#badforthesport If we have this much controversy from something coming out of the running community, especially something that is supposed to be uniquely fun in the running community, then regardless of right or wrong, as a community we should be taking a strong look in the mirror to think about whether there's a reason that this should or shouldn't be a controversy. Does that tussle relate to bettering the sport or diminishing the integrity of the sport? Are we bringing money to the sport or damaging the brand value of the sport (yes, running is a branded image we sell at all levels)?
Last year we screamed that the rules of stepping over a line were a reason to demonize the person who clearly dominated the field.
This year we let a person banned from NGB competition run a race and claim a WR in the process, and we're celebrating that fact.
I understand that the rules are the rules and that we're apparently celebrating following rules for their own sake, even if it means challenging the very foundation that our sport is built on, definitive integrity and pushing the limits of what the unaided body can accomplish, but again, is this good for the sport?
We want people to take our sport more seriously and yet we opt to take drugs, let banned athletes run in sanctioned races, and celebrate their accomplishments.
Regardless if "everyone is doing it" does it make it right if we have evidence that can say, "yeah, this person cheated; it's public information, but we don't care. We like this person" as a reason to keep celebrating and perpetuating this attitude?
Lowering the bar doesn't raise the sport and whether we like it or not, the Beer Mile is growing and is a part of this sport. If it wasn't, we wouldn't have NGB banned athletes trying to gain attention from competing in it or any of us talking about it.