Robert Young fakes run across America

I don't think that Phil Turner is a real person. Its either Dustin or RY or someone else in on the deception. That account was also accusing Lindley Chambers of being a troll as well. Before Lindley was presumably blocked and his comments deleted. 'phil' also posted on a comment on the run4peace group. That still has a picture of Rob on that pages header, although I doubt RY would turn up. Surely not?

Yes, it's possible Phil Turner is just a pseudonym for Rob or Dustin. He does seem way too much of a sap to be real. But you never know!

There doesn't seem to be much activity on the run4peace site. I doubt the event will go ahead if what I've read about the numbers of sign ups is true.

Out of interest has anyone contacted 'Dreams Come True'? Rob has described himself as am ambassador for this charity, but he is not listed as such on their website. I'm unsure as to whether they have already dropped him, their website is inaccurate or he was never an ambassador in the first place.

Trinity1976 wrote:

It's a shame you guys who are not in the UK are unable to access Rob's Facebook page anymore.

You don't have to be in the UK, you just have to change your FB location.

(Un)fortunately it seems you have to have a UK IP address somehow. In Russia I can't access "cheating MarathomManUK" FB page either.

Trinity1976 wrote:

Out of interest has anyone contacted 'Dreams Come True'? Rob has described himself as am ambassador for this charity, but he is not listed as such on their website. I'm unsure as to whether they have already dropped him, their website is inaccurate or he was never an ambassador in the first place.

Yes, I made contact with their Trustees when this kicked off, as they have a duty of due diligence and good governance to consider where and how funds are raised for them. I had a comprehensive, polite, reply from the Chair himself: they are well aware of the regulations and guidance of the Charity Commission. I have no doubt this will be raised at their next Board meeting, when they can make a decision about whether or not to maintain their relationship with RY.

Typed too soon - you're right, he has already been removed on their website. Although for LRers it's a no-brainer, as a charity it's a tough call between needing those funds (which are auditable and above board here in the UK) and having to consider under what circumstances and by whom those funds are raised. If RY has genuinely raised £200,000 for them (for the US amongst you, post-Brexit this amounts to about $13.76) then it's a tough call to wave goodbye to that.

Racergirl wrote:

Yes, I made contact with their Trustees when this kicked off, as they have a duty of due diligence and good governance to consider where and how funds are raised for them. I had a comprehensive, polite, reply from the Chair himself: they are well aware of the regulations and guidance of the Charity Commission. I have no doubt this will be raised at their next Board meeting, when they can make a decision about whether or not to maintain their relationship with RY.

Fantastic stuff.

follower from RUS wrote:

(Un)fortunately it seems you have to have a UK IP address somehow. In Russia I can't access "cheating MarathomManUK" FB page either.

I don't think so, I am not in the UK and haven't been for a long time, but I changed my FB "Lives in ..." to a place in England.

----

Rob Young has withdrawn from Run4Peace 2016. Adam Holland is now set to be the sole athlete completing all 1,000km of the relay. Full statement here:

"Rob Young – who completed a 2,200+ mile torch relay for the Aegis Trust with Adam Holland in 2015 – has decided to withdraw in order to avoid attention being diverted from the cause. This follows an investigation indicating that he received unauthorised assistance during his 2016 World Record attempt for the fastest run across the United States."

---

Btw, I am already hating the words "received unauthorised assistance". Just say that he cheated, please.

Here is a much better article than that rubbish that appeared in the Guardian, the author actually makes the connection that much of Rob's back story should now be questioned: http://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/other-sports/2016/10/04/robert-young/

So if I were to do the 3 marathons in 30 hr challenge... At my peak I was a low 2:40 guy. (It is a stretch to believe RY is or ever was one. Maybe he is a low 3 hr guy)....

I would jog the first marathon in about 4+ hrs taking a couple of gallowalking breaks in the middle. I might then eat a meal and rest two hrs and get started on the second one in the high 3 hr range or whatever it was. I think I could do that. It would still really suck running that many miles.

The challenge is the last marathon in 3:19 - easy when you are fresh. But by now you've run about 8 hrs on your legs and have less than one day to recover. I would admit it would be tough - sounds easy on paper but I don't think it is. I think I could probably gut it out (no pun intended) but I would not enjoy it in the least. I don't think a 3 hr marathoner could do it.

Thanks, you totally get it. It sounds easy on paper.

I have almost identical PRs to Rob Young's real PRs with a PR of 3:06:45 in the marathon. I don't think the challenge would be difficult, especially if I had the time to train. As far as I know, Rob has plenty of time to train.

triathleteguru wrote:

I have almost identical PRs to Rob Young's real PRs with a PR of 3:06:45 in the marathon. I don't think the challenge would be difficult, especially if I had the time to train. As far as I know, Rob has plenty of time to train.

Forget the challenges. The question is not whether Rob can do these stunts, it's whether he did (hint: he didn't).

We know he can run a long ways, maybe even run quickly. The guy who ran 60 miles with Rob thought it was after Rob had already run nearly 300 miles. That wasn't true, but Rob did run 60 miles straight and probably at least some before that.

In the Transcon con, Rob was by his own account 20 lbs heavy and out of shape and was going to run himself into shape during the con. He didn't run what he said he did, but he did run quite a bit. If he got himself in shape, he could easily do the 3 marathon challenge.

There's no challenge that will disprove his claims, and no reason for a challenge because he's already been outed as a cheater.

triguru - I don't know you obviously, I certainly admire all you have done in the Rossi and this thread. However, I doubt you could come within 12 minutes of your marathon PR after running two other marathons within about 24 hrs. You would have to train substantially and get a lot faster and be able to tolerate a lot of pounding on your legs. IMHO.

I ran with Robert during his 373 mile run.

3 Marathons Isn't That Far wrote:

Running 78.6 miles in 30 hours would not be a remarkable or difficult accomplishment. Based on the results of the latest USATF 24 Hour race results, 1/3 of the field accomplished this distance in 24 hours or less. I think you'd be out $100,000.

2016 USATF 24 Hour Race Results - North Coast 24:

http://verticalrunnerrm.com/assets/001e136cc64704a90bb591ac9764ba83.pdf

That's not what I'm asking. I'm asking for 3 marathons. Wake up one day, run the first one in 4:07 or faster. That night run one in 3:28 and then only sleep 4 hours and run a third one the next morning in 3:19.

My brother is now 43. He ran 28:06 for 10,000. He's is good shape for a 40-year old and could break 3:00 in the marathon. There is NO WAY he could do that however. How old is Rossi?

HE was never an elite runner. I think there is no way he could do it either.

Dirk Diggler.. wrote:

However, I doubt you could come within 12 minutes of your marathon PR after running two other marathons within about 24 hrs. You would have to train substantially and get a lot faster and be able to tolerate a lot of pounding on your legs. IMHO.

You are right in that I would have to train substantially and get faster. But, I wouldn't advise anyone to wager $100,000 on me not being able to! With Rossi, it was too big an improvement, the $100k was safe. With Rob, there's no telling what he is actually able to do. I agree with Elephino, I don't think there is a need for the challenge, he is a cheater!

rojo wrote:

That's not what I'm asking. I'm asking for 3 marathons. Wake up one day, run the first one in 4:07 or faster. That night run one in 3:28 and then only sleep 4 hours and run a third one the next morning in 3:19.

I would advise against this challenge! Your brother might not be able to do this because his legs aren't conditioned to take the pounding. But, an ultra runner with much worse credentials than your brother might be able to, I wouldn't risk the $100k.

You are much better off spending $10k and do some investigative reporting, hire a private eye or two and dig into his backstory. Contact Andy Persson, write a follow up to your most recent article and expose him even more! BTW, thanks for not holding back with your article!

ExpertKipWatcher wrote:

Be careful wrote:

Be careful, his early splits for 2015 London Marathon are 5k 17:31, 10k 36:31, and half 01:22:18.

He ended up finishing in 3:07 (he claims to have done a 20 minute interview during the marathon), but he's not the slouch some people on here make him out to be.

I'd like to see him replicate his 10k PB or tell us which official race he ran it in. That'd be worth some money.

Given his total lack of pacing ability I would suggest that these are his de facto PRs for those distances and he blew up around 20 miles that day.

I passed him about 18 miles that day (he was still in his phase of running in a kilt so pretty recognisable - I remember lots of people encouraging him as they went by because at that stage I think most, including me, had heard him interviewed on programmes like Marathon Talk and hadn't clicked that he's a fraud) and I ran 2.53 so I reckon you're right about the last few miles!