Martin Franklin - is he back?

Hi All,

I raced this guy in the Washington Park New Years eve 5k in Denver in 1998. Anyway - I was racing in 4th, behind another kiwi and 2 mexicans, when this dude jumped out of the bushes in front of me, and started to run (this occured about 300m from the end), I passed him, and when i got to the finish, he was in the chute behind me. I told the organisers not to take his number cos he cheated, but they believed him (180 pounds) over "some dude with a funny accent" who weighed like 150 pounds, and actually looked like a runner. Anyway, I got in his face, and challenged him to hit me, so I could smash him....he acted like a pussy, and denied it in front of his wife.

Anyway, I was telling my mates, and I found out that there were plaques for top 10, and one of my american mates finished 11th. I said to my mate, you go up for 4th place (my position), and I'll go up on stage for 5th, and when the loser goes up, we'll walk up together, and I'll shame him in front of all the people (must have been at least 1000). Anyway - the pussy didn't show up, and I ended up walking up as Austin Martin (i think his name was - or at least gave)...All was well, as my mate who finished 11th ended up with a plaque.

My advice for this Franklin dude is, let him run, if he trys to cheat, nail him (preferably in front of an audience i.e. prizegiving)!!

Cheers

Carl Jackson

I don't see any reason for beating him up, other than that is how a person is raised to react to cheating, and feeling the beating is somehow morally superior to that, rather like our going into Iraq. However, as we can see, that just escalates violence rather than resolves the initial problem. We have had problems with cheaters, here, too, and I have seen the last fellow's approach work well, expose the guy publicly. He certainly needs help (not that we all don't), and certainly has a very misguided view of right and wrong. A physical beating does not plant any seed of change in his mind, just tells him he has to be more crafty in his cheating. Showing him a path to satisfaction with his racing, and perhaps getting him involved with a running club to organize events may help his desire for being "great", then he can rub shoulders with the great ones. He's a sad, lonely man that needs the emptiness filled with something running-related that will fill that emptiness. Sure hope someone could give him some guidance, the guy's cheating has gone on way too long, and is a strongly established habit that will be hard to break.

Or we could just kill him.

Then he won't cheat again.

that's a very mature attitude, but i'd rather kick the crap out of him.

Public humiliation really is a fine way to go. But if being busted at the NYC marathon didn't alter his behavior, nothing will. might as well scare him into not even trying.

Is there a road race directors' association or anything like that? Someone could distribute a flyer with mug shots and all of his aliases to the mailing list. Sounds like any elite entrant with a first or last name of mark/martin/franklin should get a second look.

I'll bring my digital camera...heck, maybe even my digital camcorder and get some "mugshots" of Mr. Franklin in action at Ottawa this weekend.

NY Runner,

Just an FYI - Ottawa (National Capital Marathon) is a 2 loop course, which might make it easier for Mr. Franklin to cheat and avoid detection.

It also makes it easier to drop out right at 13.1mi in front of the race hotel... err, although I wouldn't know anything about that.

Poor imitation...too many "mates" and then you also use "cheers?" Are you from New Zealand or the UK, make up your mind...haha.

DougC, will I be able to ride a bicycle along the course or is it strictly closed to traffic? Any other ideas/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

NY runner wrote:

DougC, will I be able to ride a bicycle along the course or is it strictly closed to traffic? Any other ideas/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

You shouldn't have a problem biking along the course... I didn't think the security was that tight. It's also a beautiful time in Ottawa, the city has hundreds of thousands of tulips in full bloom (some along the race course). Before you go, you probably should contact the elite athlete coordiantor, Manny Rodrigues at

- he may have already disinvited Mr. Franklin and your efforts would be in vain.

Don't forget your passport.

Doug

DougC wrote:

You shouldn't have a problem biking along the course... I didn't think the security was that tight. It's also a beautiful time in Ottawa, the city has hundreds of thousands of tulips in full bloom (some along the race course). Before you go, you probably should contact the elite athlete coordiantor, Manny Rodrigues at

mannyr@rogers.com

- he may have already disinvited Mr. Franklin and your efforts would be in vain.

Don't forget your passport.

Doug

Manny Rodrigues is the guy I contacted. He now knows who this cat is and what he's done. He even came to Ottawa once before and dropped out. Anyway, it's their race--let them handle it as they wish. I'm sure you wont see Mr. Franklin showing up in the results with an elite type time.

you can go to www.whitepages.com and find Mark Franklin in Bremerton, WA and call and see if he is still going. Go directly to the source!

DougC wrote:

NY runner wrote:

DougC, will I be able to ride a bicycle along the course or is it strictly closed to traffic? Any other ideas/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

You shouldn't have a problem biking along the course... I didn't think the security was that tight. It's also a beautiful time in Ottawa, the city has hundreds of thousands of tulips in full bloom (some along the race course). Before you go, you probably should contact the elite athlete coordiantor, Manny Rodrigues at

mannyr@rogers.com

- he may have already disinvited Mr. Franklin and your efforts would be in vain.

Don't forget your passport.

Doug

They changed the course so its a one loop course this year. Just thought I'd let people know even though its not too relevant to the thread.

Don't be so hard on this guy. I find him entertaining.He seems to always get caught anyway. No one would even be talking about this race if he wasn't entered.

E3,

Franklin has been pulling this stunt for at least six years that I know of. He lived in Portland for a time mooching room / board, claiming Ed Eyestone was his coach, claiming a huge sponsorship deal with Puma, etc. He never raced locally but always had some tale about his jet-setting to big money road races in Europe that his "agent" set up. Honestly, this guy probably has cost race directors money and athletes opportunities. One grifter can ruin things for everybody. (Look at Larry Mboga and how much press and aid he got. Some people outside this board still think he is world class.) Meanwhile, some promising post collegians won't even get a free entry because race directors got burned for airfare and hotel by this tool.

He's small time but, no different than those who grift charities and elderly people. Wrong is just wrong and this guy needs maximum exposure.

You obviously haven't been to NZ. Everyone says "cheers", and "mate", so you get your facts right.

boo hoo! boo hoo! cry me a storm jason. i don't want to hear your complaints and excuses. just admit it, you cheated. i really dont care what the situation was, the bottom line is that you took an unfair advantage that nobody else had. that is called CHEATING! you seem so defensive about it, you must feel really guilty i guess.

Portland Runner- Are Tonya Harding's ex-pals still in the 'capping business? If they promise to do a better job this time, maybe we can arrange for a "Wimp To Gimp" party for our little friend....

Anyone know of any other infamous running cheats

bump me all night long.