Did Mike Rossi (viral marathon dad) cheat his way into Boston?

Triathleteguru wrote:

Since letsrun deleted the first post of this thread, for any newcomers to the scene, this is how this thread started exactly two months ago:

gatorade&vodka wrote:

Did Mike Rossi (viral marathon dad) cheat his way into Boston? 5/3/2015 6:50PM

So we've all heard of the dad who took his kids to the Boston Marathon, and got a letter from the principal saying their absences were unexcused, and posted a response letter on Facebook that went viral:

http://www.today.com/parents/p...ion-t18061

He ran a 4:01 at Boston, which isn't that odd, since the articles mention him being injured. But none of his other past results are indicative of the 3:11 BQ he ran at Lehigh Valley:

http://www.athlinks.com/athletes/213451360

Furthermore, the only pictures of him from Lehigh are taken near the finish line, whereas most runners have shots from at least 3-4 locations: (search for Rossi)

http://www.uscandids.com/gradu...athon-2014

He posts some Nike+ workouts and races to his Twitter, his 3:43 from the Philly Marathon is there but not Lehigh:

https://twitter.com/mikerossi22

Anyway, have seen some doubts floating around (on Facebook, Runner's World) but didn't see a thread here, what do you think of this guy?

Only worried about cheating wrote:

I'm only concerned about the cheating part of this. A reasonable race director would have given him the DQ immediately upon a review of the (lack of) photos.

I don't care about his personal life, his work life, or the personal attacks on him or by him. I don't care about the "letter" (can you call it a letter if it was never even sent to the "recipient?"). The only reason the " letter " mattered is than it brought scrutiny to the bogus marathon time recorded at the 2014 Lehigh Valley VIA Marathon.

Admit your cheating Mike, get yourself removed from the results, and move on. This thread goes away, you salvage a little bit of character, and you still get to keep the victory that is the longest thread in LRC history to date.

Seriously, most prior forgive those who come clean. It's those who never come clean that are continually hated.

poster of statistics wrote:

poster of statistics wrote:

New count 7570 raw. Less 12 posts by LMR and less 6 posts attacking LMR = 7544.

Net posts 152 raw. 134 that count.

Warning: the thread is slowing down.

I give you the McCall photos and video which shows a video of start is out there for the finding and tell you it is right in front of you and the thread still slows. Not good not good. Follow the video folks.

For madletsrunner and others I give you:

an update on statistics, my whereabouts, and a reflection:

Update:

6/5: 5000

6/15: 6425

6/16: 6683

6/17: 7022

6/18: 7244

6/19: 7418

6/20: 7570

6/22: 7894

So the thread maintained a general pace of about 150 posts per day.

So the pace is now to hit 10000 posts on July 4.

Where I've been:

I took a break from the board. I pointed out the McCall video and photos and tried to get people focused on some source of actual evidence/point of interest. Figured I should take my own advice that I suggested to others. I had a good father's day weekend, changed lightbulbs, mowed the lawn, played catch with the kids, finished some projects, went to church, and went for a long run and tried to do an interval session but gave way to the heat. Returned today, read a few posts, and the secret Facebook page stuff just confirmed my reflection from this weekend when I was offline.

My reflection:

I wish everyone on the board good luck in achieving whatever sense of personal satisfaction and sense of righting a wrong they are pursuing in this thread. That said, for me, I got some perspective thinking about Charleston and how many kids/adults were celebrating Father's Day in pain or without and how precious our time is and what to do. I thought about how could I explain posting to my Dad who would barely have understood 'online forums' and wondered if my kids would ever come to me and say Dad you should check out this thread on Letsrun etc. I decided that whatever interest I had in this car-wreck of a thread where the hostility actually seems to have increased from righteous indignation and public outrage to something that I can't really even describe it is just so unique, well that interest needs to be set aside for me. If I felt the thread could accomplish something more, or could be more courteous I guess, maybe I would feel differently. At the moment I just have decided to walk away. Not telling anyone else what to do nor making judgments. Just saying goodbye and thinking maybe attaining 10000 posts may not mean that much to me or anyone in the grand scheme.

Adios,

poster of statistics

Lt Kaffee wrote:

The people of Letsrun v. Accused:

You think this thread is funny?

No it's tragic.

Do you have an answer to the ?

Absolutely. My answer is I don't have the first damn clue. Maybe he was an early riser and liked to run negative splits. And maybe he didn't have any friends. I'm an educated man, but I'm afraid I can't speak intelligently about the training habits of anyone including myself. What I do know is that he was at the finish line at 03:11. Now, are these the questions I was really called here to answer? Photographs and base training? Please tell me that you have something more. Please tell me you haven't pinned your hopes to a lack of photos or gps data.

Sit down I haven't dismissed you.

DJ

What?

DJ it's my title I believe I've earned it.

When you ran that marathon any chance you went off course by accident?

No

Any chance everyone else went off course and only you were on the right course?

No

Any chance you missed a turn on that course?

You ever try to so a tv show and have to play dumb next to Kelly Ripa?

No

You ever spin records at a Jersey shore wedding?

No

You ever introduce a fat ugly bride who is 8 months pregnant as the beautiful whatever her name is?

No

You ever try to stay out of wedding photos for a 3 hour reception?

No

You ever try to spin records and keep moving over a 3 hour reception?

No

It can't be done without years of training, DJ training, even then you have to take breaks no one can keep moving for over 3 hours straight steady, you have to know how to take a discrete break during the father daughter dance etc.

Discretion?

That discretion is not possible without years of training at weddings and sleeping In every day something you can't do

You ever dance with the first wife mother in law and put your ass in her hands for the sake of a smooth wedding reception?

No

We spin records son. We spin records all night long or people have bad weddings.

It's that simple are we clear? Are we clear?

Yes

Crystal

I have just one more question

When you said someone can't stay out of photos without years of training at weddings you meant that?

Yes I meant that

And that would be true for marathons too?

Yes I have selfies at the start and finish.

That's not what you said.

I know what I said

You said it's not posible to stay out of photographs for 3 hours straight, not possible to keep moving for 3 hours straight.

I recall what I said you snotty little jerk.

The court will wait for an answer to the question.

You didn't train to qualify and when the time wasn't there for you and the going got rough you cut the course

I want answers.

You want answers?

I want the truth

You don't have to answer that question sir

I'll answer the question

You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has weddings with fat chicks and those weddings have to be guarded by men with guts. And marathons with team in training fat chicks and the elites need a buffer between them. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Kenny? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for The principal and last runner out and you curse the DJs. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know, that Dancing with fat chicks like Kenny's girlfriend, while tragic, probably saveslives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives! You don't want the truth, because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that track You need me on that road you need an emotional buffer of men like me to keep you from team in training dat chicks. Without me you finish 1 and 2 in front of a fat chick placing 3rd. We use words like "sneakers", "team in training" "hope" and "charity". We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said "thank you", and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a microphone and try some karaoke and then try to train for a BQ in the morning. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!

Did you cut that reception short?

I did the job that—-

Did you cut that reception short?

YOU'RE GODDAMN RIGHT I DID!!

poster of statistics wrote:

poster of statistics wrote:

For madletsrunner and others I give you:

an update on statistics, my whereabouts, and a reflection:

Update:

6/5: 5000

6/15: 6425

6/16: 6683

6/17: 7022

6/18: 7244

6/19: 7418

6/20: 7570

6/22: 7894

So the thread maintained a general pace of about 150 posts per day.

So the pace is now to hit 10000 posts on July 4.

Where I've been:

I took a break from the board. I pointed out the McCall video and photos and tried to get people focused on some source of actual evidence/point of interest. Figured I should take my own advice that I suggested to others. I had a good father's day weekend, changed lightbulbs, mowed the lawn, played catch with the kids, finished some projects, went to church, and went for a long run and tried to do an interval session but gave way to the heat. Returned today, read a few posts, and the secret Facebook page stuff just confirmed my reflection from this weekend when I was offline.

My reflection:

I wish everyone on the board good luck in achieving whatever sense of personal satisfaction and sense of righting a wrong they are pursuing in this thread. That said, for me, I got some perspective thinking about Charleston and how many kids/adults were celebrating Father's Day in pain or without and how precious our time is and what to do. I thought about how could I explain posting to my Dad who would barely have understood 'online forums' and wondered if my kids would ever come to me and say Dad you should check out this thread on Letsrun etc. I decided that whatever interest I had in this car-wreck of a thread where the hostility actually seems to have increased from righteous indignation and public outrage to something that I can't really even describe it is just so unique, well that interest needs to be set aside for me. If I felt the thread could accomplish something more, or could be more courteous I guess, maybe I would feel differently. At the moment I just have decided to walk away. Not telling anyone else what to do nor making judgments. Just saying goodbye and thinking maybe attaining 10000 posts may not mean that much to me or anyone in the grand scheme.

Adios,

poster of statistics

i shall not return until perspective returns, but out of mercy for you, and because the Lt. Kaffee post gave me hope for some perspective, dancing with fat chicks and all, I tell you:

7/3: 9460 posts can hit 10,000 posts on July 4 but only if America tries hard

May you all find perspective. Word on the street is that someone plans to cheat the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest tomorrow and try to take Joey Chestnut's title away from the USA. Stay vigilant. Focus on what's important in your life and make a difference.

Only worried about cheating wrote:

I'm only concerned about the cheating part of this. A reasonable race director would have given him the DQ immediately upon a review of the (lack of) photos.

I don't care about his personal life, his work life, or the personal attacks on him or by him. I don't care about the "letter" (can you call it a letter if it was never even sent to the "recipient?"). The only reason the " letter " mattered is than it brought scrutiny to the bogus marathon time recorded at the 2014 Lehigh Valley VIA Marathon.

Admit your cheating Mike, get yourself removed from the results, and move on. This thread goes away, you salvage a little bit of character, and you still get to keep the victory that is the longest thread in LRC history to date.

Seriously, most prior forgive those who come clean. It's those who never come clean that are continually hated.