Half marathon course cutter Ashley Paulson, who served 6 month contamination suspension, wins coveted Badwater 135.

I didn’t originate the twin theory. I also said there’s no proof she did that. I think that dressing exactly like the runner is an odd thing to do if you’re a support person but weirder things have been done. For now, I wouldn’t support her bring DQed in any way, obviously

But I also think the twin theory seems to be the leading “conspiracy” theory, and her post responding to people questioning her run seemed to skip over that leading theory with “proof” that doesn’t disprove it in any way. I find THAT at least a little suspicious. She did the politician move, answer the question you’d prefer you had been asked, not the question you were actually asked. She was asked, indirectly by posters here, did your twin run some of the race for you? And she said, ostensibly to answer the questioning, of course not, here’s a watch that covered the whole distance, no need to pry any further. That’s as insensible as you’re saying the other side is being.

Essentially, she DID entertain the general fact that people are questioning her, but her answer didn’t address the actual questions. It’s not any poster here’s fault that she “entertained” the theories in a way that didn’t “address” them.

Reply to last.

First the accusation was that she would never release her watch data. Then she did. And it all supports her story of the event.

Then it was that the data says "edited." Then we learn that making the data public (from private) gives it an edit.

Then it will be the accusation, "Of course the data is good! She used the doppleganger to run with the watch!"

Yet none of the lazy people making these accusations have figured out who the crew member even is, whether she is capable of running any of the race, and whether she would agree to do so.

Ask yourselves, if you used a doppleganger to run for you, with a perfectly matching outfit from head to toe (except shoes), would you have that person escort you to the finish line and be in the finishing photos in that outfit? Could you really be smart enough to mastermind this plan and then be dumb enough to have the person follow you to the line, with all the race photos and officials present? Of course you wouldn't do that.

Running a 2:40 in a marathon means NOTHING for Badwater

You're the best!!!

Same outfit. Sure. It's cute. But why do you think a support crew member would be wearing the same watch as Ashley and in the same manner (turned in to the wrist)? She's not actually running the race, right? Nobody else in any of the pictures is wearing the same watch.

Can we get the data from that other watch?

Wait let me guess. The support crew member's watch wasn't recording because she just went out and bought an relatively expensive watch to look like a runner, for whatever reason, but not to actually use it.

You aren’t wrong, of course, that it should ultimately be incumbent on the theorists to figure out who the twin is. (She looks similar enough to possibly be a sister? I have no way of knowing though.) But it also isn’t too much to expect that if you choose to make a response to accusations, that you would address the exact accusations. She need not address who the twin is to generally say “this is a friend/relative, she dressed alike for solidarity/fun/some inside joke/whatever.” She never had to respond at all, mind you, she chose to, so her response is part of the record and can be challenged for its shortcomings.

Bear in mind also that you’re also somewhat misrepresenting the order of things as to when the twin accusations came out, which was before or around the same time as people saying “I bet she won’t show her data.” I also don’t see how it’s such a bad thing to ask further questions at each level of proof until all bases are covered.

As to the unlikelihood of cheating by twin and then showing her at the finish, I said in my first post on this thread that I thought that showing the twin openly would be a good double bluff if you cheated that way. “If I used a twin why would I show her to you?!? What am I, stupid?!” It would be the perfect cover in case someone had unexpectedly seen them both out on the course, maybe as they handed off “legs” of their relay. “Whoa, I saw two Ashleys at mile 100, that’s weird. Oh, but there’s her twin with her at the end, guess she was just her support crew.” Cheating as a woman in a mixed-sex event would always run the risk that a male runner would be in the area, it isn’t like the cheating male “winner” who could be out ahead of everybody.

I'd like to think this is fair, however back-to-back wins during these events are infrequent and what about Georgia Jo Manta?!?

Not that anyone is aware of... The Connect record is public, however as you suggest GPX records are much harder to modify without leaving indications.

I agree with your earlier post, in that unless fraud is proven we should offer our congratulations.

We can still be skeptical...

First, she has not actually released the data. Rather, she has release the Garmin link to the data, and if you scrape the page, the data points to populate the Connect web page view. The underlying GPX data is not known to have been released. (Perhaps she has provided this to the organizers.

Second, the notion that she needed to charge her watch because it was flat, and that a 17-min charge was all that it took for the remaining race strains credulity.

My skepticism in mind, she was with a large (ish) crew. The implication that the entire crew is in on the fraud is really tougher for me to believe. Sure, it happened with Robert Young, however his crew was far smaller... There would have to be a large number of people to keep a lie if she actually cheated.

It's never enough with you conspiracy theorists. First you demand she release her watch data even though you have no evidence of any cheating AT ALL. Now, after she released the watch data, you claim she is hiding the real data! And to top it off, you even claim a 17 minute charging time is proof she cheated!

You don't know Derek. He privately asked you a question and you saw it as an opportunity to promote your brand as a victim and went public and asked for money for a lawsuit against him (how's that going?). He has barely given you the time of day except for a couple times a few years ago when he defended himself from your slander. Get over yourself.

Your Derek is the devil narrative doesn't fit here since he's been quite circumspect about this and posted here earlier today basically taking Ashley's side.

btw, although I think skepticism is warranted, I agree with you that the feeding frenzy has gone off the rails. But it's too late for you to try to be the voice of reason.

Skepticism is fine. It should be the jumping off point for looking for meaningful proof. At this time, too many people are letting skepticism stand in place for a conclusion.

With Mike Rossi, we looked at all the photos, he was absent in all of them while literally every other runner appeared in many photos.

With Frank Meza we found him on a bike.

We have to keep in mind that the burden of proof lies with those saying she might have cheated. For her to say, "My friend is Mary Campbell and she did not run any of my race," will do nothing to satisfy and the hoard and she has no obligation to even bother saying it.

The accusers must find proof that her friend ran in her place. If they can't, they have nothing in that regard. Wearing the same outfit proves nothing.

That's where we're at. Anyone who thinks she cheated should post less and search more and try to find some evidence.

Thank you for recognizing that I'm the voice of reason in this thread.

Since the accusers of Ashley have harassed her and I know her sponsors have also been harrassed from Facebook, can we start drawing up a list of names of these accusers and claimed secret witnesses? There has to be equal punishment for the evil that these malicious accusers and claimed secret witnesses have done, the same punishment they were trying to exact on Ashley who it is plainly evident is totally innocent.

47 minutes faster in the final 13.6 miles than the previous race record holder and faster than any male competitor ever. Nothing else need be considered. She cheated.

Anyone who thinks otherwise shouldn't be permitted to vote in elections.

Jurek ran a 2:38 marathon. In his own words he has beaten 2:15 marathoners in the 100. But Ashley finished Badwater faster than Jurek.

So let’s see the data from the twins watch. If this is a legit performance why not answer all questions. Nothing to hide , yeah?