Running: Broad Street Run alternatives

More than 4,700 people who entered the lottery for the Broad Street Run did not get in this year, race director Jim Marino said. That's a lot of disappointed people who wanted to run the 10-miler on May 4. I've been shut out of races before, and I know it stinks.

But this does not mean you should stoop to buying a price-inflated $100 bib on Craigslist, nor should you jump into the race without being registered.

These are not harmless actions.

Let's say you bought someone's bib, and you get hurt. Who are medics going to call? Not your emergency contact.

And if you don't get hurt and finish the race? OK, let's say you bought your bib from a 60-year-old female and you run the time of a 25-year-old male. Your result could mess up age-bracket award winners, which is a very big deal given that the race is a part of the USA Track and Field Mid-Atlantic Grand Prix and Club Challenge, and local running clubs rack up points based on age-group placements. Your run could drop someone's club out of contention.

As for "banditing" (jumping in unregistered), this is a crowded race. There wouldn't be a lottery otherwise. You might not think that one more person on the course makes a big difference, but keep in mind that you're not the only one considering it.

The amount of water and sport drinks on the course is limited to the number of people who are supposed to run, not that number plus a few hundred who didn't pay. Even if you're carrying your own fuel, you're still adding bodies to Broad Street that aren't meant to be there, and you're impinging on the experience of people who have paid.

Banditing is really bad form. When NPR host Peter Sagal wrote about banditing 20 miles of the Chicago Marathon for Runner's World, he was blasted to the point that he not only wrote an apology piece, but volunteered at the race the next year.

As for those who have suggested they should be allowed to bandit because they're fast - you are not above the rules because of your running ability. The spirit of Broad Street is that it's a community event open to runners of all abilities. The implementation of the lottery doesn't change that.  

And stop being a jerk.

Plus, you have options, like raising money for charity. Bibs through Students Run Philly Style, Fairmount Park Conservancy, American Cancer Society, and Back on My Feet are still available, Marino said.

The race also runs a bib transfer program because things happen: Someone's going to get hurt while training; another person's sister is going to elope on that day and needs a maid of honor. People who made it into the lottery won't be able to run that day and have until April 18 to transfer their bib to another runner. The fee is $15, and the Broad Street website has a bulletin board for transfers at broadstreetrun.com/Registration/BulletinBoard.cfm

If you've run the race 10 times and did not make it through the lottery, you can also apply for a bib under their veteran runners program. You can do that by sending an e-mail to bsrveterans@aol.com.

If none of those options work? Run the Bucks County 10 Miler, which is being held on the same day in Washington's Crossing, Pa., or run the Wild Half in Wildwood, N.J., on May 18. Then you can brag to your Broad Street friends that you ran an extra 3.1 miles.

Whatever you do, don't force your way onto Broad Street. In running, as everything else, you can't always get what you want. And there's always next year.

NorthEast Road Runners Club Winter 10K. Lloyd Hall, Kelly Drive, bike path out and back, Gun time: 10 a.m. Fee: $30. Info www.active.com/ Contact Mike Clavelli, mikec48@verizon.net.

Laxers for Life 5K, West Deptford, N.J. Riverwinds Community Center, 9 a.m. Fee: $25.

19th Annual Bucks 5K Series, Groveland Grizzly, Plumsteadville, 9:30 a.m., www.bucks5kseries.com

Shamrock shuffle 5K run and family fun walk, Sacred Heart School, Havertown. Race: 10:30 a.m., check-in 9:15. Fee: $25 ($30 after Thursday), then $35. Family rate $60. Registration: www.sh-school.org

Icebreaker 5K and 8K Fun Runs at CrossFit Nassau, CrossFit Nassau, 255 Nassau St., Princeton. Races at 9 a.m. Day-of check-in: 8 a.m. Proceeds benefit Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund and Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad. www.princetonac.org

2d Annual O'Hara Leprechaun Run, Fun Run and Kids Dash, Kids Dash: 1 p.m. 5K Run/Walk: 1:30. Cardinal O'Hara H.S. Register www.brynmawrrunningco.com (click on events tab)/ Race-day registration: noon. Early registration until Friday. 28: $25; student registration: $20. T-shirts if registered by Friday.

Looney Leprechaun 10K trail race/

2-mile fun run. 9:30 a.m. Tyler State Park Center for the Arts, 10 Stable Mill Rd., Richboro. Scenic trail course followed by pancake breakfast. Long-sleeve tech shirt for pre-registrants by Feb. 25. Fee: 10K $43, Fun Run $21.

www.buckscountyspeedsters.com/

looney_2.html

Haddonfield Adrenaline 5K, 9 a.m. Haddonfield Memorial High School. Register at runsignup.com. Limited to first 1,000 runners. Fee: $32.50.

Conshohocken St. Patrick's Day Classic 5K. noon. Site: Pre-parade route with finish on Fayette St. Fee: 25 pre, 35 day of. www.brynmawrrunningco.com

St. Pat's 5k, 10 Mile, 10 a.m., Margate: On the Boardwalk at Decatur Ave. Fee: $25 pre. $30 post.

Shamrocks for Sandy 5K/10K, 8:30 a.m., Manahawkin, N.J. 26 E. Bay Ave. Fee: $25 pre 5K; $40 pre 10K. Benefits Hurricane Sandy relief

Phillies Charities 5K, SOLD OUT.

Sasquatch Night Trail Run, Camp Edge, 26 Camp Edge Rd., Alloway, N.J., 8 p.m. Fww: $35 before 3/14, $50 after. www.campedgeevents.com or e-mail CampEdgeTeam@aol.com, or call 856-935-1555, Ext. 172. All runners must provide their own headlamp and/or hand-held flashlight. Camp Edge is 40 minutes from Center City in Salem County, South Jersey.

Billy Mock Foundation "Simply Helping Others" 8th annual 5K run, 1-mile walk, 2 p.m. Ridley Creek State Park. Registration at picnic area 11 at 1 p.m. or www.runccrs.com

The Back on My Feet 5-Miler presented by AT&T, 8 a.m. Start: West River Drive. Race supports Back on My Feet Philadelphia's mission. Register at

philadelphia.backonmyfeet.org/

event/philly5miler. Registration: $35 to March 16. Late registration: $40 March 17-26. Race day: $45. Twitter: @BoMF5Miler, Facebook: www.facebook.com/Philly5miler. Instagram: @BoMFPhilly

19th Annual Bucks 5K Series, Y Run CBF YMCA 5K, Doylestown. 5:30 p.m., www.bucks5kseries.com

Richie's Run 5K/Erins Gift of Hope,

9 a.m., Williamstown High, 700 N. Tuckahoe Rd., Williamstown. Fee: $25 pre, $30 post, $75 family entry. sjtiming.com/Richie14.pdf

These Boobs Are Made for Walkin' 4-mile run, 10 a.m., walk, 10:15. On-site registration 9-9:45 a.m. Rowan Rec Center Front Patio, Rowan University, Glassboro, N.J. Fee: pre $25, then $30. Team $15/person (min. 4), then $20/person. Benefits Central&South Jersey Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

John Gentile Memorial Scholarship 5K, 9 a.m., Washington Lake Park, 626 Hurffville-Cross Keys Rd., Sewell. Fee: $25 pre, $30 post, $60 family entry (4 entries).

sjtiming.com/Gentile14.pdf

Erin Sullivan 5k, 9 a.m., Galloway, N.J. Fee: $20. Richard Stockton College. Benefits Erin Sullivan who is recovering from a spinal cord injury.

Ocean Drive Marathon, 10 Mile, 5K,

1.5-mile fun run, 9 a.m., Sea Isle City, 450 Bay Ave. Fee: $30-$100 depending on event. Marathon course is on barrier islands of Cape May County, N.J. www.odmarathon.org/

"Fourth Spring Run" 6K cross-country run at the Institute Woods. Princeton Friends School, 470 Quaker Rd., Princeton. Check-in at 8:45 a.m. 6K starts at 10. Limited to 150 participants. Walkers are welcome. Anyone expecting to take longer than 50 minutes should arrive by 9:30 a.m. for possible separate early start. Online preregistration only, until March 22: $30 including T-shirt, after $35. Discount for no-shirt option. www.princetonac.org. Questions: iaswoods@princetonac.org

19th Annual Bucks 5K Series, New Hope-Solebury Spirit Run 5K, New Hope Pa., 9:30 a.m. www.bucks5kseries.com

Tails & Trails 5K Run/3K Walk, trail run at Main Line Animal Rescue in Chester Springs. Bring your dog to run/walk. Race: 9 a.m. Fee: $20 ($25 after April 1). Free race T-shirt while supplies last. www.mlar.org

SPEAK All Abilities 5K, 9:30 a.m., Eastern High School, 1401 Laurel Oak Rd., Voorhees. Fee: $20 pre, $25 post, $50 family entry www.sjtiming.com/Speak14.pdf

3d Annual Fishtown 5K & St. LauRUNtius Finish Line Block Party, 9:30 a.m. 1600 E. Berks St. (Fishtown), Philadelphia. Registration: $30 includes T-shirt; Fun, flat course through the streets of Fishtown. www.runtheday.com/registration/

race_info/22873

AIM Race to Read 5K, Schuylkill Trail,

9 a.m., tech T-shirt guaranteed if registered by March 21. AIM Academy, 1200 River Rd., Conshocken. Fee: Pre for 5K, $25, $30 race day; $10 for the 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk. Age group prizes. www.aimpa.org/racetoread

19th Annual Bucks 5K Series, Cornerstone Clubs 5K, Warrington., 9:30 a.m., www.bucks5kseries.com

Cumberland County College Alumni 5K, 9 a.m. Cumberland County College, 3322 College Dr., Vineland, N.J. Fee: $20 pre, $25 post. www.runsignup.com

19th Annual Bucks 5K Series, Run, Walk, and Roll 5K, Doylestown, 9:30 a.m., www.bucks5kseries.com

3d Annual Rock N' Run 4 Kids. 5K:

9 a.m. Fun Run 8:30. Coca-Cola Park, 1050 Iron Pigs Way, Allentown. Live performance by Craig Thatcher & Nyke van Wyk. Fee (by May 1): 5K $25, then $30. Fun Run: $15 then $20. Register at active.com or rocknrun4kids.com. Call 610-821-7706. Pre-race packet pickup, May 16, noon-6 p.m. at the Salvation Army Children's Services office. Race day: 7:30 a.m. at Coca-Cola Park, cash or checks only.

25th Anniversary Kennett Run, 10K, 5K, 5K PoweRun, Kids Fun Run. Pre-registration at the Kennett YMCA gym, May 16 (5:30-7:30 p.m.; May 17 (6:30-8:30 a.m.) Fee: 5K Run/5K PowerRun: $30/$35; 10K Run/10K PoweRun: $30/$35; Kids Run: $20. Pre-registration ends May 11, noon.

Dennis Spera Scholarship 5K, Williamstown, N.J., 9 a.m. Fee: $20 pre, $25 post. Williamstown High School, 700 N. Tuckahoe Rd.

19th Annual Bucks 5K Series, Doylestown 5K, Doylestown., 9:30 a.m., www.bucks5kseries.com

Rumpshaker 5K, Pittsgrove, N.J., 9 a.m. Fee: $20 pre, $25 post. Tech shirts for first 100 entrants. Benefits the David Sibley Cancer Fund. Parvin State Park, 701 Almond Rd. Pittsgrove.

9th Annual Run The Gates 5-Miler and 1-Mile Run/Walk, 9 a.m., Bucks County Roadrunners Club, Forsythia Crossing Park, Levittown. Fee: $25 by March 15, $30 by May 15, $40 after. www.runthegates.org

4th Annual Penn Alexander School Run for Art&Science 5K Run & 1-Mile Run/Walk, 8:30 a.m. Penn Alexander School, 4209 Spruce St. Philadelphia. Fee: $27 Pre-registration, $32 day of. runsignup.com/Race/PA/Philadelphia/