complete metabolic destruction and questionable life choices. Because apparently your main workout wasn't enough suffering.

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Advanced

mesocycle

A training phase lasting several weeks to a few months within a periodized program, typically focused on a specific goal. The middle child of training blocks that nobody talks about but does most of the work.

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