Why didn't they just run?

[Malek86]

This is bugging me. In the Namek arc, once the group feels the Ginyu Force arriving on the planet, Vegeta completely freaks out, demands a truce, and they all start flying as fast as possible toward the dragon balls.

Wouldn't it have been more logical to run instead? They should have known that by flying at full speed, they would have been localized immediately. On the other hand, if they just suppressed their ki and ran, any scouter would have been useless. And it's not like Freezer could have found the dragon balls with it either.

[Herms]

Dende says that without flying it would take 30 days to go from the cave Bulma was hiding out in over to the Great Elder's house, and I don't think the spot where the dragonballs were is supposed to be all that much closer to the house. During all that time Freeza and co. could spot them or the dragonballs by chance, or just get bored and blow up the entire planet.

[Malek86]

Dende says that without flying it would take 30 days to go from the cave Bulma was hiding out in over to the Great Elder's house, and I don't think the spot where the dragonballs were is supposed to be all that much closer to the house. During all that time Freeza and co. could spot them or the dragonballs by chance, or just get bored and blow up the entire planet.

Still better than getting found and killed (Vegeta apparently knew they had no hope whatsoever against them). And Freezer couldn't have done anything with the dragon balls anyway, without the one they were carrying.

At the very least, they could have stopped flying once they noticed the Ginyu members had started moving fast.

[Drayenko]

I think Vegeta just freaked out and didn't think clearly. Also, I don't think Freeza would have blown the planet... He wanted his wish.

[Son_Gohan]

The Great Elder was also nearing his death, with the Dragon balls dying with him, so they couldn't afford to waste too much time either.

[Malek86]

The Great Elder was also nearing his death, with the Dragon balls dying with him, so they couldn't afford to waste too much time either.

Vegeta apparently didn't know that though. He is surprised when Gohan mentions it later.

[rereboy]

Dende says that without flying it would take 30 days to go from the cave Bulma was hiding out in over to the Great Elder's house, and I don't think the spot where the dragonballs were is supposed to be all that much closer to the house. During all that time Freeza and co. could spot them or the dragonballs by chance, or just get bored and blow up the entire planet.

Still better than getting found and killed (Vegeta apparently knew they had no hope whatsoever against them). And Freezer couldn't have done anything with the dragon balls anyway, without the one they were carrying.

At the very least, they could have stopped flying once they noticed the Ginyu members had started moving fast.

If they reached the Dragon Balls before the Ginyu force arrived or reached them, all would be won.

It was a risk, but they would also be taking a risk by trying to reach the Dragon Balls on foot like Herms stated.

So... What would be better? Sprint so that you reach your objective (in Vegeta's case, immortality) before they arrive and locate them or play hide and seak with such fearsome opponents for a month or so, which doesn't exactly guarantee that they or the Dragon Balls wouldn't be located anyway during that time?