Frank Meza 2:53:10 at LA Marathon (70 years old) unofficial time (just finished)

Correction. I think he actually made it to three photo points in this one, so his skills were really improving over the Surf City years. He even manages a wave to say "helloooo! I am really here on the course, Mister Photographer!"

They must know. wrote:

There are more in the know than letting on. wrote:

That's Frank with fellow Kaiser Permanente doctor and Loyola High coach Phillip Bland, he was also one of The Three Banditos in the Pasadena half, the other two are also KP doctors, they must know what he's been up to all these years with his shenanigans.

They must know, they're doctors FFS involved in fitness, health and coaching, they regularly run the same marathons as him, Phillip and Sara 4 hours plus, Francisco 3 hours plus and they seem legit.

I guess if I had an older coworker who was something of a mentor/icon and maybe even a boss or a friend of my boss, and he had an obsessive/compulsive habit of cheating at races, I would just sort of not mention it, change the subject, and not call him out on it, while always being uneasy about it. If he ever asked me how my race went, I would just say "fine" and then change the subject. I think this is how he has gotten a pass on it for so long, between his age and his career.

Cis Chris wrote:

New to this thread, currently reading page 37, in the remaining pages does anyone ask if his number is recorded a second time when the lady wears it across the finish line?

Where I'm reading someone just mentioned maybe a fake bib is involved. I'm liking that idea as it could be run at a steady state and if Frank had the fake one he could just bop on and off the course as needed. And could freely hand it to a buddy to get a finishing medal if they are banditing the race without fear of it registering a time for him again.

Maybe the timing company would still have that data.?

Do what Frank does....jump off at page 37, then re-enter the thread near the finish...then all will be revealed.

Or you can just accept this sentence as the outcome

great photo wrote:

great photo to show what a 02:53:26 runner shouldn't look like lol

http://www.finisherpix.com/gallery/photos/en/usd/2487/2920

Is he wearing Nike Forever XC flats here??

Nope, that's a custom made racing flat made for the doctor. It is called the Zoom Never. "Never" being the number of times he has finished a race without cheating.

I am working on obtaining more photos from the automatic camera at LA. I can't help but think/hope that there may be evidence of him as he first gets to the sidewalk.

Frank knows the course, and he knows where the checkpoints are. He likely drives and parks as close as possible to the checkpoints. He probably parks just beyond the checkpoints and backtracks on side streets, or up the sidewalk before running back towards the checkpoint (and his car). He drives ahead and repeats.

Here is his video from L.A. btw

https://download.finisherpix.tv/video_download/3017/1151

ok, I'm new here, really new! what the heck is going on and does this guy know about this site and that you've got the goods on him? this is so blatantly obvious I'm just a tad embarrassed for the bloke! how much more evidence is needed?

Like the way the finish keeps getting replayed and the announcers comment:

"2:53 and change, Frank you are incredible" - Classic.

He certainly is.

The understatement of the year so far.

new-here wrote:

ok, I'm new here, really new! what the heck is going on and does this guy know about this site and that you've got the goods on him? this is so blatantly obvious I'm just a tad embarrassed for the bloke! how much more evidence is needed?

Read the thread.

And your question about the woman and Frank's bid in the half, not even LR's top super sleuths and conspiracy theorists could come up with answer as to what that was all about.

?. wrote:

Like the way the finish keeps getting replayed and the announcers comment:

"2:53 and change, Frank you are incredible" - Classic.

He certainly is.

The understatement of the year so far.

"Seventy years young, going 2:53 and change, Frank you are incredible"

Makes it even more incredible.

BTW, as a rep for Nike, there was some fierce competition for the doctor's endorsement and sponsorship. As you can imagine, all the shoe companies want a piece of the next GOAT of age group distance running. We had to compete with Saucony, who proposed a new racing flat called the "Hitch a RIDE" based on the doctor's racing tactics, using its Neverrun foam. We also had to compete with Asics, who pitched the "Gel Shortcut," Mizuno, who pitched a new shoe called the "Wave Hello to the Photographers So They Think You Actually Ran the Full Distance," New Balance's "Fresh Fraud Foam," Adidas' "Boosted by a Car," and Altra's "Zero Drop and Also Zero Running" pitches.

In the end, Nike is proud to say that the Zoom Never won the doctor's endorsement.

"2:53 and change!"

"Change" being about 5 hours if he had actually run the entire distance.

Derek, that video is game over. I am now 100% convinced that Frank has cheated. There is zero doubt he has never run sub three. I have run several events where skilled announcers call out your name and sometimes your age and time. It is very hard to believe that Frank got away with finishing with those times at his age without anyone saying WTF. Frank Meza is so brazen with all of this. I have to question whether Francisco, Sara and Phillip paid to run the Pasadena Half-Marathon. It is also hard to believe Francisco is not aware of his father's inability to run this fast. He ran 3"09 in LAM 2018. I would question that. Frank Meza was laboring just to run quite slow for what little distance he actually runs. Someone posted your articles on the Long Beach Marathon website. (under a comment I made congratulating Frank Meza after the Long Beach Marathon 2017) The trail races and Pikes Peak marathon were the smoking gun. That was the real Frank Meza. That should have been enough. He was doing ok. Middle of the pack, but someone who "loves running" would have been fine with his times. Assuming even those were not cheated.

How could any RD look at that video and Frank Meza's finishing times at their races and not realize he "got them".

Right there’s the reason. Hearing your name, being called “incredible” for someone who maybe didn’t have much athletic glory in his younger years.

All the other sub3 people were running at a pace that carries them well past the timing mat. Frank barely makes it past and looks winded from doing the half mile stretch down Ocean Blvd.

quite possibly the post of this thread... or the year. My stomach hurts so bad from laughing so hard, pretty sure I haven't laughed this hard since the Fanny Pack thread. Thanks "FillNite," I owe you a beer.

FillNite wrote:

BTW, as a rep for Nike, there was some fierce competition for the doctor's endorsement and sponsorship. As you can imagine, all the shoe companies want a piece of the next GOAT of age group distance running. We had to compete with Saucony, who proposed a new racing flat called the "Hitch a RIDE" based on the doctor's racing tactics, using its Neverrun foam. We also had to compete with Asics, who pitched the "Gel Shortcut," Mizuno, who pitched a new shoe called the "Wave Hello to the Photographers So They Think You Actually Ran the Full Distance," New Balance's "Fresh Fraud Foam," Adidas' "Boosted by a Car," and Altra's "Zero Drop and Also Zero Running" pitches.

In the end, Nike is proud to say that the Zoom Never won the doctor's endorsement.

Other company bids

Brooks: Special edition “Course Ghost WR” featuring DNR (Did Not Run) Foam Midsole

Hoka’s bid was especially strong but in the end a deep pocketed bid won out.

CARBON DATED FM

Hoka is introducing the new Carbon Dated FM racing flat with NOMAT foam technology for the runner who is too fast to bother with timing mats and pairing it with its new Meza-Rocker and Reactive Foto Frame. Meza-Rocker is a combination of a high heel-toe drop and a rounded sole shape that inhibits a natural stride and makes the wearer appear slower in the eyes of their competition. Reactive Photo Frame will enable a competitor to repel those pesky digital SLRs that catch runners by surprise on the course. With NOMAT foam, Meza Rocker, and Reactive Foto Frame the competition will have no idea you’ve beaten them until the race results are posted and a world record is practically guaranteed.

SKETCHERZ FAUX RUN MEZ

Sketcherz Faux Run Mez is the official shoe of America's top marathon cheat Mez. These shoes are built for competitive cheating and designed for deception using our most advanced innovative performance cloaking technologies.

Details

-Independent circular NOimpulse sensors catch and block RFID

-M-Strike Technology™ promotes a heel strike and slow response

-14mm heel drop keeps foot in a nearly unnatural position

-Invizalyte™ Midsole - Proprietary compound blocks digital SLR sensors

-ZeroMemory Foam with memory inhibition helps runners forget crucial race details when questioned

doubler wrote:

I am working on obtaining more photos from the automatic camera at LA. I can't help but think/hope that there may be evidence of him as he first gets to the sidewalk.

Frank knows the course, and he knows where the checkpoints are. He likely drives and parks as close as possible to the checkpoints. He probably parks just beyond the checkpoints and backtracks on side streets, or up the sidewalk before running back towards the checkpoint (and his car). He drives ahead and repeats.

Here is his video from L.A. btw

https://download.finisherpix.tv/video_download/3017/1151

Anyone wondering why Frank cheats, just listen to the announcer blow smoke up his a$$, yelling "70yrs young, running two fifty three and change, Frank you are incredible."

Not surprising that they are reluctant to disqualify him with cheerleading like that.

.