Cheaters in a 5k

dory

I need to rant! Just finished a 5k race. Was absolutely sure I came 2nd. Mostly because there's a half marathon on at the same time so all the good runners are doing that. The track was straight down a road, around a roundabout and straight back. I could see everyone in front of me, and there was definitely one woman. Saw everyone passing me again after the roundabout and again, one woman.

Then I crossed the finish line and these people, including two children (who I saw give up and walk back in the first 3 minutes) had beaten me! My friend said they arrived almost 10 minutes before me. I did it in 23min so they broke a world record!!

This is my first ever running race, and now I don't want to do any more. Is this normal?? I'm in Kosovo, lying and cheating isn't exactly unusual.... :mad:

ecoli

dory wrote: »

Then I crossed the finish line and these people, including two children (who I saw give up and walk back in the first 3 minutes) had beaten me! My friend said they arrived almost 10 minutes before me. I did it in 23min so they broke a world record!!

Not quite a WR however all the same become there agent and sign them up and you could be set for life;)

Been there before in a local school race years ago was like that an out and back race. Was leading by 2-3 min from what i could see on the way back. All of a sudden in the last 300m this guy (who was about 6-7th when i saw him) is on my shoulder and just managed to hold him off in a sprint. Knew he wasnt a runner so i was supicous apparently he had turned just after he had seen me going by him.

Only thing that matters is how you run against yourself so in the end them cheating wont affect how you race. Medals are not the be all and end all

robinph

It's not normal, but as you say the location may have something to do with the attitude of ignoring the obvious cheaters.

A kid finishing a small local 5km in 13 minutes would not go unnoticed back home. Well they would be ignored as they attempted to cross the line.

ThisRegard

Are you sure they just weren't back at the start/finish after walking back having giving up and weren't claiming victory our anything like that ?

RoyMcC

Great, we haven't had a cheating thread in ages Let's dig out some classics, Rosie Ruiz etc.

ecoli

RoyMcC wrote: »

Great, we haven't had a cheating thread in ages Let's dig out some classics, Rosie Ruiz etc.

Does Baldini count with his accomplice Neil Horan?:D

Mint Sauce

Could it be possible that they took a wrong turn on the course, and acidently/deliberatly took a short cut.

Qwerty27

Grown man complains about not winning a 5k "race", never mind being cheated by two pesky kids....sure at least you got a plcae on the podium!

dory

ThisRegard wrote: »

Are you sure they just weren't back at the start/finish after walking back having giving up and weren't claiming victory our anything like that ?

Well they certainly looked like they were claiming victory on the podium.

Qwerty27 wrote: »

Grown man complains about not winning a 5k "race", never mind being cheated by two pesky kids....sure at least you got a plcae on the podium!

I won't even respond. At least 3 inaccuracies, good job.

TFBubendorfer

After taking 23 minutes to "race" a 5k, be glad they did not humiliate by putting you on a pedestal ...

rom

note to self: do 5k race where winning time is 23 mins. Must get medals. I did my first 5k in 23 mins 10 secs. Placed 122 of 192. Winning time was just over 16 mins. I think your taking a bit too seriously.

TFBubendorfer

Ok, ok, ok. That's enough!

After wading in there myself I'm hardly in a position to criticise anyone who's doing the same, but I think that's enough flak for the OP by now.

No, you should not really expect a podium place after running a 23 mins 5k.

But on the other hand, he was merely letting off steam in a rant. So let's all stop the slagging off, right now, and I do include myself in this.

dory

Whoa. Is there a most-unfriendly-forum award you charmers are after?

Taking a random race here, I would have come in around 6th out of 40 for my time (counting fellow female competitors). So I don't really feel all that humiliated now to be honest.

RoyMcC

dory wrote: »

Whoa. Is there a most-unfriendly-forum award you charmers are after?

Taking a random race here, I would have come in around 6th out of 40 for my time (counting fellow female competitors). So I don't really feel all that humiliated now to be honest.

Yes it's been a bit bitchy in here. Especially where a new runner is concerned. To be fair I don't think anyone means to criticise the performance (which is fine in my particular books ) but this hard-bitten lot don't have much sympathy for hard luck stories. Don't go away.

robinph

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

No, you should not really expect a podium place after running a 23 mins 5k.

If 23 minutes is fast enough to put you in second place amongst the field and course that the race is run in then why on earth not?




I have had a second place with a 20minute time a couple of years ago, didn't get to stand on a box but did win prizes. Also got a 2nd place with a 19minute time a couple of weeks ago, no prizes or boxes to stand on for that one.

dory

RoyMcC wrote: »

Yes it's been a bit bitchy in here. Especially where a new runner is concerned. To be fair I don't think anyone means to criticise the performance (which is fine in my particular books ) but this hard-bitten lot don't have much sympathy for hard luck stories. Don't go away.

Cheers. I didn't mean for it to be a hard luck story. I just wanted someone to say it's not normal, and not to give up after my first race. Or "race" as they are referred to around these parts. It was about the cheating, not the podium place which I thought I made clear.

TFBubendorfer

robinph wrote: »

If 23 minutes is fast enough to put you in second place amongst the field and course that the race is run in then why on earth not?

I have had a second place with a 20minute time a couple of years ago, didn't get to stand on a box but did win prizes. Also got a 2nd place with a 19minute time a couple of weeks ago, no prizes or boxes to stand on for that one.

And I once won a 5k in a slow time as well a few years ago. That's because I'll never win a 5k in a fast time. What's your point?

Sigh. I knew I should not have pressed the "Submit" button the first time round.

Look, I didn't mean to slag off anyone for running a slow time. I would never do that. But a grown up deliberately running an uncompetitive race and then complaining about a couple of kids just won't get much sympathy.

Running is an unforgiving sport. If there are 200 people at the start, 199 won't win. Most people will never win a race. It's not a sport for the "everyone is a winner" society.

I wasn't having a dig at the time, but at the complaining attitude. However, if dory felt insulted by what I've written, then I apologize. Sometimes a single flippant remark and a hasty push of the "submit" button is all it needs to start things.

That's my final contribution to this thread.

rom

Not being bitchy but if its a problem raise it with the race organisers. People cheat. When I was doing cross country running under 14's long time ago a random parent did a Fr Horan and held me back from the line and let 5/6 people go past me. I reported it and they were disqualified. People will always try to cheat. In forumla 1 they used to move the lap time board across the start finish before the car came past to get better times. If the times are what you say then its pretty easy to prove. There is always going to be things that you don't like about a race. From lack a water at water stations, badly run, traffic etc. You should look on the positive side of things. Your time was good and you could be first the next time if you train more etc. I know you want to rant but I ran a race last weekend that there was aobut 10 things wrong with. I will just put it down to experience.

robinph

I suspect that dory did not specifically fly out to Kosovo in order to find an easy 5km race to run. But even if she did, what exactly is wrong with that?

If this up and coming international athlete called Dory had not turned out for the Kosovo 5km Championships then would the field have not been even weaker? If you would specifically ignore a race because it looks like you might win it or get a place then that is hardly benefiting anyone, except for the even slower person who turns up to win the easy race. Unless your on about school sports day type races where everyone is a winner, then every race will be glad to have someone faster than they have had before turn up and race and make thing more competitive.

I will be taking part in a relatively uncompetitive 10km next month, I've done it for the last few years and got on a plane specifically to take part in before as well*, it just happens that this year I now live half a mile from the start line. I don't expect to win it, but depending on who else turns up I could be in with a shout at a "podium" if things go well. I will also be very annoyed and making complaints if someone goes and cheats me out of a position regardless of what position that might be or how old the cheater is.


There were other reasons for the trip as well, but I arranged things around that race weekend.

donothoponpop

dory wrote: »

Cheers. I didn't mean for it to be a hard luck story. I just wanted someone to say it's not normal, and not to give up after my first race. Or "race" as they are referred to around these parts. It was about the cheating, not the podium place which I thought I made clear.

To be fair to some of the posters here, I don't think it was clear, and that may be the crux of any misunderstanding. I first thought your rant (as you put it!) was about being cheated out of a podium finish, and a podium finish wouldn't usually be expected after running a 23 min 5k. Certainly its not normal to see cheating of this sort in a race, and I now think thats the question you were originally asking?

On "not giving up", there's a load of posters here who would love to be able to run 23 mins for a 5k. There's obviously loads here too who have run faster, but they are very generous in giving good training and racing advice to those who want to improve their times (TFBubendorfer is one of these helpful posters). If you stick around, you'll hopefully find a lot to help and guide you regarding training and racing- but either way, certainly don't pack it in!

dory

robinph wrote: »

I suspect that dory did not specifically fly out to Kosovo in order to find an easy 5km race to run.

I most certainly didn't!! I live here, but I may not compete with these people again. Thanks for the last few replies, restored my faith in this forum....a bit!

average_runner

Dont worry about the other runners, jsut worry about yourself and try to beat your next time.

Yeah I would be pissed too but there is worst things that could happen.


Just enjoy your runs and aim for your pbs and if you win a race its an added bonus.

HelenAnne

I think the others are right -- you know how well you did, and you know your time, so while it is annoying, don't let the cheaters put you off racing. As our teachers used to say 'they're only cheating themselves'.

Also, I know there are many elite runners on these forums and they are all very helpful and encouraging, but I wouldn't listen to people saying "race" because of your time. I'm a 36 year old woman, running about a year, training a bit more regularly for the last 5 months or so. I did a 5k race yesterday in 25:58 and I was delighted with my time -- I'd be WAY more delighted if I ever did a time like yours!

I know I'll never be fast, but I really enjoy running & racing and I think if you do too then you should keep it up. Loads of people (me included!) would be so happy to do 5k in your time.

I've met loads of good runners over the last while and they are always encouraging to slower people like me. I think in general you'll find that. Hope you keep running!

ThePiedPiper

This would absolutely annoy the hell out of me too, regardless of the age of the people involved or the level of competition.

The most annoyed I ever got in a race was in an inaugural half marathon race in Clare when I was actually winning by a good margin until a lack of marshalls or signage meant I got completely lost, followed of course by the rest of the half marathon field. I would've won, yes it was not a serious race, but I felt completely cheated.

So, if anyone puts in the effort to put themselves on a start line and push themselves to win, then they should be able to expect a bit of fair play from the organisers.

InTheTrees

RunForestRun wrote: »

until a lack of marshalls or signage meant I got completely lost, followed of course by the rest of the half marathon field.

Thats pretty funny! I'm imagining a big crowd of runners standing around a sign post at a crossroad.

:pac:

Dotcomdolly

InTheTrees wrote: »

Thats pretty funny! I'm imagining a big crowd of runners standing around a sign post at a crossroad.

:pac:

On a postcard "Has athletics in Ireland lost it's way?" :pac:

InTheTrees

It would make a good advertisement for Garmin.