The Pikes Peak Marathon is not just a local 5k charity run. It is the 3rd oldest marathons in the US, has attracted top level international athletes, has been part of the International Skyrunner series, and I believe has conducted drug testing in prior years.
If you are a top mountain/ultra/trail runner, its not low key: its a prestigious event.
I do not have much sympathy for her excuses
Maybe she did not read the entry form, but that is not a valid excuse.
The 2014 entry form clearly stated that top runners may be tested.
Maybe she did not think she would be a top finisher, but she should have known there was a chance of this since she finished as 14th female overall in the same race in 2013.
Maybe she thinks the trailrunning community is "friendly". As a growing sport attracting many new participants and sponsorship dollars, it is a welcome sign that more trail races are drug testing. Friendly should imply fair and honest, and testing will help. At any level of competitive racing, people will try to gain advantages, and it is good that there are rules in place to keep things fair.
She mistakenly thinks USADA was after her. I think they are just doing their job in a fair and unbiased manner. She may have just happened to show up at this event and tested positive, but she should not have been given preferential treatment.
She says this will have no effect on her future race plans. I hope she reads entry forms in the future. Maybe she will think twice about entering races that drug test. Or better yet maybe she will stop using levels of drugs that might enhance her performance.
Maybe she thinks she needs to take DHEA, Almost every athlete that has tested positive has thought the same thing. She should not downplay the fact that that drug can potentially be used to enhance performance.
Maybe she did not use DHEA to enhance her running performance. Fair enough, but she still tested positive. She should just admit it, say she is sorry, and thank USADA for their diligence.
Perhaps her positive was an innocent mistake. Many people that are caught violating racing rules thought they were doing something wrong that might result in punishment. Did LaShawn Merritt intend to be suspended for using ExtenZe? Did Rosie Ruiz intend to cross the Boston finish line as the first female?
Lines need to be drawn, and those that cross the line (intentionally or not) need to accept the consequences.
Her attitude and comment that USADA is wasting its time and resources on her lessens the thoroughness of USADA.
Presuming USADA was paid a fair price to come to this (or any) event to conduct drug testing, wouldn't we want many more events, at any level, to contract with USADA to conduct drug testing? Wouldn't it be good if USADA was paid to show up at every local 5k and test? If USADA is run like a business, this would increase their income and give them even more resources to properly test more athletes, at all competitive levels.
It would help ensure that running was a cleaner sport at all levels.
If I was a 50+ year old woman in CO and competitive I would question this woman's results until she has proven that she can pass drug tests.