Another NY Times Article - Trying to Finish a Marathon in Fewer Miles than Required

[goofyinohio]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/sports/01runners.htm?_r=2


I just read this article and this one disturbs me more than the elite article that was written a couple days ago. As a WISHer and luckily two time Marathon finisher I can't understand why anyone would do this.

 

[Cindylou]

Chris, This is really unbelievable. What's the point? I can "almost" see cheating to win first place or to gain an entry into Boston (I totally think it's despicable, but can imagine someone doing it), but just regular runners? It's so sad that there are so many people who have done it. Hundreds of runners each year that get caught, not to mention the ones who don't. How could you even hang your medal up? Some strange people out there.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Last May, I ran in the Toronto Women's 1/2 and watched two women cut part of the course. That course doubled back a lot on itself so there was a lot of potential for that sort of thing. Not sure if they were tired or what their excuses were. I checked their bib numbers later and they finished 10 minutes behind me. Like Cindy said, how could they accept their medals afterward knowing what they did.

 

[goofyinohio]

Now this sounds like a good WISHer writing this story (Not because of their time).....


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/health/03well.html?_r=1&hpw

 

[FireDancer]

I just don't see the point in cutting the course short. Sure, you get the medal and you get to say you finished but you know you didn't. Heck, I can go on eBay and buy an ironman medal but that doesn't mean anything. A big part of running, at least in my opinion, is the sense of accomplishment you get from doing it. Sure, maybe eventually you get to the point where you go for wins or PRs but the root motivation I get from running is crossing the line.

As far as the second article goes I think it is great. The more people that run (or plod) the better. Its so easy to sit on the couch and say you can't do something. I admire anyone who does anything from 5K to an ultra regardless of their time. Maybe it takes a couple of tries but I don't look down on the person who tries and fails or tries and gets there eventually. I look down on the people who either don't even try or put down people that do.

That last sentence is part of my philosophy that gets me in trouble on the community board.

 

[Dolce27]

I just don't see the point in cutting the course short. Sure, you get the medal and you get to say you finished but you know you didn't. Heck, I can go on eBay and buy an ironman medal but that doesn't mean anything. A big part of running, at least in my opinion, is the sense of accomplishment you get from doing it.

Exactly!

 

[scoolover]

Everyone knows that if you are cheating to qualify for Boston, you use a smaller marathon that does not have check points along the course.

I have to say that at last years Disney, I thought about it for a quick second. I had to use the port-o-potty at mile 8. The potty is also right next to mile 15. When I came out it crossed my mind to take the short route because I just wasn't into the race that day. I didn't do it mostly because of the satisfaction reason. I wouldn't even be able to take the medal at the finish.

Mostly, I see it as a personal decison because in most of these cases it does not affect the outcome of the race or group results. If someone wants to cheat and can look at themselves in the mirror, what do I care.

 

[wtpclc]

Like the rest of you, I could not live with myself if I did htat. For the most part, the only ones htat those people hurt were themselves and they know it. Kind of its own punishment in my mind. For those that won divisions and took the glory abway form someone else??? Just incomprehensible. SO awful.

Funny, I won my division in a tri this year. I gave up after teh swim ebcause I performed so poorly. The bike an drun were a joke. The medal I got had no joy in it (not ony because i was the only one in my division ). I knew I had not given my all (or even close) and took all the fun out of it. If I feel that way about a medal I technically earne,d not way could I go out hter and get a medal I did not.

LOVE teh 2nd article.

If you have heard teh Penguin talk, you have heard this before. He once was at a lunch with the person who won Chicago adn set a new world record. He was feeling rather small. As always happens, the winer asked him his time. the Penguin replied, it was 4-something. The winner was in shock. Not because teh time was bad, but he was amazed the the Penguin could be on a course runnign for so long. He was in awe of the stamina that took.

 

[ksoehrlein]

If someone wants to cheat and can look at themselves in the mirror, what do I care.

True, it shouldn't bother me to know that some people cheat. I know the sport is mostly about personal goal setting and accomplishment and what others do on race day shouldn't affect me, so long as they don't interfere with my goals. And yet, somehow, it does bother me. While those faster-paced marathon runners quoted in the other NYT article feel that "their" sport has been lessened somehow by slow walk/runners like me, I feel that "my" sport is lessened by those who don't go the full distance and still claim the finishers' awards at the end.

 

[CampbellScot]

the worst part of the article on cheating was reading about the man in the 60-64 division who was cheated out of his age group last year and was not able to participate this year b/c he has cancer. It pained me to read that. I run b/c I want to have pride in something. I can't feel the pride if I'm a cheater.

I like to think that runners are people with integrity. Probably silly of me to think that...there are going to be people who cheat in most competitive situations.

I was also a little shocked at the Biggest Loser contestant who hitched a ride for three miles of an Arizona marathon. Three miles? You risk your integrity for three miles? He said he went back and ran the three he skipped out on later...

i don't get it.

thanks for posting the articles. interesting!

 

[Kristi1357]

While those faster-paced marathon runners quoted in the other NYT article feel that "their" sport has been lessened somehow by slow walk/runners like me, I feel that "my" sport is lessened by those who don't go the full distance and still claim the finishers' awards at the end.

 

[syko]

I don't konw how you would be able to cheat at NYC that had check point mats for your D-tag at every 5K!!!!!

 

[Big Vic]

Cheating and then claiming the prize at the end demonstrates a lack of moral character. It proves there are people out there with no honor, or integrity.

Cheaters are LOSERS, no matter how you look at it. They should have an "L" tatooed on their forehead.

 

[dislvr74]

I'm totally stealing that "Slow is the new fast" t-shirt idea from the second article!