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

Bobby Brady safety patrol wrote:

He is officially faster than half this Board and has a legit BQ Boston.

All of you should watch the ox-bow incident film. Your lynching is wrong and a neutral RD and committee just affirmed his time.

Good for him. Score one for justice and fairness over the anonymous mob bravery on this board and the article that never was. Likely today he is out for a run on a great day. Take your jealousy and go for a run all you safety patrollers.

1/10. some credit for effort. a bit too obvious.

I think you missed completely that the weasel is threatening lawsuits for defamation. This has nothing to do with Lehigh anymore so it is not over according to his lawyers. Let's run is the obvious target. I could give a crap less about LVM or him . If he sued for defamation it is all on the table and I for one will donate to help defend. BTW what legalities are there against a race directors discretionary DQ? How would it hurt him if he refused to provide any proof? Why would anyone besides Mike know or care about either of those two very specific points?

Cleared wrote:

Will Sarah, GregTR, and others issue Mike an apology?

Why would I? Based on what I have seen there is absolutely zero chance he was capable of running a 3:11 marathon that day. To me, and to any sane person who understands basic running physiology, it is obvious that he is incapable of running that time.

Even if he had photos on the course I'd be in utter disbelief. His race records indicate zero chance at the 3:11. And his story about not racing anything prior Lehigh is not only improbable but a factual lie given what he had posted himself on his blog about those "races" and "PRs".

The only think I might do is send an e-mail to Lehigh Valley RD to express my disappointment in their gutless decision.

Bobby Brady safety patrol wrote:

He is officially faster than half this Board and has a legit BQ Boston.

All of you should watch the ox-bow incident film. Your lynching is wrong and a neutral RD and committee just affirmed his time.

Good for him. Score one for justice and fairness over the anonymous mob bravery on this board and the article that never was. Likely today he is out for a run on a great day. Take your jealousy and go for a run all you safety patrollers.

uhh, I'm in my late 50s and moderate effort is faster than his 5K PR, so STFU!

A neighbor wrote:

I think you missed completely that the weasel is threatening lawsuits for defamation. This has nothing to do with Lehigh anymore so it is not over according to his lawyers. Let's run is the obvious target. I could give a crap less about LVM or him . If he sued for defamation it is all on the table and I for one will donate to help defend. BTW what legalities are there against a race directors discretionary DQ? How would it hurt him if he refused to provide any proof? Why would anyone besides Mike know or care about either of those two very specific points?

Then why don't you publicly accuse him of cheating, use your real name, and dare Mikey to sue you?

Jesus, get a life. It's over. Move on.

Bobby Brady safety patrol wrote:

He is officially faster than half this Board and has a legit BQ Boston.

All of you should watch the ox-bow incident film. Your lynching is wrong and a neutral RD and committee just affirmed his time.

Good for him. Score one for justice and fairness over the anonymous mob bravery on this board and the article that never was. Likely today he is out for a run on a great day. Take your jealousy and go for a run all you safety patrollers.

Let's give Mike a very simple challenge --- run a 10K race at least at his 7:19/mile BQ marathon pace. Of course, that is ridiculously easy for someone who ran a marathon at that pace, but let's just start there since he's never proven the ability to do so at even that distance.

Lets face if who cares , Rossi nothing but a low life who has no chance of running a 3:11 marathon , everyone knows he cheated and either way who cares he only cheated the system to make himself look life a jackass with his lousy running times , Rossi you can gloat today but remember your a C- Level runner who will never in his lifetime break a 3:25 marathon , and before i got you look like a real idiot wearing you Boston gear

elephino wrote:

Posse wrote:(quote from Rossi) I continue to rehab my injury and look forward to getting back to running as soon as I'm healthy.

Shut up Mike. You lawyered up and LVM, which had not much to gain but a lot to lose by DQing you and fighting a lawsuit, caved. Take it and move on. Shut up about the stupid injury excuse for not running or not running a 3:11.

Everyone who paid attention knows you cheated. You have not been vindicated or proven right. You have avoided a DQ, which would have meant nothing anyway because you didn't win an award and you've already run Boston.

Your name will live in infamy with Rosie Ruiz, Kip Litton, Alex V, and other liars and cheaters.

Maybe you can help OJ look for the real killers now.

This sums it up --- Rossi was not vindicated.

Notice that the LVM statement gave absolutely no mention of finding any evidence to support that he ran the race. Funny how he now has his "injury" to hide behind so that he won't have to actually run any races and have to explain his comparatively (to his "BQ") slow times.

huh what? wrote:

Bobby Brady safety patrol wrote:

He is officially faster than half this Board and has a legit BQ Boston.

All of you should watch the ox-bow incident film. Your lynching is wrong and a neutral RD and committee just affirmed his time.

Good for him. Score one for justice and fairness over the anonymous mob bravery on this board and the article that never was. Likely today he is out for a run on a great day. Take your jealousy and go for a run all you safety patrollers.

uhh, I'm in my late 50s and moderate effort is faster than his 5K PR, so STFU!

Prove it. Got any pictures? Oh you are anonymous? Why you so upset? Touched a nerve? You are slower and jealous.

You all treat this guy like steve Bartman and Cubs fans as though he stole something from you that you never had and never will. Bitterness is yours. Decide how long you prefer that taste.

Mike is a buffoon. He can gloat all he wants about Lehigh not DQing him, but it's not the same thing as Lehigh coming out with a statement confirming he ran the race. OJ was acquitted; who here thinks he didn't do it? We will all going on thinking he's a two-bit cheater. That will never change.

Mike would be a fool to run another race. This board will analyze any and all races he ever runs, and his times will never, ever match those of an actual 3:10 marathoner.

Of course, Mike is a fool, so he'll run again. I hope he does. He will provide us with lots of enjoyment as we see him trot along - dressed in his Boston marathon gear, of course - to a 22:00 5k.

Mike Rossi... 3:10 marathoner. What a pathetic joke. Mike, if you're reading this, be sure to tell your attorney he's a joke, too. Threatening to sue a charitable organization to prevent the deflation of your ego. Very classy.

Not a single documented running buddy ever stood up to vouch for his time, or training, or ability to run anywhere close to a 3:11 marathon?

If I'm recalling correctly, that is so telling to me. What a farce. Very disappointed with the race management at LVM. This should have been an easy call on their side.

A neighbor wrote:

BTW what legalities are there against a race directors discretionary DQ?

Exactly.

I'm the Race Director. All decisions regarding results are mine to make, final, and were a condition of race entry. Now what is it you are suing me for exactly?

I mean, can you imagine getting accused of cheating on your fastest race ever - by far - a huge achievement, and not being able to produce anything at all? SMH...

You mad, bro?

elephino wrote:

Posse wrote:(quote from Rossi) I continue to rehab my injury and look forward to getting back to running as soon as I'm healthy.

Shut up Mike. You lawyered up and LVM, which had not much to gain but a lot to lose by DQing you and fighting a lawsuit, caved. Take it and move on. Shut up about the stupid injury excuse for not running or not running a 3:11.

Everyone who paid attention knows you cheated. You have not been vindicated or proven right. You have avoided a DQ, which would have meant nothing anyway because you didn't win an award and you've already run Boston.

Your name will live in infamy with Rosie Ruiz, Kip Litton, Alex V, and other liars and cheaters.

Maybe you can help OJ look for the real killers now.

Any runner - not to mention a media hound like Mike - would have posted splits and race pics. He (Mike) definitiely would have promoted himself to high heaven. Any runner knows that 3:11 is a higher achievement than just running Boston. Anyone would take pride in running Boston but the extreme PR is the greater achievement. He had little to say about his BQ because he didn't do it except in his own mind.

Maggie2 wrote:

I mean, can you imagine getting accused of cheating on your fastest race ever - by far - a huge achievement, and not being able to produce anything at all? SMH...

Rojo....I think we would crowdfund your $10k :)

It's too bad that the cheater was not officially caught, but I guess I can understand why they would want to avoid the potential legal hassles. In the end, everyone looks pretty awful in this, and the legitimacy of this race is PERMANENTLY tarnished.

At any rate, I recommend we all do the Lehigh Valley challenge next year. It's not about finishing in the least amount of time, it's about finishing in the last amount of miles!

If Mike Rossi was threatening to sue VIA, they should have crowdfunded for their defense. He wouldn't have gone through with it anyhow and the marathon could have donated the money to charity.

Win-win for them!

I don't think that I'd want to donate money on their behalf now, even if it resulted in Rossi's DQ. My money will be going to other marathons and, if I want to support VIA's charity, I'll donate money directly to the charity, rather than running their pathetic excuse of a marathon.

Not much to think about, we will do it. Would be great to bring in expert witnesses about his impossible 'feat of strength' so to speak. Make Mike mortgage his house to defend the indefensible. Bring it.

WWRD wrote:

Rojo....I think we would crowdfund your $10k :)