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

I saw him several times at Broad Street. There was no noticeable limp or strain. He also posted a pic on Facebook him with a local meteorologist smiling away . Made me want to puke.

I've started a spreadsheet to put all of the links in one place. I'm going to go through and find any links and add them here. It's at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1s0f2sI8FvoD4nFriEngQQXhwBqYbVLq0V5VjI2ARRp4/edit?usp=sharing

There are nearly 2000 posts on this thread about an ordinary hobby jogger supposedly, or not, I don't care, cheating.

When did any thread about Gatlin, or Gay, or Lance, or Jeptoo, or any other known elite doper ever reach 1800 posts in just a few days? Why are you so much more offended by an ordinary road runner than people who are paid thousands or millions of dollars?

HE posted it FIRST on FB asking his friends what they thought. I attached the screen shots.

Now ppl did share it etc but HE put it out there.

Sarab - well done.

Kid from the leadership class - burn!

Lies wrote:

HE posted it FIRST on FB asking his friends what they thought. I attached the screen shots.

Now ppl did share it etc but HE put it out there.

He also tweeted the letter a billion times

Totally makes sense: Guy runs the qualifier of his life for a race he's wanted to run since he was an embryo and refuses to release the GPS data when the legitimacy of his race is called into question.

Oh, wait - he now says his GPS wasn't on for the race (despite the fact he was wearing the watch?).

Totally makes sense: Guy runs the qualifier of his life for a race he's wanted to run since he was an embryo and decides to turn the GPS off on the GPS watch that is on his wrist.

How can anyone question this guy? Sounds legit to me.

Bad Wigins wrote:

There are nearly 2000 posts on this thread about an ordinary hobby jogger supposedly, or not, I don't care, cheating.

When did any thread about Gatlin, or Gay, or Lance, or Jeptoo, or any other known elite doper ever reach 1800 posts in just a few days? Why are you so much more offended by an ordinary road runner than people who are paid thousands or millions of dollars?

This has been covered, BW.

1. He's a self-aggrandizing attention-seeking guy who appears to be quite the douche. There are countless examples of this.

2. It is entertaining. One of the finer threads on LRC in the decade+ I have wasted my time here. In fact, we might be on a roll. The "#162 is a giant POS" thread was quite good as well.

3. Threads about pro-level dopers are not as interesting. There is not much we can do. However, there is some satisfaction in seeing this make it to many news outlets due to the work done by some here to uncover the truth. Why is it satisfying? See #1.

4. Watching a train wreck in slow motion is mesmerising.

It is an outstanding summation and captures my fascination with this story to a 'T' - Bravo!

Well said. It seems to me that no one who isn't personally involved with Rossi actually believes he ran that BQ. The comments across all media are split between those who believe he cheated (and are outraged) and those who believe he cheated (and don't care), with a small subset of those who believe he cheated (but feel badly for him). Setting that debate aside, how accurate is Rossi's assertion on the Dopey thread that "I don't have to prove I ran it, they have to prove I didn't?" Anyone know the history of disqualification for implausible performance times and a total absence of photographs on the course? Does this GPS training data he's holding so close to the vest matter at all?

How do we know his sub 22 minute 5k is legit?

Rojo, for your article, stick to the incriminating evidence. Maybe in the end, summarize by issuing a challenge or that LR has offered $25K (are we up to that) if he can run 3:15.

Here are the incriminating facts, as I recall them. There are probably more.

1. No other finisher (total number?) in race with 0 pictures outside of finish line.

2. 1 in 11,000 chance of 0 photos based on statistical analysis of the number of photos of the 100 finishers nearest his 3:11 finish.

3. Bridge photographer at mile ?? has a consistent stream of photos with timestamps. MR does not pass by there at any point and there are no large time gaps in the photo stream during the time he would need to pass through to run between 3:00 and 3:30 pace. Unless he can run the 200m visibility of those pics in under 6 seconds, he was simply not there.

4. 3:11 is hugely inconsistent with past performances. Lots to elaborate on here.

5. 1000 miles in 18 months is not heavy milage and not consistent with a 3:11 marathoner, particularly a new runner who does not have years of miles of muscle memory in his legs

6. Inconsistent social media treatment of his breakout LV performance in comparison to his other races and training

7. Wet front of body yet dry armpits suggests lack of sweat but rather poured water on himself

8. Started with sunglasses and headphones. Finished without.

9. Will not produce GPS evidence that he claims to have of the LV performance and/or other workouts that are consistent with being able to run 3:15

10. Having never run more than 5K at 3:11 pace, it is illogical that he would attempt a marathon at that pace, particularly as only 3:25 needed for BQ

Obviously, write the article as you see fit, but I'd stick to simply presenting a strong case of the massively incriminating evidence.

I agree, this guy is a dirtbag that got an educator scorned for doing her job. We can't let jackasses like this off the hook...otherwise we just reinforce their douchebaggery behavior.

hart crane wrote:

I am shocked at the number of comments on this RW article SUPPORT Mike Rossi.

So many people saying "Who cares!?" "Worry about your own running!" "He just had a great day!"

THIS is terrifying. THIS is why the sport is turning to untimed color runs. So few recreational runners care about the actual integrity of racing.

Come on if they guy can run a legit 3:40ish marathon he can run under 22 minutes for a 5k. I mean if you going to cheat a 5k why not go sub 20 ??

This thread is priceless and has entertained me for days. I have read every single post and my wife thinks I am now more obsessed and crazy than Mike Rossi.

I don't deserve to be on these message boards. I am very slow by the standards here and so my goal for the last three years has been to break four hours in a marathon, but nevertheless I am pissed. Cheaters regardless of how fast or slow they are should be DQ'ed and banned from future races. There shouldn't be a double standard for the elite and the "hobby joggers".... Except when it comes to wearing Boston attire.

StickToTheFactsRojo wrote:

5. 1000 miles in 18 months is not heavy milage and not consistent with a 3:11 marathoner, particularly a new runner who does not have years of miles of muscle memory in his legs.

Nice summary, probably worth elaborating that 55 miles a month simply doesn't give anyone the endurance base or volume of 20 milers for this to be vaguely credible, in fact I'm even surprised at sub 4 hours on this.

Bad Wigins wrote:

There are nearly 2000 posts on this thread about an ordinary hobby jogger supposedly, or not, I don't care, cheating.

When did any thread about Gatlin, or Gay, or Lance, or Jeptoo, or any other known elite doper ever reach 1800 posts in just a few days? Why are you so much more offended by an ordinary road runner than people who are paid thousands or millions of dollars?

There was nothing I could do to prove/disprove that Jeptoo, Gatlin, etc. doped. Such is not the case in this thread.

Totally agree. The publicity will die down inside of 2 weeks. The forumites will move on to other stuff. And that other guy still didn't get to run.[/quote]

Once Rossi gets DQ'd, surely Boston can offer an automatic spot for 2016 to the person who missed out. Will be a great story too.

Q: how many runners who ran between 3:00 and 3:20 were photographed at very first spot (4 miles in?)? Was Mr. Rossi the only one not there? Seems highly improbable that the photographer would need any sort of break at that point. He/she should have captured pretty much everyone, especially the faster runners.

They need to jerk this ass out of NYC 2015 as well!!

Raysism wrote:

More pics wrote:http://imgur.com/Qn9uRD1,kdVJdiS,tGuIUgS,aHTw4qT#1http://imgur.com/Qn9uRD1,kdVJdiS,tGuIUgS,aHTw4qT#2http://imgur.com/Qn9uRD1,kdVJdiS,tGuIUgS,aHTw4qT#3

Little did he know that some Facebook friends would actually get him on the cover of RW.