There has been a new move to petition for the removal of Sean "RunBum" Blanton (Or, simply Sean Michael on Facebook). As more evidence with recepits come out about Sean's behavior towards women and former female employees comes to light. It begs the question: Should Sean Blanton still be allowed to be part of the Trail and Ultra Running community?
"In our community, countless women have suffered under the toxic behavior of individuals specifically one we all know of is SEAN BLANTON aka SEAN MICHAEL who misuses his position of power to manipulate and prey on vulnerable women. Many victims of such abuse may not survive the psychological manipulation tactics used against them, leaving us with a moral duty to break this silence and speak out against such atrocities.
We must bring to light the abuse and mistreatment that women face daily, not only within our community but across the world. It is essential to end the spread of this toxic behavior to cultivate a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for all. Our community is sacred, and we must not allow such behavior to taint its sanctity any longer.
To combat this issue, I urge women to come forward and share their personal experiences and documentation. By uniting our voices and stories, we can shine a light on the injustice that has been occurring for far too long and work towards real change.
Your support and voice in this matter are invaluable. Protecting women from abuse, manipulation, and exploitation requires a collective effort and a commitment to change at every level in society. Stand with us as we fight against this injustice.
Join me in this mission to create a safer, more respectful world where women are valued and protected. Sign this petition now to demonstrate your commitment to ending the cycle of abuse and supporting those who have been affected by it."
What’s his previous controversies besides abuse and inappropriate actions towards women?
1. Retroactive Disqualification of Runners
In May 2020, Blanton became embroiled in backlash after retroactively changing the 2016 Georgia Death Race results for several runners—turning completed finishes into disqualifications, apparently in retaliation for personal disputes or negative comments made online.
This led to widespread criticism: one runner said, “Retroactively changing results … shows that this person cannot be trusted with the responsibilities of being a race director."
After public pressure, Ultrasignup reinstated the results without being prompted by Blanton himself. His subsequent apology was described as weak and only issued after being caught.
2. Disputed Course Decision at Georgia Death Race (2019)
During the 2019 Georgia Death Race, many participants took a wrong turn due to confusing trail markings, leading to 200–500 feet less climb than intended.
Instead of disqualifying those runners, Blanton imposed a one-hour time penalty on top finishers—some supported this as fair, others criticized it as arbitrary or inconsistent.
3. Loss of Golden Ticket Status & Community Fallout
The Georgia Death Race previously held Golden Ticket status for automatic Western States entries but lost that status after these controversies surfaced. Sean continued to claim it was due to the finish rate, however it was actually do to Sean's behavior and actions.
Many members of the ultrarunning community publicly stated they would no longer support or register for his races.
4. Claiming the Florida National Scenic Trail FKT after it was broken by Hunter
Leininger had gotten the record. Sean refused to recognize Hunter's FKT attempt to maintain his status, even though, the Florida Trail Association and FKT approved it.