Robert Young fakes run across America

latest post from his website

His name came up during the Mark Vaz discussion and when looking at his website there were quite a few things which seemed a bit odd at the time... some similarities in the lack of any really serious results (just few 90min halves/3hr marathons and nothing longer). He actually called out Mark Vaz on his attempt though so would be interesting if it does turn out he's not doing it properly....

He's still only about halfway so hopefully if enough people try and run with him at random times then that will either prove that he is running properly (at least for half of it) or if he quits for fear of getting caught will be interesting what reason is given.

It is a bit depressing how any future record attempts are always going to be massively tainted by things like this, suppose it's ultrarunning's equivalent of PEDs.

Thanks Asher for checking on Robert Young.

We will see who this all works out in the next weeks.

okrunner wrote:

It is a bit depressing how any future record attempts are always going to be massively tainted by things like this, suppose it's ultrarunning's equivalent of PEDs.

I would say this guy is the PERFECT ultra runner, the quintessential ultra dude. Makes outlandish claims, rather than just race- he does some big showy stunt, in the end is proven to be noting but a preening Jackass.

Let's have anyone who can check up on this fraud and his lying associates. LOL the RV travelling at running speed in the middle of nowhere with him resting inside HAHA frauds!!

I think their lack of evidence really proves it is not legitimate. If I decided to run across the country, I would have constant video footage, GPS, updates every time I stopped and started running with time stamps. They took the time to set up a website with tracking and charities, but didn't think to have simple things to provide undoubted proof?

Heavyd84 wrote:

I think their lack of evidence really proves it is not legitimate. If I decided to run across the country, I would have constant video footage, GPS, updates every time I stopped and started running with time stamps. They took the time to set up a website with tracking and charities, but didn't think to have simple things to provide undoubted proof?

Yeah. Even the rebuttal on the website doesn't include any arguments beyond "you're a meany pants for questioning us." Why not present some counter evidence?

The good news is he has pacers lined up.

Pennsylvania: Jill Greathouse

New Jersey; Mike Rossi

West Virginia: Gregory Price

Illinois: Kip Litton

Indiana: Anne Gemkow

MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:

The good news is he has pacers lined up.

Pennsylvania: Jill Greathouse

New Jersey; Mike Rossi

West Virginia: Gregory Price

Illinois: Kip Litton

Indiana: Anne Gemkow

West Wyoming: Richard Rodriguez

I feel bad for the people whose names he's dragging into this fraud as supposed verification of authenticity. Verifying that he can occasional manage to run/walk 10 or 20 miles at a 4-5mph pace during the day after all that riding around in the van at night. Woo hoo.

You really underestimate what can be done with 900 people, a lot of space, and plenty of quiet. Honestly, what is better than trout-fishing, walking on the tracks, drinking beer, and barbequing or shooting bb's at cans in your enormous backyard, or the like. Small town life is underrated.

Here is an apparent response:

"However some idiots have written stupid things, calling into doubt what he is doing out here, which unfortunately get to Rob. Why he listens to these people I don’t know but he does. I won’t respond to them individually here but if and when Rob makes it to NYC I will name and shame those individuals for attacking an individual who is openly and sincerely doing something they are entirely incapable of doing themselves. We have been easily found by several people already by locating us on the tracker map on this website. We are out in the open doing something without guile or manipulation, and to accuse us or Rob of doing anything else is a very low thing to do, and completely without basis. Anyone who doubts the legitimacy of what Rob is doing is free to find us and follow us and to see for themselves what Rob is achieving. If you’re too lazy to be a witness yourself, then, from someone who has witnessed hundreds of his miles already, please have the self-respect to keep your doubts to yourself – or risk the chance that those doubts may one day turn around and bite you on your nose. We’re in Mark Twain country here in Missouri and, as in so many other instances, he made the point better than I could: ‘It’s better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt’."

Looks like people are starting to look into it seriously - some interesting comments on the ultrarunning community page on facebook (including a mention of the op's post)

no evidence wrote:

Heavyd84 wrote:

I think their lack of evidence really proves it is not legitimate. If I decided to run across the country, I would have constant video footage, GPS, updates every time I stopped and started running with time stamps. They took the time to set up a website with tracking and charities, but didn't think to have simple things to provide undoubted proof?

Yeah. Even the rebuttal on the website doesn't include any arguments beyond "you're a meany pants for questioning us." Why not present some counter evidence?

I think that's the main point. It definitely raises some eyebrows that when people have tried to join unannounced the dude doesn't seem to be running. But it's really the lack of strong verification - when it would be relatively easy to do so - that is especially damning in my opinion.

Who knows, maybe there is some explanation for why he didn't appear to be running in those cases. What I would love is (1) for them to start actually documenting his run in such a way that we can be sure he's actually running, or (2) for an independent third party to join him for, say, a week or so of the challenge. The next best thing would be more surprise visits in the night in the middle of nowhere. This can't prove he's running the whole time, but it can certainly disprove it if he is in fact cheating.

Heavyd84 wrote:

I think their lack of evidence really proves it is not legitimate. If I decided to run across the country, I would have constant video footage, GPS, updates every time I stopped and started running with time stamps. They took the time to set up a website with tracking and charities, but didn't think to have simple things to provide undoubted proof?

+1

I'm still at the reserving-my-judgment stage on this particular case, but given the monkey business that has been documented in so many other cases, and given how cheap tracking, GPS, and video technology is now, someone making an attempt like this should be creating iron-clad documentation.

As they should. You don't embark on something publicly like this and then cry when there is scrutiny. With all those resources they couldn't manage continuous video footage??? And the idea that there will always be doubters is ridiculous as a counter argument. Prove that he is running the whole way as opposed to asking people to simply not doubt him.

okrunner wrote:

Looks like people are starting to look into it seriously - some interesting comments on the ultrarunning community page on facebook (including a mention of the op's post)

mileage_man wrote:

(2) for an independent third party to join him for, say, a week or so of the challenge. The next best thing would be more surprise visits in the night in the middle of nowhere. This can't prove he's running the whole time, but it can certainly disprove it if he is in fact cheating.

Crowdfunding is currently happening on the ultralist to have some people follow him for a week. Hopefully it happens.

fadffafdsafaf wrote:

mileage_man wrote:

(2) for an independent third party to join him for, say, a week or so of the challenge. The next best thing would be more surprise visits in the night in the middle of nowhere. This can't prove he's running the whole time, but it can certainly disprove it if he is in fact cheating.

Crowdfunding is currently happening on the ultralist to have some people follow him for a week. Hopefully it happens.

So he'll either have to man up that week or that's when he'll get "injured".

Anyone else see on his website where it claims he slept an average of 3 hours a day ("average day sleep") for a consecutive 19 months, while running more than 26 miles per day sustained over that same period?

http://www.marathonmanuk.co.uk/running-stats/#Team

Do they mean he napped for an average of 3 hours during the day while then sleeping for 8-10 hours at night? Or do they seriously want us to believe that he ran > 180 miles per week on 3 hours sleep for a year and a half without a break?

Because if that's the case, he both needs to get help for his insomnia and must have some rare genetic mutation that should be studied.