Cheating at a marathon is pathetic enough. I’ll never understand why you would do that? I’m not accusing anyone here, but can anyone tell me what a person would gain by that, beyond a nonsense Boston Qualifier? But at Disney World?? https://www.marathoninvestigation.com/2019/01/cheating-at-disney-families-dopeys-and-more.html
I'd say those who cheat would have to live with it for the rest of their lives... always thinking back to how they never really did it all on their own... but then people who could cheat in the first place probably don't even have a conscience. I love that this site exposes some of them. Too bad they don't use last names.
looks like his website exposes full names of some other people, just not at Disney. Maybe that's to give time for Disney to process any potential disqualifications? The race was only a week ago, I think. The hard part for me would be looking at that medal, and seeing it as a memento to the time I cheated.
Exactly, I'd have to throw it in the trash...or better yet, mail it back with a confession. I'm just too honest.
I took a course on ethical issues in global sport, and while everyone else in the class focused on soccer/football, basketball, and baseball, I went down the rabbit hole of ethical behavior in running. (Even got a paper published about it. Woot!) Course cutting is just one component (bib muling, doping). Sport psychologists and sociologists are looking heavily into the influence of social media. When a person spends months posting and tweeting about his or her training for Disney, but then realizes during the race - “Dang, this is really hard, and I probably won’t make it,” a course cutting opportunity looks too tempting. I know. I know. It doesn’t make any sense to us, but there are real studies pointing to social media as the beginning of the problem. People also get obsessively drawn up in the persona they have falsely created of a athlete/runner, which is partly what happened with Julie Miller and her repeated cheating in triathlons. Of course, there have always been cheaters, but technology is now affording new ways to cheat and new ways to catch cheaters.
Pondering... What about shod vs. barefoot? Some would say that those wearing shoes are cheating (they have the "so-called" protection, etc.), that we all SHOULD run true, run barefoot. Others would say those who are wearing shoes are handicapping themselves, so therefore, barefoot runners are the cheaters because they have the advantage.
@Norma Smith Excellent! It's true that when we proclaim something in public, like resolutions (losing weight, quitting smoking, etc.) that we put the pressure on ourselves and are more motivated to prove it or at least keep up the persona that we did (real or fake). It directs us to live up to our promises, and if we can't (no will power, incapable) we'll cheat to make it appear that way (smoke in private, spray cologne, use mouthwash; tell people you're pregnant, lost the baby...okay, stretching, but I'm sure it's happened).
I think course-cutting would create an especially bad image for barefoot runners - "Oh - he/she claims barefoot running is so great but has to cheat to finish the race!"
I ran the Disney Princess Half this past february, and didn't see any shenanigans. But then, I'm usually focusing all my energy on just getting one foot in front of the other... It's a wonder I don't run right past the castle without noticing.
Wow I had no idea cheating was this common. I'm not too familiar with the Disney races but I suppose it is much harder to secure those courses. Unfortunately there are cheaters in everything, athletes certainly included. Just about every day driving to/from work I see plenty of people not get into the correct lane because of a long line of cars, and go all the way to the front and cut in. I suppose that isn't all that different from cutting a course. Coincidentally I did have one race earlier this year that I cut by accident. I feel like some of you that say you couldn't even look at the medal knowing it wasn't earned. I even got a plaque for coming in 3rd overall. But in my case I was not aware I had cut the course. I found out later when I downloaded from my gps watch. But in the end it was sort of fair, since everyone did the same thing according to the race director (I emailed once I figured out what happened). I was following all the front runners when a volunteer apparently miscommunicated to us that we were at the turn around point and we all turned around, and apparently they just kept turning everyone in the 5k around there (was also a 10 and 20k that kept going). So hopefully the 5kers all ran the same course, even if it wasn't quite a 5k. But I steel feel bad about it and never posted the race here or on fb. Maybe I'll go for it again next year. There was one other time way back in high school XC that I got off the course that was like a maze in a field. Ended up merging with someone I knew was way ahead of me and on the loop back. I followed him for the rest of the race but at the chute I ran off to the side instead of across the line. I wasn't going to knowingly skew the results with my finish. Agreed TJ. I have heard of some posers and people that like to way overinflate their workouts on facebook for likes and admiration. Sometimes even getting all in kit just to take selfies to post claiming they have been working out for hours when they have not.
Don't feel bad about cutting. That was an accident. You didn't do it intentionally. But yes, definitely run that course again next year. I think doing so will heal what's bothering you inside.
If the volunteer is turning everyone around at a certain point, you can't help it, especially if you don't know the real turnaround point, Tristan.
One part of me can see why some people cheat, especially if they've hyped up their goal, but another part of me can't comprehend it. I mean, if I got credit for running a distance I didn't run, the "victory" would be so hollow, so meaningless.
