If I honestly feel like I should have won a race, can I just tell people that I did win?

Did you cross the line first? If the answer is not yes then you can't say you won. End of story.

It's a slippery slope to lying about race times, writing a pompous letter to the school district, getting busted for lying and having your life ruined by LR.

I would go so far as to say that if you didn't declare yourself the winner, you would be doing a grave and profound disservice to the other runner who clearly and unequivocally needs to work harder next time to beat what you could have - no doubt - done had you only tried a little harder. In that sense, you not only owe it to yourself to call yourself the winner, you owe it to the other runners as well.

Just tell them that you came in 1st place of all the losers. #NoLie

Sure, if you're okay with lying and willing to risk being found out, why not?

Outside of all-out sprints, racing isn't simply about fitness. It is about strategy. Simply being fitter than someone who beats you doesn't necessarily mean you are better nor does it mean you could have won the race.

It is possible Centro wasn't the fittest runner at the Olympics. But he is the only one who is the Olympic champion.

So, to the OP, what are you going to tell the actual winner, when you bump into him/her? You are either a troll or the dumbest loser to actually post here.

You gotta cross the finish line first my dude!

actions speak louder than words!

If I think I deserve a 7 figure salary can I just tell people that I make that much?

By any chance are you related to Adrien Broner?

The person that finished in front of you may have had a lot left in his tank also.

Racing is weird like that. I have a wall full of medals where many of the 1st place victories feel hollow and some of the 2nd and 3rd place medals feel more deserving. If you race enough, I feel like it averages out to where you won some you hadn't earned and you lost some you did earn. That's why just showing up and running the race is a big part of this sport.

Subjective reality wrote:

Sometimes I know I had a better kick but just didn’t use it. Or if I feel I had a lot left in the tank after the finish, then I know I really was better than the guy who beat me especially if they were not that far ahead.

I feel like if family or friends ask, it’s just easier to say I won, than to explain that I lost, but was better than the other guys and the result wasn’t a reflection of reality.

Just tell your friends about how you passed the guy in second place. If they are as bright as you, they will think you would then be in first place and just assume you won.

This thread reminds me of how I won the Division III XC National Championship four years in a row. I stayed grounded through all of my success, though. It's always important to remember that winning isn't everything.

You didn't win. Donald won. He has already twittered everything about it.

But, but, but I won the popular vote!! Nothing but deplorables here anyway.