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

Kent Stocker wrote:

Seriously. Some of you need to get a hobby that doesn’t include stalking.

Wrong. We have a hobby. Running. And we respect everyone who gives the best in an honest way. That's the purpose of the sport, you know. We respect runners who finish a marathon in 4 or 5 hours at 70 years of age, if it is an honest performance. That's fine.

You don't think that it's bad to cheat? Then this forum is not the proper place for you. Join your equals.

Sancreed wrote:

Frank said this in the Canadian Running article:

"If there’s any doubt, disqualify me. I run for fun."

As per that, I don't think L.A Marathon should have any qualms in disqualifying him. Seems like Frank is giving them his blessing, if not advocating it.

Sure. Someone who at age 70 runs a time faster than Gene Dykes (who trains with a purpose), but this clown beats his time and has no problem being disqualified if there's even a doubt. Sure.

I remember seeing Gene twice on the side of the race course just stretching away and losing valuable minutes, not seconds, for a chance at a record. Wait...Gene didn't do that and no 70 year old on record pace would do that.

Fact: Frank could not keep up with guy that he ran with for 100 yards or less before he crossed one of the mats. He's fighting just to get to the timing mat without stopping!

This is so blatant it's embarrassing---regardless of his age. I wonder what other areas of life he has cheated in?

An IQ is a terrible thing to waste wrote:

Sancreed wrote:

Frank said this in the Canadian Running article:

"If there’s any doubt, disqualify me. I run for fun."

As per that, I don't think L.A Marathon should have any qualms in disqualifying him. Seems like Frank is giving them his blessing, if not advocating it.

Numbnuts, Canadian Running plagiarized a previously published article. FM was never interviewed by them.

Hard to take bozos like you seriously when you can’t get simple facts straight.

Dude, you are the numbnuts. Be sure of your claims next time before resorting to name calling, bozo.

Frank gave an interview to Canadian Running.

And who has any kind of race “problem” on a world record run? As others have said, he can actually run 5-10 minutes faster if he’s wasting all this time peeing.

Hey IQ Guy... wrote:

An IQ is a terrible thing to waste wrote:

Numbnuts, Canadian Running plagiarized a previously published article. FM was never interviewed by them.

Hard to take bozos like you seriously when you can’t get simple facts straight.

Dude, you are the numbnuts. Be sure of your claims next time before resorting to name calling, bozo.

Frank gave an interview to Canadian Running.

Hey pinhead, the Canadians copied from MI.

No.... wrote:

Hey IQ Guy... wrote:

Dude, you are the numbnuts. Be sure of your claims next time before resorting to name calling, bozo.

Frank gave an interview to Canadian Running.

Hey pinhead, the Canadians copied from MI.

I guess I am a pinhead too. Those were not copied from MI. Those were quotes from FM when Canadian Running reached out to him.

But this isn't true. Canadian Running Magazine's article was disappointingly superficial, but they did talk to Meza and get direct quotes from him in response to Derek's article. And they acknowledge that their story originated from reading Derek's website, which they attribute and quote properly. What article do you believe they're plagiarizing?

An IQ is a terrible thing to waste wrote:

Sancreed wrote:

Frank said this in the Canadian Running article:

"If there’s any doubt, disqualify me. I run for fun."

As per that, I don't think L.A Marathon should have any qualms in disqualifying him. Seems like Frank is giving them his blessing, if not advocating it.

Numbnuts, Canadian Running plagiarized a previously published article. FM was never interviewed by them.

Hard to take bozos like you seriously when you can’t get simple facts straight.

Derek's latest update in now up at MI.

https://www.marathoninvestigation.com/2019/06/frank-meza-speaks-to-canadian-running-magazine-responds-to-course-cutting-claims.html

MI posted the new article.

Derek, if you are reading this, you had one typo. The photos near the Chinese Theater are near mile 11.6, not 10.6.

This developing story is fascinating! Older guy runs FKT marathon only to have things unravel.

Why go through all the trouble?

Just some built up eccentricities on full display with age?

Ego?

Trying to show younger colleagues and peers that he's still hip and fit and not ready to retire?

Dogfish wrote:

Derek's latest update in now up at MI.

https://www.marathoninvestigation.com/2019/06/frank-meza-speaks-to-canadian-running-magazine-responds-to-course-cutting-claims.html

Is that a cell phone outline under his t-shirt? Might support the accomplice hypothesis... Or maybe just good to have access to a gps map as he navigates downtown LA?

Nice little pickup on the probable cell phone.

I liked the quote in Derek's article about just wanting to get back to training - nothing is or was obviously stopping him from training. This 'train' is gonna continue and only get worse for him as Derek dissects old races.. I suspect he has run his last race.

Also, wonder if there's any particular reason to wear the t-shirt inside-out? Maybe just doesn't want to advertise the Pasadena Half Marathon?

I'm the guy who found the 10k photos and I'm kinda obsessed with this story now. What's really bugging me is that every major marathon I've done has a few people who stand by the side of the road and video the race. I don't know why they do it but you can always find 30-40 minute "fixed camera" videos and go in and spot yourself and your teammates. I can't find one for LA! There's a guy stood at the corner opposite the Disney Theater for a good while but he cuts out during the period Frank would (or would not) have run through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mIHHxiS88s

It's seriously maddening. Right around 6:37 he switches off after recording runners who at that point were 2 minutes ahead of FM only to switch back on when the field gets thicker.

There must be more right?

rwrwrwrwrwrw wrote:

Dogfish wrote:

Derek's latest update in now up at MI.

https://www.marathoninvestigation.com/2019/06/frank-meza-speaks-to-canadian-running-magazine-responds-to-course-cutting-claims.html

Is that a cell phone outline under his t-shirt? Might support the accomplice hypothesis... Or maybe just good to have access to a gps map as he navigates downtown LA?

Maybe he’s using the cell phone to give his location to the Uber drivers?

So far as I can tell, he was a pretty good runner when he was in his 30s, but when age started slowing him down, he started cheating. Who knows, maybe it started small, an out-and-back skipped here and there, but it's now been more than 10 years, and he has elevated cheating to a science. He seems to be much better at it than Kip. I am guessing the magnitude of the cheating (low 2:50s at age 70) was brought on by reading headlines about Ed and Gene.

This post by "not possible" is on page 1 about the 12th post....the advice "dig a little deeper" became the driving force of this thread. Here's the problem...If you look closely at Frank Meza's results, you will find cause for suspicion. Ten years ago, he was running marathons in the 3:02 - 3:05 range. Ten years later, he's now running ten minutes faster??? And running these marathons within weeks of each other at times?

So dig a little deeper...search for pictures of Frank on the course. Other runners near his finishing times often have DOZENS of photos. These speedy runners are near the front of the race and often running alone and thus are easy for the race photographers to catch on camera. But guess what, Frank just does not appear or appears only near the finish in many of his "record breaking" marathons"!! Just search the race photos for Long Beach, LA, Phoenix/Mesa. Why so few pictures? Why doesn't he appear in the frame with other runners of his speed? There is NOT ONE still photo of him on the course in the most recent LA Marathon...just a few images of him crossing one timing mat.

So how does he beat the system...after all, his bib crossed all the timing mats??? The bib is being worn on a belt...easy for someone else to run with on his/her back side then to pass to Frank late in the race. I know someone who reported seeing Frank walk off the course at the midway point of LA a few years ago...then saw his name in the results with a sub 3 hour time.

Hmmm.

rwrwrwrwrwrw wrote:

[quote]Dogfish wrote:

Derek's latest update in now up at MI.

https://www.marathoninvestigation.com/2019/06/frank-meza-speaks-to-canadian-running-magazine-responds-to-course-cutting-claims.html

in reading the update....

So, the onus is on Phoenix and LA to disqualify NOW. Evidence is clear. Tick tock. What are the race directors waiting for? (who are the race directors?)

and Gene Dykes seems like such a class guy. He's taking the high road: "I was truly hoping he (Frank Meza) was the real deal and that I would be able to race him head to head, but it wouldn’t appear that it’s going to happen.“ Nope. Never, going to happen

Call me an uber wrote:

Maybe he’s using the cell phone to give his location to the Uber drivers?

Obviously it's for selfies. He probably has a selfie stick jammed up that baggy shirt too.