Sandra Vi going for record across America

Mimi jump again, another sudden jump. She and the two vehicles are together. This is likely her lunch break.

Lat, Lon: 38.085036, -102.412135

Mimi Time: 2017-09-27, 19:26:18 GMT

Distance covered: ~ 1 mile

Time: 18 minutes.

The car jumped to where the RV is stopped.

Watching it unfold wrote:

Finally they are uploading Strava data from yesterday.

And this morning's run almost immediately after stopping. A first.

Watching it unfold wrote:

Finally they are uploading Strava data from yesterday.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1204635727

A ton of sub 12 min miles in those two runs, some very close to 11!

Wow, for someone who was having trouble she is absolutely flying now!

I guess the speeds on those trackers weren't far off after all.

How does she do it? AMAZING

Note that day in, and day out, Mimi's morning run distance is very consistent ~50-52 km, and her afternoon runs are also very consistent ~42 km.

"This is a blatant publicity grab from someone who makes a career out of self promotion"

You've summed her and this stunt up very well my friend.

Some, but not all, of Mimi's results are on here:

http://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=17280

Mimi spoke to myself and others before this attempt to try and do her utmost to make sure the record was sufficiently documented, not just for Guinness but for you guys on LR too. I think she actually came on the forum and asked for advice on how to do this.

Previously someone mentioned the Ice Ultra in 2016, I was out there at the same time as Mimi and it wasn't smooth going, with a lot of melt water on the lake surfaces that froze to your snowshoes. It wasn't actually 230km either, they had to shorten the event to nearly 200km but it was long days. I think Mimi was 1st or joint 1st with Caroline, they were back and forth a lot. It wasn't a large or strong field so this doesn't really show anything apart from a willingness to put herself out of her comfort zone and strive to finish.

Issues of the tracker aside, and for what little it seems worth, I would happily vouch for Mimi's character and ability to undertake this task. She would rather fail than cheat.

I have seen Mimi bent almost backwards the first time she tried to Double the Spartahlon, timed out at the final CP and I have seen her complete other long distances races, like the 145 mile Grand Union Canal Race, very strongly. Her 28:12 hours in 2010 there is a top end performance.

I don't wish to get involved on these forums again, I got quite obsessed during the whole Rob Young ordeal (I called him out as a cheat from the start) as well as calling out Dave Reading as a fraud even before he'd set foot on his challenge.

As a very skeptical runner, who understands what it takes to undertake large running distances and multiday runs (although thing of the JOGLE or RAAM distance) Mimi is someone I feel has the experience and ability to go slowly, day after day, knowing her own strengths are not pure speed, but pacing and enduring.

You guys have done some fine work ferreting out some of these cheats in the past, for that I commend you, but I feel you've got this one wrong. Feels a bit like Salem all over again...

Robbie Britton wrote:

Mimi spoke to myself and others before this attempt to try and do her utmost to make sure the record was sufficiently documented, not just for Guinness but for you guys on LR too. I think she actually came on the forum and asked for advice on how to do this.

She obviously didn't take the advice on board, I wonder why?

Thank you very much for taking the time to contribute, Robbie. You wrote in very measured prose and your pedigree should make the sceptics sit up and listen (use google).

For the record, I am one such sceptic who is now waiting to see how this plays out with more confidence in Mimi. I do wish she wouldn't brand herself marvellous and run for charity, though.

Reasonable question. wrote:

She obviously didn't take the advice on board, I wonder why?

Or did she, and then got it wrong? My current feeling is that she's for real but either her or her team has screwed up the details of what was required to make it happen.

I wonder what GWR will make of it all?

Gary kiernan wrote:

Now don't be a twat, that's proof of nothing.

Please ban this irresponsible poster immediately, plus he's not using a FB account.

Robbie Britton wrote:

I don't wish to get involved on these forums again, I got quite obsessed during the whole Rob Young ordeal (I called him out as a cheat from the start) as well as calling out Dave Reading as a fraud even before he'd set foot on his challenge.

As a very skeptical runner, who understands what it takes to undertake large running distances and multiday runs (although thing of the JOGLE or RAAM distance) Mimi is someone I feel has the experience and ability to go slowly, day after day, knowing her own strengths are not pure speed, but pacing and enduring.

You guys have done some fine work ferreting out some of these cheats in the past, for that I commend you, but I feel you've got this one wrong. Feels a bit like Salem all over again...

Ahem, you came out in defence of Amy Hughes' fake treadmill WR, which pretty much destroyed your credibility in assuring the performances of others.

Your own credibility as an endurance runner does remain intact, but please reflect on the fact that you defended Amy.

Well said Robbie.

I guess some of the frustration is caused by that unfortunate tracker and the not so timely upload of Strava data.

Transparency is the key in such an event.

Looking just at the numbers and reports I think both Transcon attempts by Sandy Villines and Mimi Anderson are legit. I don't think we will see anything like the Robert Young saga which was suspicious from day 1.

Sandy and Mimi can't be compared to that. They have done races with others before and there daily running right now looks within there possibilities.

Name Calling Alert wrote:

Gary kiernan wrote:

Now don't be a twat, that's proof of nothing.

Please ban this irresponsible poster immediately, plus he's not using a FB account.

Haha, funny. Plus he's abusing us on the silly group he admins, calling us arseholes! Cute. I don't see any of us calling HIM abusive names on here or on that group, just a few home truths he doesn't like

Gary Kiernan

............ but unfortunately you also have some pathetic little arseholes who hide behind their anonymity to snipe and post snide comments. LR are welcome here. I'd be happy to debate the facts of what's happened with any of the forum.

He continues to invite people to the group but then bans them!

Where's Mimi? wrote:

Why can't we meet up to run with Mimi? What do the trackers have to do with running along with her? Another RED flag.

You can meet up with Mimi. That's what the tracker was originally intended to allow people to do, let others know where she is so they can join her. It's absolutely encouraged.

Yes it's the same data and has all the cadence and elevation data etc.

Also with movescount it's not possible to upload a GPX file to the system. It's from the device or manual entry nothing else.

Yes I am sure a hacker could do something but if you think someone on that team is a great hacker then I am pretty sure they would have been smart enough to ensure the tracker was working properly.

All the data looks good just a poor tracking system and possibly a few mistake and forgetfulness to charge it up when they should.

Remember when Rob you did it the complaint was no dat at all and trackers that was claiming silly distances and routes and pace etc.

Not seen any of that here.

I am sure suunto who provided all 4 devices to her will be able to verify the data.

Markus wrote:

Well said Robbie.

I guess some of the frustration is caused by that unfortunate tracker and the not so timely upload of Strava data.

Transparency is the key in such an event.

Looking just at the numbers and reports I think both Transcon attempts by Sandy Villines and Mimi Anderson are legit. I don't think we will see anything like the Robert Young saga which was suspicious from day 1.

Sandy and Mimi can't be compared to that. They have done races with others before and there daily running right now looks within there possibilities.

Their x2

Robbie Britton wrote:

Mimi spoke to myself and others before this attempt to try and do her utmost to make sure the record was sufficiently documented, not just for Guinness but for you guys on LR too. I think she actually came on the forum and asked for advice on how to do this.

This is one of the major issues at fault, and its been repeated here and on URC: that she has done her utmost to prove the effort. She also said repeatedly in interviews that she was going to do her utmost to prove credibility. Well the MAJOR problem here is that no, in no way, has she followed through with doing that! She has not done her utmost. She knew a long time ago that having impartial observers on these things 24/7 is impossible, and that consequently, the LOGGED DATA from the watches AND from the Tracker is EVERYTHING. Furthermore, having legitimate accurate logging independently, from the tracker and the phones, is CRITICAL, to provide reference comparison. And yet, knowing this fact full well, she picked a relatively unknown tracking company that provided a shoddy method to realtime track, not using direct satellite communication, but instead a very poor crappy cell tower triangulation. Even cell tower triangulation, properly done, could likely have done much better than what her chosen solution is providing. If you don't believe me, I can show you screen shots taken this morning where Mimi was supposedly running 14MPH according to her tracker! Now most unfortunately, only after prodding here and on URC is when we find out that the tracking company, per his URC posts, DID alert the Mimi team along time ago that his tracking device was, basically, not accurate for anything more than gross position location. He said that he told them to post that fact. But it wasn't until further prodding by him in the last couple of days that the Mimi website now admits the realtime tracking is inaccurate.

Robbie Britton wrote:

You guys have done some fine work ferreting out some of these cheats in the past, for that I commend you, but I feel you've got this one wrong.

We do not have it wrong. Mimi's data tracking method is inadequate for a WR attempt. In the 1990s, sure (video, photos, sworn statements, without Strava). But these days no.

Mimi could be Jesus Christ and it would make no difference. BTW: Jesus had a gap in his life when his wereabouts were unknown.

Robbie Britton wrote:

I have seen Mimi bent almost backwards the first time she tried to Double the Spartahlon, timed out at the final CP and I have seen her complete other long distances races, like the 145 mile Grand Union Canal Race, very strongly. Her 28:12 hours in 2010 there is a top end performance.

Um, you do realize the race you cite happened seven years ago (worth mentioning since she's now 55) and that a 145 mile race has little to do with her current claims of being able to run 55 mile days for weeks on end (through desert, up mountains, in all kinds of weather)? I mean no offense but it really is an apples to oranges comparison (not sure if you have that expression over there). I'm sure she's a lovely lady, marvelous even if her own words are to be believed.

It is inexplicable that after observing runners like Rob Young and Pete Kostelnick she chose to pursue the record in this manner. I hope she will consider trying it again as a legitimate attempt. It is always inspiring when we see true athletes perform at their limits.