I happened to stumble upon a strange problem here on LetsRun. Its one that I have suspected for sometime but only recently was able to verify and wanted other coaches to be aware of it.
It seems there are certain individuals who will post the running situation "they" are supposedly in and ask for training advice and a program, particularly from sub-elite/elite runners and/or coaches. If they get a response that seems particularly insightful they pepper the person with questions or ask for an e-mail address to follow-up. They take all the person is willing to give them and even post as a different person multiple times asking about different scenarios.
The problem is that these runners aren't really runners who are using this advice for their own situation. They are coaches who are charging other runners hundreds of dollars for the advice or program given to them on this board by coaches or advanced runner who thought they were just helping out a less experienced runner.
It is unfortunate that this type of racketeering is present here but I fear it is growing.
Here are a few common tip offs that I have learned.
- After a few conversations/e-mails they start asking advice for their wife, relative or friend.
- They almost always start off my saying they don't have much money to pay for coaching but really appreciate whatever help you can give. They call your friend almost immediately to try and form some type of bond they can exploit.
- Some go so far as to send you a picture of some runner after a race (sometimes with the spouse or relative) claiming its them.
- Usually say they are from another country (I have found the Carribean (sp?) or Mexico to be the most prominate).
- Their mastery of the english language and grammar varies, often widely, from e-mail to e-mail. I think some claim to be from another country and have limited grammar skills so that we will explain things in greater detail to them.
- Often they use a gmail or yahoo address that has a very generic or even inappropriate handle that has nothing to do with the name they give you and/or their name doesn't match the on on their e-mail account (they explain they are using a friends computer or account while they are having computer problems.).
- If they don't get the results they want from their original post they try again with a different post often changing the details slightly.
Not all people posting threads asking for advice are doing so for this resale purpose but the number is definately growing.
I recently had the same guy try this on me for a second time. Evidently he does this so much that he initially forgot that he had e-mailed me before (as I used a different e-mail address this time) and gave me a completely different story as to his situiation but under the same fake name he used last time.