The man who catches marathon cheats

ThebitterLemon

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39584495

Does this lad have too much time on his hands?

TbL

Spirogyra

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39584495

Does this lad have too much time on his hands?

TbL

I think he does

Much worse was this in Women's Golf this year, an 'armchair referee' costing Lexi Thompson a major title. Slightly misplaced her ball, which led to a 2 stroke penalty retrospectively, which meant she had also signed an incorrect score card. Her 4 stroke lead evaporated and she lost a play-off. Should not be allowed.http://pilotonline.com/sports/other/golf/tv-viewer-s-email-leads-to--stroke-penalty-and/article_8beea3a1-308e-53de-b925-34374204afaf.html

RayCun

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39584495

Does this lad have too much time on his hands?

TbL

Yeah, I think so.

Cheating for a Boston qualifier is fairly pathetic, but spending your time tracking down cheats doesn't seem much more productive.

Effects

What was she going to do in the Boston marathon? Just run a crap time with some excuse?
Surely she should have had a separate bib for her mule and hers under that? I presume the chip is in the bib.

biko

I would be surprised that any long distance runner would think it was anything but good that marathon cheaters get caught.

I mean, if you think some cheaters should get away with it, how long before you consider cheating yourself?

walshb

This dude's an inspiration.

TFBubendorfer

Effects wrote: »

What was she going to do in the Boston marathon? Just run a crap time with some excuse?

Yes. Happens all the time. The excuse is usually "I just went out to enjoy that special marathon"

Effects wrote: »

Surely she should have had a separate bib for her mule and hers under that? I presume the chip is in the bib.

Then all the split times would have been exactly identical for 2 runners, which in itself would have been suspicious.

martyboy48

Too much times on his hands... Maybe, but I'm glad there's people out there keeping tabs....

Plus, he has also helped one or more accused "cheats" to prove their innocence...

average_runner

walshb wrote: »

This dude's an inspiration.

The dude ruined someone's life. Accused him of cheating and the guy lost his job over it.

It was proven in the end the lad didn't cheat. The guy had no morals, wouldn't even say sorry

Murph_D

average_runner wrote: »

The dude ruined someone's life. Accused him of cheating and the guy lost his job over it.

It was proven in the end the lad didn't cheat. The guy had no morals, wouldn't even say sorry

Where does it say this?

Effects

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Then all the split times would have been exactly identical for 2 runners, which in itself would have been suspicious.

But at least he wouldn't be spotted with her bib number!

nhunter100

For some of the more desirable marathons it would p*ss me off that someone cheated to get in thereby denying a genuine runner a place.

walshb

average_runner wrote: »

The dude ruined someone's life. Accused him of cheating and the guy lost his job over it.

It was proven in the end the lad didn't cheat. The guy had no morals, wouldn't even say sorry

Maybe I missed that bit....

TFBubendorfer

Effects wrote: »

But at least he wouldn't be spotted with her bib number!

No, but she would not have appeared on any race photos despite the fact that she should have been running side-by-side with that guy at all time checks, which is just as telling.

Tombo2001

Isnt it funny how so many people 'want' to do the Boston marathon - just because its one that is hard to get into.

There could be a 1000 other marathons out there that are just as good to run in; but no, this one is for a very select bunch only, not everyone can do it, therefore I want to do it......

average_runner

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Isnt it funny how so many people 'want' to do the Boston marathon - just because its one that is hard to get into.

There could be a 1000 other marathons out there that are just as good to run in; but no, this one is for a very select bunch only, not everyone can do it, therefore I want to do it......

Saying you ran the Cork marathon doesn't sound the same. Boston is a famous one

Tombo2001

average_runner wrote: »

Saying you ran the Cork marathon doesn't sound the same. Boston is a famous one

Quite right - but in practice does it have any merits over the Seville marathon or the Chicago marathon or the Bordeaux marathon, or wherever, apart from the bucket list value of 'having done a Boston marathon'.....

HigginsJ

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Quite right - but in practice does it have any merits over the Seville marathon or the Chicago marathon or the Bordeaux marathon, or wherever, apart from the bucket list value of 'having done a Boston marathon'.....

None what so ever, I'd imagine 99% of people you would ask couldn't tell you which of the ones you listed is best!!

It's cheating and no harm to see these people getting caught out. I doubt it would be something I would ever target but if you put in a lot of work to qualify and then lose out to a cheater it would be awful.

Effects

average_runner wrote: »

Saying you ran the Cork marathon doesn't sound the same. Boston is a famous one

Isn't that his point, people just want to do it cause it's famous. I'd rather do one that had a course I'd prefer, such as the New York marathon.

walshb

Effects wrote: »

Isn't that his point, people just want to do it cause it's famous. I'd rather do one that had a course I'd prefer, such as the New York marathon.

New York is hugely famous.

Tombo2001

Effects wrote: »

Isn't that his point, people just want to do it cause it's famous. I'd rather do one that had a course I'd prefer, such as the New York marathon.

This is the one I'd like to do.

What ya think?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGWciC_YfIs

Tombo2001

Effects wrote: »

Isn't that his point, people just want to do it cause it's famous. I'd rather do one that had a course I'd prefer, such as the New York marathon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGWciC_YfIs

This is the one I'd like to do.

What ya think!

pgmcpq

I have been told that Boston now has a policy of investigating anyone who runs a time 40% slower than their qualifying time.

Last year some I know got injured and lost her father in the weeks before the marathon. She broke down and ended up in a first aid tent but then decided that she had to finish - and dragged herself to the finish. Months later she got a letter from the BAA asking for an explanation and telling her that unless they were satisfied she'd be DQ'ed and banned from Boston permanently. She had to send them quite few details (previous records, death certificate, etc) to get it sorted.

Unfortunately cutting courses ... happens. I've seen it myself in NY where guys duck off the bridge over to the Bronx and start heading back to 5th Avenue (missing at least one timing mat which would be suspicious but not enough to get you DQ'ed).

At another marathon last year Mrs P saw people ducking under the tape that divided a two mile out and back at mile 23-ish.

At a high school meet here one kid cheated in a track trace dropping out and then rejoining on the final bend - in more than one race :eek::eek:

These investigations are a bit obsessive, and social media turns into a witch hunt, but I don't see why we'd excuse someone cutting a course. How does it differ from PEDs (well ok - maybe less dangerous). The guys I have seen really get abuse invite have been people who seek attention and are then found to have cheated.

Btw, there is some poor guys who ran Boston yesterday who shares the same name and same US state as a notorious cheat. He's who I feel sympathy for.

average_runner

Effects wrote: »

Isn't that his point, people just want to do it cause it's famous. I'd rather do one that had a course I'd prefer, such as the New York marathon.

NEW York is a tough course. Second half is very tough. But it's an amazing experience, I loved it. London is another one I like to do.

Murph_D

More marathon cheats, this time with links to charidee funds and corporate sponsor shenanigans.

https://www.marathoninvestigation.com/2017/05/friends-used-forged-bibs-to-run-boston.html

https://www.marathoninvestigation.com/2017/05/1382.html

davedanon

You run London. Qualify under GFA, but, it's only open to UK-based runners. So you cheat by pretending to have a NI address. But is it as bad as pretending to run a time you're not capable of? How about a time that you've run and are still well capable of running, but haven't the time or the logistics are just wrong, so someone else runs a qualifying time for you?

davedanon

By the by, I think that guy is making a lot better use of his time than most of us, when it comes to "f*cking around on the internet".

Murph_D

London doesn't count. We have a historic duty to mess with the Brits. :pac:

Joking (mostly) aside, I think bending (OK, breaking) the rules about where you live is a lesser offence than the ones described here.

If you forge a bib, whatever about not qualifying, you're not paying pay the entry fee and, like any bandit, you're taking a free ride off everyone who did, among other issues - insurance etc. Quite amazing that it seems so easy to do this in Boston, with all the other security they have in place.

And of course when you cheat on your qualifier, you're denying a place to a legitimate qualifier - especially in Boston, where not all GFAs get in and you now have to be a minute or two faster than the time, depending on your category.

nhunter100

Murph_D wrote:

Joking (mostly) aside, I think bending (OK, breaking) the rules about where you live is a lesser offence than the ones described here.

A person living outside of the UK but still secures a GFA is denying a UK resident that GFA slot.
You either have rules or you don't.

robinph

I wonder if the GFA qualification not being open to people outside of the UK would be against EU rules regarding free trade? They have an international ballot, and they don't care about residency for other categories of entrant, it's only the GFA that is completely UK resident only.

robinph

nhunter100 wrote: »

A person living outside of the UK but still secures a GFA is denying a UK resident that GFA slot.
You either have rules or you don't.

No they are not, if you have the time (and are UK resident) then you get a place under current system. No-one is being denied a place.

nhunter100

robinph wrote:

No they are not, if you have the time (and are UK resident) then you get a place under current system. No-one is being denied a place.

So a non UK resident securing a GFA entry is not denying a legimate person an entry. Thought the numbers for GFA were capped?

robinph

nhunter100 wrote: »

So a non UK resident securing a GFA entry is not denying a legimate person an entry. Thought the numbers for GFA were capped?

Nope, no cap on GFA entries.
https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/how-to-enter/good-age-entry/

Q. Is Good for Age a guaranteed entry?
A. Yes, as long as you apply and pay for the entry by the closing dates stated (these will be updated over the coming weeks).

Murph_D

nhunter100 wrote: »

A person living outside of the UK but still secures a GFA is denying a UK resident that GFA slot.
You either have rules or you don't.

I don't think this is the case, as all UK-based GFAs are guaranteed a London place as long as they apply in time.

Edit: Crossed with above

ThisRegard

Murph_D wrote: »

More marathon cheats, this time with links to charidee funds and corporate sponsor shenanigans.

https://www.marathoninvestigation.com/2017/05/friends-used-forged-bibs-to-run-boston.html

https://www.marathoninvestigation.com/2017/05/1382.html

That's some amount of effort to go to enter a race, and they all work for Reebok too, not the type of publicity Reebok would want.