Why do people lie about training, what is the psychology behind it?

Digital EPO?

yeah, i see that most people probably didnt know about this.

anyway, it is explained here:

http://road.cc/content/news/84868-digital-epo-smash-your-strava-times%E2%80%A6-cheating

Sometimes you trick yourself in to thinking you are better than you really are? Perhaps that gives a slight mental edge, MAYBE. I don't know, though. Perhaps just as bragging rights.

tigras and bears wrote:

I can see why people use digital epo on strava to win CRs and KOMs, but why would someone say they run 100mpw when they run 60-70 and maybe once ran 100. More commonly I see people lie about the pacing of their runs.

I know some top tier athletes (my age and better than me) who do this.

How do i know?

In some cases I cant be 100% sure, but in others I'll go on a run with some people and they fabricate times and distances after we finish upon being asked. I even once ran in a group that, as we were finishing, was plotting what pace they would claim we had just done.

Do you train with the RobertYoungWorldChampionFakeMarathonTrainingâ„¢ group?

It is really fun…but expensive.

Yeah, a guy I work with said he did 12 miles with the last eight at 6:30 pace, then ran 2:10 for a half marathon not long after. I just don't get it. What was the lie about the training supposed to do? Because I don't care what he runs in training. I know he has done Cross Fit so maybe he really believes the 400 they have marked off in the street outside the 'box' is meters, not feet.

Maybe he meant a full marathon?

tigras and bears wrote:

why would someone say they run 100mpw when they run 60-70 and maybe once ran 100. More commonly I see people lie about the pacing of their runs.

I know some top tier athletes (my age and better than me) who do this.

I'm not sure what you mean by "top tier," but I've noticed over the years that the best runners are more likely to underreport their training, while slower runners tend to overstate it.

Beevie wrote:

Yeah, a guy I work with said he did 12 miles with the last eight at 6:30 pace, then ran 2:10 for a half marathon not long after. I just don't get it. What was the lie about the training supposed to do? Because I don't care what he runs in training. I know he has done Cross Fit so maybe he really believes the 400 they have marked off in the street outside the 'box' is meters, not feet.

How do you know he lied??

Slow runners lie because they want people to believe they're faster than they are. Fast runners lie because they want people to believe they have more "talent" than they have.

This phenomenon is called 'duping delight.' The kick that some folks get from conning others.

My theory has always been to psych out other athletes, or to pump themselves up.

I agree, that that is the trend, but some good runners that I (and pretty much everyone) consider top tier, sub 4:05 milers, sub 1:50 800 runners, and sub 28 10k guys have done this.

I've discussed this with my trophy wife, and we concluded we just don't understand it.

Beevie wrote:

Yeah, a guy I work with said he did 12 miles with the last eight at 6:30 pace, then ran 2:10 for a half marathon not long after. I just don't get it. What was the lie about the training supposed to do? Because I don't care what he runs in training. I know he has done Cross Fit so maybe he really believes the 400 they have marked off in the street outside the 'box' is meters, not feet.

You work with Brian Lawlor?

Everyone should use strava at all times. Even when going from the parking lot to a building less they say they've covered more distance than they actually have.

13:37 runner wrote:

I've discussed this with my trophy wife, and we concluded we just don't understand it.

POD

fisky wrote:

13:37 runner wrote:

I've discussed this with my trophy wife, and we concluded we just don't understand it.

POD

PLUS ONE

+2

Franz Ferdinand Fan wrote:

fisky wrote:

POD

PLUS ONE

+3

But where did you discuss it? In your $2 million home in Redmond or Palo Alto?