Roderick Powell wrote:
People who "investigate" seem to do quite an amateur job. ... Their too, are many pictures of Frank throughout the LA Marathon. The picture of Frank where he crosses a mat is at the 10k mark. The guy in the orange shirt is bib 16809. (frank beat him by 9 minutes in the end. Do some real research and will leave no doubt as to the truth.
I've looked at the LA photos on finisherpics. Frank appears in 16 photos, excluding the finish. However 13 are from an overhead view at a timing mat. The other three look to be at three different locations. However, the overhead are probably the most valuable in supporting Frank's case. The photo with the guy in the orange shirt doesn't prove much but the photo next to that, 3017_067805 , is more useful. In that photo Frank is running next to a guy dressed almost all in black, black shirt, compression shorts, shoes and headband. He has a pair of grey shorts over the compression shorts. The main distinguishing feature of his appearance is a white triangular logo over his left breast. Unfortunately his number is obscured but starts A110. In that photo he and Frank are running more or less side by side.
He and Frank later appear in the overhead shots. Photo 3017_286469 is a good example. He is now about 50 yards ahead of Frank. I wasn't sure it was the same person but the triangular logo is the clincher. I've managed to track down that runner, his full number is A1108. There is a good picture of him and Frank in his photo set, 3017_067803. In that photo it is obviously the same guy as in Frank's set. He finished in 3:04:21 which is in the same ball park as Frank.
I was a little concerned that there were several photos of runner 1108 running through what I assume is the city center, Madame Tussaud's is in the background, and these appear to be taken by two different photographers. There are none in Frank's set. Then I realized that the photographers are to the left of the runners but Frank is wearing his number on his right hip so it will be obscured from them. Unfortunately, Frank wasn't with 1108 by that time. I looked through the photos of runners who finished around Frank but was not able to find one of Frank at that location, but I only went through about ten sets whereas I thorough search would involve a couple of hundred. It's a pity as a photo of him at that location would be very useful.
If Frank is going to go for the record on a certified course in a sanctioned race please tell him to wear his bib prominently. I know you are annoyed with the skepticism shown on this site but outstanding claims require outstanding proof. Not only does he need to hit every timing mat but he also needs to be the most photogenic guy in the race.
I don't know how familiar you are with cheating in running but there have been some spectacular cases. One guy, Kip Litton even had an article written about him in the New Yorker. He turned cheating into an art form. Another notorious individual is Kelly Agnew. He won several ultra races but once he was found out the disqualifications came thick and fast, I believe over twelve as race directors went back over the results.
