Badwater 135; Discussion Thread

No one said it was their fault. I just said it wasn't a record. You can't ride in a shuttle as part of a record.

Correct. They still ran the same distance. And honestly, Ashley had an incredible time going before she ever hit that part which was at about 118 miles in.

Anyone know if Bad water drug tested Ashley after her win?

Anyone know if the twins had to take their own shuttle or were they allowed to shuttle with the registered athletes?

How is it still 135 mi if she rode in a van (again)? Push the finish line a few miles forward?

They had all competitors run a section of a different route due to flooding. it was during the flat portion and was in the same area (same distance and elevation) so they ran down and then shuttled back to pick back up on the regular route and head into the last stretch of the race. Ashley was given 21 minutes to be driven the 17 miles or so, so it was very strict on timing. Officials were at both areas, monitoring. This video shows how it was handled. This is also a comment after Ashley completed that shuttle portion.

Note:
We are giving the runners 23 minutes - not 21 minutes - for this
shuttle section. 21 minutes was just too close. Only Ashley Paulson had
21 minutes; she got out of her car with 11 seconds to spare. For
everyone else, it's 23 minutes. These minutes will be deducted at the finish line.

https://www.facebook.com/badwater135/videos/680183010791532

The benefits of PEDs are lifelong - from the enhanced training during the period of usage to physiological changes as a result of the usage. It doesn’t go away and accidental usage is still usage, even if accidental. Why was Justin Gatlin still fast at 37? Years of benefit that simply doesn’t go away.

Wow can't believe we're here again. I guess my question is why doesn't she post to Strava right away like most other people?

My question is why does this matter?

Post to Strava?

What in the world are you even talking about? She ran with a pack, then pulled away from the pack and picked off the leaders, then went solo to the finish, all while being watched by her fellow competitors and race officials.

Would someone winning a marathon, running behind the lead vehicle the whole way, or winning a 10,000 meters on the track need to "post to Strava" to prove they won?

PEOPLE WATCHED HER RUN AND WIN, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

My goodness...

Strava is not a tool to verify races.

Seriously?

Read the USADA press release.

She used a supplement that, through USADA testing, was found to be tainted. She accepted responsibility and was suspended long enough for it to clear her system. As I have said, this could happen to anyone that buys a product from GNC or gets a protein shake from Jamba Juice.

You think she is still reaping the incredible benefits from this tainted supplement seven years later?

How did you do in high school science classes?

If this is true, it would be stupid not to use PEDs.

The reality is that PEDs have lots of side effects, may impact ones health negatively, and prone to abuse. That's the whole reason of banning it.

What you described is miracle drug. There is no miracle drug.

Funny how these things seem to find her?

Poor Ashley used a tainted supplement. Poor Ashley course cut by mistake (the failed to disclose that while bragging on social media).

Poor Ashley had a body double surreptitiously run with her last year, and manipulated data.

Please. She's as dirty as the bottom of the Mississippi.

RAWR, kitty! Still faking the past course time statistics?

The thing is, I ran a half-marathon where mile 10 (or thereabouts) was only 0.7 miles long according to my watch. I don't know what happened. I guess I missed a short detour somewhere. I wasn't going to be taking a medal position away from anyone, so I just finished normally and didn't count the race as a PR.

It can happen. AFAIK, she informed the officials immediately, which is what you are supposed to do.

I find her time incredible, but maybe she's just some super heat and distance tolerating freak of nature.

Paulson is an iFit coach. She's a decent athlete and she exercises for a living.

Ashley also seems to have cut the course at Red Mountain 55k in 2021 and has never released any gps data from that. Multiple people who were there have mentioned that they believe she skipped one of the loops.