Did Mike Rossi (viral marathon dad) cheat his way into Boston?

HeCheated wrote:

Unless I had a hell of a case, I would not be adding anyone else's name to this thread. 1) you could be way off base about her, 2) it might really make us look like witch-hunting kooks, which we are not.

We are just a teeny infinitesimal barely noticeable little bit, aren't we?

Something substantive to add wrote:

this is the Mike Rossi thread,

We've got a spare rope so why not?

Something substantive to add wrote:

SaraB wrote:

Race cheat investigator would be a great job.

Sorry, I think Switek beat you to that one (surprised I haven't noticed that handle on this thread). See his work here, for example:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=6259441&page=1

It's been said before - this is the Mike Rossi thread, if you do have the time & interest to pursue other potential cheaters, start up a new thread for that purpose.

+1 Am in awe.

Doubler wrote:

I'd like to capture all the social media stuff before doing so. Didn't see a ton--but a few things that are relevant. I'd like to tread fairly lightly. There are some things she posted that make her more sympathetic than MR. Although I guess anyone is more sympathetic than MR.

Maybe wait until after VIA makes their decision on Mike Rossi and things die down on this thread, then start a new one. This thread is already eating up too much of my time... If you have strong proof that she intentionally cheated, she deserves to be publicly shamed, but I worry that you won't gain much traction right now as the Mike Rossi story has so much more than just cheating going for it.

Dirty South wrote:

However - I recall the story as they asked her about her splits - something entirely different.

I've always loved the interval question and answer. Short video:

I don't know Mike. This is a tough act to follow but your Principal letter brought you close.

bored with cheater threads wrote:

This thread is already eating up too much of my time...

Same here, I'm having to get up half an hour earlier here in Australia to catch up on the half dozen or pages and links that have appeared overnight Oz time.

Agree with "Maybe wait until after VIA makes their decision on Mike Rossi and things die down on this thread, then start a new one. If you have strong proof that she intentionally cheated, she deserves to be publicly shamed, but I worry that you won't gain much traction right now".

bored with cheater threads wrote:

Doubler wrote:

I'd like to capture all the social media stuff before doing so. Didn't see a ton--but a few things that are relevant. I'd like to tread fairly lightly. There are some things she posted that make her more sympathetic than MR. Although I guess anyone is more sympathetic than MR.

Maybe wait until after VIA makes their decision on Mike Rossi and things die down on this thread, then start a new one. This thread is already eating up too much of my time... If you have strong proof that she intentionally cheated, she deserves to be publicly shamed, but I worry that you won't gain much traction right now as the Mike Rossi story has so much more than just cheating going for it.

On the other hand, lots of traffic is coming this way with little happening.

Ive read all 3200 posts on this thread but i never participated in the sleuthing. Just warched from a distance. This is my first post on this thread. It was quite captivating seeing what the next significant post would be, and im certainly interested to see how the saga finishes.

At the end of the day i just feel pity for MR. It is hard to understand how people develop all the intricate complexities of their personality. Humans are complicated and everyone has a long story behind them which i believe shaped them to who they are. When you learn this story it is maybe easier to empathize with them. This i apply to Rossi. Dont know his story but i assume he has gone through tough times in the past like anyone.

Do i wanna become great friends with MR? Probably not. I simply hope he admits even just internally to himself that he screwed up a bit and his actions may have negatively affected a few others. There are certaiy far greater evils in this world happening right in front of our faces. Hope he learns something and goes on to have a happy life.

After finishing the long read this clip popped into my head and i think it sums up the collective emotions of this thread and gave me a hearty chuckle!!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fPE3OxEOkG4

If anyone wants to crucify me for going too easy on him thats fine, its just my personal thoughts on the matter. All the differing viewpoints regarding the fine details of this thread have been interesting and valid.

Infinitesimal wrote:

HeCheated wrote:

Unless I had a hell of a case, I would not be adding anyone else's name to this thread. 1) you could be way off base about her, 2) it might really make us look like witch-hunting kooks, which we are not.

We are just a teeny infinitesimal barely noticeable little bit, aren't we?

There is an old article (2009) published by a Princeton psychologist about human beings need to punish, even when the transgression could not in any way harm the individual themselves. Basically, human beings find punishing people who violate the norm to be rewarding and will spend there resources (time and effort) in order to punish the transgressor.

It is not a pretty part of being human, and something to be aware of which hopefully people can use to modify their behavior for the better.

That being said, I too am victim to this: I find marathon cheaters offensive and I think they should be publicly outed and disqualified. I don't wish them any harm, just DQ them and publicly announce why they were DQ'd.

We refer to it affectionately as "Gallowalking." It can be discussed on the LW site founded by the Wobros.

We use that term very differently in the UK so it's not a universal term. We only do intervals in track work where you run at a set speed for a certain distance. I only found out the other day that in the US you do walk/run intervals. We train to run and not walk at all

CSU-1959 wrote:

Dirty South wrote:

However - I recall the story as they asked her about her splits - something entirely different.

I've always loved the interval question and answer. Short video:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b81a39Q43PY

I don't know Mike. This is a tough act to follow but your Principal letter brought you close.

I stand corrected! That was awesome! I had no idea that video existed.

To be significant he needs to come clean before a DQ. However I doubt this will ever happen, even if there was a video of him driving down I-78 drinking that caramel macchiato.

ReflectiveHeavyMetal wrote:

...

Do i wanna become great friends with MR? Probably not. I simply hope he admits even just internally to himself that he screwed up a bit and his actions may have negatively affected a few others. There are certaiy far greater evils in this world happening right in front of our faces. Hope he learns something and goes on to have a happy life.

which hunter wrote:

There is an old article (2009) published by a Princeton psychologist about human beings need to punish, even when the transgression could not in any way harm the individual themselves. ...

It is not a pretty part of being human, and something to be aware of which hopefully people can use to modify their behavior for the better.

I don't think I agree with your opinion in the second half of the quote.

Wouldn't you say that a more accurate assessment is that this is indicative of a sense of community and collaboration. Or, more specifically, that it shows that we recognize and tend to work towards a shared community, taking collective well being into consideration in addition to simple individual pursuits.

ReflectiveHeavyMetal wrote

If wants to crucify me for going too easy on him thats fine, its just my personal thoughts on the matter. All the differing viewpoints regarding the fine details of this thread have been interesting and valid.

I agree. But... What's the difference between this guy and Jim and Tammy Fay baker? Or frigging Tsarnaev? Sure: people didn't get bilked out of money or die. For sure. But that's the relative nature of this. Somewhere out there is a a principal whose life became a living nightmare because of this fraud. And somewhere there is some guy who missed out on what may have well been his "once in a lifetime chance" because this guy cheated. He hung his narcissistic ass a good long way out there. He used his family as a prop to further his "superhero" illustration of his life. When you ante up that big? You better be GD prepared to lose. Happy life? I hope this f*er gets therapy and atones for the nightmare he's made de the family he has used as a damn accessory. He's a ridiculous human being with the depth of a Dixie cup. Apologies to Kimberly Clark.

As Mike's friend I have to say I think the lynch mob here on LR are a disingenuous lot and are responsible for the path Mike has taken.

I happen to know Mike was a regular visitor to the LRMB and held every one here in high regard and put them on a pedestal. Why?, because you're all high income professionals with rewarding jobs and degrees, trophy wives, fulfilling and rich rewarding lives, but, most importantly, and this really is important, you are all also sub 2:30 marathoners, sub 30 10k'ers and sub 15 5k'ers.

Mike felt inadequate and inferior, the 2014 Lehigh was the first step in his master plan and over the next two years he was going to use it to show a natural progression to sub 2:30. Then he could come on here and not get referred to by the lowest term known to be thrown by an LRMB elite, a hobby jogger or told to get back to the Runners World forum. No wonder Mike had an inferiority complex and tried to cover it being an outward, charismatic, fun loving and lovable kind of guy, when all he really wanted was to be loved here on the LRMB.

I hope you lot are proud of yourselves.

NowFindJimmyHoffa wrote:

Apologies to Kimberly Clark.

Leave the kids out of this. :D

which hunter wrote:[/

There is an old article (2009) published by a Princeton psychologist about human beings need to punish, even when the transgression could not in any way harm the individual themselves. Basically, human beings find punishing people who violate the norm to be rewarding and will spend there resources (time and effort) in order to punish the transgressor.

It is not a pretty part of being human, and something to be aware of which hopefully people can use to modify their behavior for the better.

That being said, I too am victim to this: I find marathon cheaters offensive and I think they should be publicly outed and disqualified. I don't wish them any harm, just DQ them and publicly announce why they were DQ'd.

1. Was the article titled "but for the grace of God and a moral compass go I?"

2. This "need to punish" is called "justice".

3. This "behavior modification" was something we were all supposed to have learned in kindergarten. Thinking one is exempt from these is at best a case of sociopathy or at worst a case of f*ing jihad.

CSU-1959 wrote:

NowFindJimmyHoffa wrote:

Apologies to Kimberly Clark.

Leave the kids out of this. :D

Let's run needs a "like" button.

Well played CSU. :)

I have noticed that Mike likes to capitalize random words and a lot of ellipses.

SaraB wrote:

keeping it real wrote:

WRONG ! ..... there are photos of him at the start , his bib is registered as crossing the start , there is photo and video of him finishing , so he definitely made it from point A-B ..... how that was accomplished is open to conjecture , but all I've heard so far is where he wasn't , based on a flimsy lack of photos reasoning.....sorry , I need to see proof of wear he WAS not where he WASN"T..... show me where he was . Prove it to me !! .... I'm waiting !

Either you are Mike or you've been reading what he has been writing on various FB groups. This is pretty much the only thing he keeps saying and your language is incredibly similar to his