I just read the race website. The race started at 6PM.
I know - the year I ran the marathon, there was just a sign with a light on it for the turn around, and nobody near. It was dark AF out there too. I had some evil thoughts about turning around early, but didn't - not that it matters what I did, just that it would be pretty easy to do and not get caught.
Guy was legit 2:30 marathon shape while in Raleigh. He passed me a few times on runs at cruising easy 6 min pace 20 milers. Some of the runs I saw on strava looked super human like he does not get tired in the 20-30 mile range at those paces.
As much as I have posted things so far about how he is cheating in some races, I agree that I saw him run around Raleigh and he is pretty good. For example, he paced a friend of mine to a PR in the half marathon. They did it on a track at like 6:15/mi. I saw them run the first few miles together and my friend said that Ivaylo kept running past 13.1 at the same pace while my friend cooled down. And Ivaylo kept going after my friend left.
He has posted some legit marathons in the 2:40s.
My real question is that since he is already a pretty good runner, why cheat these races? I get the desire to become world class. Heck, I want to be a world class runner as much as the next guy, but the fact of the matter is I'm never going to be.
I didn't so much care that he was cheating before because he wasn't taking prize money or anything. But I felt the need to press the matter in this thread when it comes to setting records and getting undeserved recognition and what not
There are absolutely no course marshals or any other timing mats except the one at the start/finish/6 mile loop finish. I just ran this race and I’ve ran it in years where we’ve noticed he disappears and doesn’t lap people. His 21 data had him cutting through a field off course and he later deleted that Strava data.
There are absolutely no course marshals or any other timing mats except the one at the start/finish/6 mile loop finish. I just ran this race and I’ve ran it in years where we’ve noticed he disappears and doesn’t lap people. His 21 data had him cutting through a field off course and he later deleted that Strava data.
So let me get this right. There is nobody at the turn around to check and nobody at the far side on the loop course?
Yes that’s right. It’s a flashing light at the end of the two mile out and back and that’s it. The only people you see on the six mile loop are other runners (after the marathon runners leave it’s a TINY field of runners very spaced out) and the volunteers at the aid station at mile 3. Last year his watch “messed up” and you couldn’t see he made a left into a field area and cut the six mile loop short. Only time I ever saw him lap me was on the out and back. I don’t think he cheats every loop. He seems to edit for darkness and a thinned out crowd. It’d he’s wearing two watches why can’t he post any data?
As much as I have posted things so far about how he is cheating in some races, I agree that I saw him run around Raleigh and he is pretty good. For example, he paced a friend of mine to a PR in the half marathon. They did it on a track at like 6:15/mi. I saw them run the first few miles together and my friend said that Ivaylo kept running past 13.1 at the same pace while my friend cooled down. And Ivaylo kept going after my friend left.
He has posted some legit marathons in the 2:40s.
My real question is that since he is already a pretty good runner, why cheat these races? I get the desire to become world class. Heck, I want to be a world class runner as much as the next guy, but the fact of the matter is I'm never going to be.
I didn't so much care that he was cheating before because he wasn't taking prize money or anything. But I felt the need to press the matter in this thread when it comes to setting records and getting undeserved recognition and what not
Narcissism... attention... the social media bubble swallows it all with no questions. These folks never know when they get too close to the sun though, and once LRC is on the case, well...
Yes that’s right. It’s a flashing light at the end of the two mile out and back and that’s it. The only people you see on the six mile loop are other runners (after the marathon runners leave it’s a TINY field of runners very spaced out) and the volunteers at the aid station at mile 3. Last year his watch “messed up” and you couldn’t see he made a left into a field area and cut the six mile loop short. Only time I ever saw him lap me was on the out and back. I don’t think he cheats every loop. He seems to edit for darkness and a thinned out crowd. It’d he’s wearing two watches why can’t he post any data?
Are you talking about the field area at the corner of Grassy Island and Holly Grove Church Roads at the start of the six mile loop? I ran the marathon there a few years ago and remember it being mostly woods.
For 15 years now Every. Single. One. of these threads has gone the same way.
*Miraculous result posted.
*Letsrunners express their doubt
*Unflattering stories come to light from those in the know.
*Swarms of new accounts appear to support the person in question and go after anyone questioning the results.
*More iffy data comes to light. (We are here right now, with his questionable strata road mile (4:19) and track two mile (9:35), and not releasing race data).
*Race directors become aware of the accusations, runner starts getting DQ'd retroactively from races.
*Bigger media sources start covering it.
*Family/career implodes
*Those new accounts disappear, except for one or two which stick around to fight to the bitter end (which is likely a family member or the person themself).
*Letsrun debates the morality of what they have just done-- does an occasional course cutting justify ruining a person's life?
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I will watch from the sideline as we progress through the steps.
He seems to have been a pretty consistent 2:40ish marathon over the years with some faster times at the Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon (extremely aided course). While he's an excellent runner for his age, I doubt he's running his marathon pace for twice the distance, through trails. While the website says the course the was certified in 2016, it looks like it may have been altered in 2018 based on his times.
These cheater threads really are great drama. I think we all like to see a degree of comeuppance but let's just hope this one doesn't end the same way as the last one.
*Letsrun debates the morality of what they have just done-- does an occasional course cutting justify ruining a person's life?
Maybe cut out your "occasional course cutting".
Yes, agreed, should just be 'did their actions justify'
Final thought, and only somewhat related-- I am reminded of the legendary Coach Joe Vigil reckoning no one cheats in ultras, because nothing is on the line. As if ultra runners are just fundamentally better humans than the rest of mankind. Of course the truth is that as long as competition has existed, so has rule breaking.