Louisiana Marathon cheating 'winner' DQ'd

I'm just guessing here but I wouldn't be surprised if the lady had conversations with the race director before the race about fueling. When they didn't come to any agreement, she decided to do her own thing and the race director made sure somebody was watching the whole race to make sure she was caught.

Just sounds like a bad deal for everybody involved.

She's a sub 2:50 gal, which makes her 'elite' enough to know the rules. Heck, she was even warned. While a DQ in what is little more than a local road race, doesn't really seem warranted, rules are rules, and the RD was doing what more RDs at larger events should do: Their job.

This

not a marathoner yet wrote:

How does that stop drug-cheating?

It has nothing to do with drug cheating. How did you even come up with that?

It's about giving runners an unfair advantage from a third party over the competition during the race.

You guys can disagree with it all you want but try to understand the reason first.

I bet the RD read Let's Run Rossi thread and said "Whoa, I better DQ her or else I will feel the wrath of Let's Run Trolls ! "..

I personally think this race is trying a little too hard. I do agree with the DQ, but I also think the race should have made other changes to make it more elite-friendly if they ever want to be a big name event. Enforcing this one rule - and this one only - is inconsistent.

- Why no elite program or elite fuel?

- Why did other winners wear headphones?

- How come an age grouper in the half marathon had multiple unregistered pacers on the course (per her facebook posts and photos)?

- Why did the DQ'd runner tell the course officials (no referee, BTW) that she'd spoken to the RD about this? I actually do believe her: there are three race directors, each of whom handle different aspects of the race, and I bet she did talk to one of the other two (not Dziuba, who handled the actual race and DQ'd her). Otherwise, why continue to take outside fuel if she was warned?

I smell a conspiracy.

Here is an interesting interview after her race before the dq

http://theadvocate.com/news/14609710-172/disqualified-marathon-runner-a-former-star-basketball-player-who-began-running-later-in-life-for-fun

She isn't married and he gave her bottles that contained water and Gatorade.

I ran a marathon on a very hot day against a guy who's dad was riding right beside him on a bicycle giving him drinks all the way. Due to temperatures in the 90's and no water, I was in trouble the last 2 miles, not able to kick as usual, and even so he only finished 20 seconds ahead of me, whereas otherwise I would have beaten him quite easily. I was staggering around and had to lay down in the shade, really in trouble from the heat but fortunately recovered. Had their been more liquid available then I would have been fine. I don't fault the guy for getting replenishment, but the lack of fluid provided by the race was a factor in the race results.

Mandy West doesn't look 39, but rather looks in her early 20's.

Running suits her quite well.