Course cutter at CIM? ... UPDATE: RD Says Likely Timing Error

To be clear, I don't know this runner from "Adam" or "Eve." I've never gone snooping around for suspicious finish times, but through various fortuitious steps, I stumbled upon this runner's time and while I'm nothing more than a hobby jogger who is familiar enough with WR times for the half and full, I realized the times here looked "extremely difficult" to achieve, at best. I don't know that he has actually claimed this time; but having run this race a few occasions I can say it would be difficult for him to "accidentially" or "unintentionally" go down the finisher's chute without knowing he'd be triggering the timing mat. The course turns with about 200 meters; females finish on the left and males on the right; barricades prevent onlookers from spilling onto the course [for probably 400-800 meters but hell, at that point, I just don't even pay attention]. The medals are handed out a good 50 yards [my rough estimate] after the finish. Also, keep in mind that traffic is heavily controlled in that area. So, it's not like he could just have a buddy drop him off at the finish line. He had to have at least "walked" or "ran" over 200 plus meters, if not more, and through the finishing chute just to pick up a medal.

Again, I never said he "cut" or "cheated"; I was simply asking. And believe me, many of the posters to this thread have raised legitimate situations that I didn't think of [including yours]. I do think there are legitimate explainations; I just don't know the answer to this situation. Thanks.

The correct course of action would not to embarrass him by posting it here. You should have just sent an email to the RD.

GreenRiver wrote:

That takes some major audacity to finish 23rd overall in a competitive race like that. It's a point to point course right? He didn't bust out 5:20 miles after averaging 6:45 the first half.

He ran 4:25/mile for the second half, not 5:20/mile.

233 Rick Cota M Olivehurst CA US 1:22:01 1:22:00 6:15 28 2 5 Male 25 to 29

MarineRunner wrote:

but having run this race a few occasions I can say it would be difficult for him to "accidentially" or "unintentionally" go down the finisher's chute without knowing he'd be triggering the timing mat. The course turns with about 200 meters; females finish on the left and males on the right; barricades prevent onlookers from spilling onto the course [for probably 400-800 meters but hell, at that point, I just don't even pay attention]. The medals are handed out a good 50 yards [my rough estimate] after the finish. Also, keep in mind that traffic is heavily controlled in that area. So, it's not like he could just have a buddy drop him off at the finish line. He had to have at least "walked" or "ran" over 200 plus meters, if not more, and through the finishing chute just to pick up a medal.

This year, I finished on the left (I'm female), going through the chute. I then grabbed my medal and my bag, and then walked around to the right, past the massage and then alongside the men's finish area, just on the other side of the metal fence, going the opposite way from the finishing runners. I wasn't in the finishing chute, but I suspect that I was no more than a few feet from the finish mats at one point while taking that route back to my hotel.

My guess is that Rick DNFed and just walked too close to the timing mats at the finish. My teammate actually had that exact thing happen to him at CIM this year. He notified the race organizers and his time was removed before the end of the day

reed wrote:

My guess is that Rick DNFed and just walked too close to the timing mats at the finish. My teammate actually had that exact thing happen to him at CIM this year. He notified the race organizers and his time was removed before the end of the day

Did your teammate take an official shuttle back to the finish? If that's the case it seems weird that they'd take them that close to the line for that to occur. I know at TCM for instance you're not allowed by security within the finish area if you drop and take transport back. A volunteer has to go into the fenced area to retrieve your bag.

The guy wants to run in the 2020 Olympics. Needs to shave a little more time off that marathon time. 2:25 isn't going to get it. Maybe it was a miscalculation on his part.

For Pete Sake Derek. Just post these under your own name.

Point to Point course. No way to cut the course without transportation. Be interesting to see the official race photos.

I'm not on FB or Twitter or whatnot, has anyone checked his social network to see if he's posted about the race?

Darkwave, are you still in DC area?

jjiip wrote:

I'm not on FB or Twitter or whatnot, has anyone checked his social network to see if he's posted about the race?

For a guy savvy enough to start a gofundme he seems to be oddly absent from social media as far as I can see.

It's a clear give away when hobby joggers start to talk about their "Olympic potential" and spew out motivational quotes. He could've accidentally triggered the finish line mat, he could have just as easily been unwilling to accept he'll never be Olympic material and have cheated to put up a faster time. I tend to think people who blog and put a tremendous amount of pressure on themselves (for no good reason) can be motivated to cheat to avoid embrassment. Only digging a hole of course...

I would like to believe this guy made a mistake but personally if I saw I came in 25th in the results after a dnf I would immediately contact the race to have it removed. The odds that he doesn't know he is listed at an almost OTQ time is slim to none especially if he has GoFundMe supporters. Hopefully the race director is simply slow to remove him from the standings.

Frommeled wrote:

The odds that he doesn't know he is listed at an almost OTQ time is slim to none especially if he has GoFundMe supporters.

How so? We have no idea, but if he literally was clueless that he crossed the finish why would he even bother to check the results? Especially if it's the case where he was injured or had an absolute horsesh!t day and had to drop. I've been there man, it sucks and you want nothing to do with the race or the results for a while.

The photos are up. See:

http://www.sportphoto.com/Event.aspx?EventID=1113

All I see is three proofs of an empty finish line. It seems that his chip got near the finish line - could have even been in a trash can that got moved near the finish, but he didn't cheat or intend to cross the finish.

This thread should be taken down.

Sorry you didn't have a good day, Rick. Best wishes for next time.

Trollminator wrote:

It's a clear give away when hobby joggers start to talk about their "Olympic potential" and spew out motivational quotes. He could've accidentally triggered the finish line mat, he could have just as easily been unwilling to accept he'll never be Olympic material and have cheated to put up a faster time. I tend to think people who blog and put a tremendous amount of pressure on themselves (for no good reason) can be motivated to cheat to avoid embrassment. Only digging a hole of course...

Agreed. We've put together a pretty clear psychological profile of the race cheater over the years.

photo checker wrote:

The photos are up. See:

http://www.sportphoto.com/Event.aspx?EventID=1113

All I see is three proofs of an empty finish line. It seems that his chip got near the finish line - could have even been in a trash can that got moved near the finish, but he didn't cheat or intend to cross the finish.

This thread should be taken down.

Sorry you didn't have a good day, Rick. Best wishes for next time.

If you look at Sergio Reyes's finish line pictures, you can see the next two finishers (Anthony Tomsich and Ben Fletcher) in the distance. Based on chip time, Rick would have finished between Reyes and Tomsich and his chip somehow got recorded during this period.

Dkysjdjysjysjye wrote:

For Pete Sake Derek. Just post these under your own name.

Hi Mike.