Frank Meza 2:53:10 at LA Marathon (70 years old) unofficial time (just finished)

...also, why would Frank Meza who ran 1:26, be running with these three at any point in the race, when they all ran 1:51?

Frank Meza needs to be asked by a race director who the 3 people he is running with during the race that have no visible bibs are, and who are they, and did they pay to run. He also needs to be asked why the woman in his race photos is wearing his bib at the end of her "race". The 7,514 runners who ran the race deserve to have this looked into. It is an insult to the charity to "bandit" a race.

mahmood wrote:

The bandit girl clearly finished the race. There is reasonable suspicion and/or probable cause that Dr. Frank Meza aided and abetted a bandit. Can anyone identify the female bandit?

Can we at least agree that a bib belt wearer is more likely to cheat than a non-bib belt wearer?

This would be very bad in itself. Imagine someone doing that at Boston to get a Boston finisher's medal. There would be social media outrage. Especially when finisher medals can be sold for major money.

With this new information, if Doubler/Derek doesn't have an article on this runner. Then I've lost hope in his investigation impartiality.

Yes, 1:26 is 6:33 pace, and about a minute off of Gene Dykes' WR for the half. 1:51 is 8:28 pace. Not sure why someone who was going to run relatively close to the WR would be running 2 minutes per mile slower at the beginning... with three bandits... then double back after finishing to hand his bib off to one of the bandits. I mean, none of it is technically cheating, but it sure is odd behavior for one of the best age group runners in the world.

Can’t be done...

Soggy Burrito wrote:

but it sure is odd behavior for one of the best age group runners in the world.

So this is what an aging distance runner who is "one of the best age group runners in the world" looks like is it?

https://freephotos.finisherpix.com/photo/100457-100142-1005011160/8189/1

Something's not right in that photo. Look at the two without bibs. They are clearly going 1:50 HM pace. Stutter steps. That's not what sub-90 looks like. Any runner could tell you that.

The bib switching at the end is bizarre too.

Can someone figure this out?

FYI, it'd be easy to cut the course every 5k and hit every mat. Cut and wait. It's obvious the unregistered bandits running near people at 1:50 HM times are involved somehow too. Where were those photos taken? Early in the race?

https://www.pasadenahalf.com/assets/uploads/phm-course-map-2019-v1b.jpg

jesseriley wrote:

Awesome!

I found video of the bandits on youtube. 1:00 mark. Mile 2.7. Guy with yellow hat. Gal with red shirt (taken off later).

https://youtu.be/7WmftM4KeLA?t=59

Wot, no Frank?

Roderick Powell wrote:

Frank Meza needs to be asked by a race director who the 3 people he is running with during the race that have no visible bibs are, and who are they, and did they pay to run.

Is one of those runners Frank's son Francisco? I've looked at number of photos of Francisco (both running and nonrunning) and am not sure if it's the same guy who is running next to Frank in many of those pictures.

I haven't followed the latest posts closely enough to know what theories are now being presented based on the latest evidence. I had expected some variation of what I now understand to be the use of runners called "bib mules." But these are unpleasant matters, and I'm happy to keep a certain distance from them.

so running just ahead of the 2hr paced group?

Avocado's Number wrote:

Roderick Powell wrote:

Frank Meza needs to be asked by a race director who the 3 people he is running with during the race that have no visible bibs are, and who are they, and did they pay to run.

Is one of those runners Frank's son Francisco? I've looked at number of photos of Francisco (both running and nonrunning) and am not sure if it's the same guy who is running next to Frank in many of those pictures.

I haven't followed the latest posts closely enough to know what theories are now being presented based on the latest evidence. I had expected some variation of what I now understand to be the use of runners called "bib mules." But these are unpleasant matters, and I'm happy to keep a certain distance from them.

"Is one of those runners Frank's son Francisco?" - Could be, in fact it seems it could be a family affair, the woman and yellow hat are Latino too. The big fella Francisco is wearing a San Francisco marathon shirt, maybe woman too, someone may have time/want to follow up SFM results to see if there has been other stuff going on.

Theft of Medals? wrote:

mahmood wrote:

The bandit girl clearly finished the race. There is reasonable suspicion and/or probable cause that Dr. Frank Meza aided and abetted a bandit. Can anyone identify the female bandit?

Can we at least agree that a bib belt wearer is more likely to cheat than a non-bib belt wearer?

This would be very bad in itself. Imagine someone doing that at Boston to get a Boston finisher's medal. There would be social media outrage. Especially when finisher medals can be sold for major money.

You sound you like jest but it does happen. After the Boston bombing opportunist stole medals and jackets. Now they're all over ebay.

You can buy this genuine fake for $87

https://www.ebay.com/itm/117th-Boston-Marathon-Commemorative-Medal-2013-Athletic-Association-BAA/153456350722?hash=item23bab61602:g:~6AAAOSwfwFcjYPm

I think not. wrote:

Soggy Burrito wrote:

but it sure is odd behavior for one of the best age group runners in the world.

So this is what an aging distance runner who is "one of the best age group runners in the world" looks like is it?

https://freephotos.finisherpix.com/photo/100457-100142-1005011160/8189/1

Meza looks like he is holding his finisher's medal in the photos where he is running with the bandits, so more than likely, he finished ran back out on the course and handed the woman his bib (someone said these photos were taken about a half mile from the finish).

Possible theory: Frank has someone triggering the timing mats (maybe either himself or the guy in the San Francisco Marathon shirt), he jumps in the race to get a couple of photos before the finish and at the finish, then doubles back to give the woman his number. (I don't think Frank or the SF Marathon guy are in any photos other than these two locations.)

What if Frank is the master troll - he really ran those splits but then did all of these bizarre things, intentionally setting traps from the LRC to fall in, and then started this thread to suck in all of the trolls in a gotcha moment?

https://www.marathonfoto.com/Proofs?PIN=04HS34&lastName=MEZA Francisco truly is a mini-me of his father. I didnt even know he was this fast. (3:10 at 40 is pretty good) This was at LA '18. I expect he will follow his fathers' times to sub 3. In spite of all the compelling "evidences" as to Frank Meza's amazing times...I still believe their is a strong possibilty that they are for real. I'll be at the Long Beach marathon this year. (running the half marathon) I'll surely stick around to see the marathon finish. I am surprised that noone noticed that the runner in the pictures from pasadena that we are calling a bandit (yellow hat) is wearing a belt. (could it be a bib belt with his bib in back?) Bib belts apparently are being sold on-line. The one thing that makes the most sense to me is that Frank finished the race, (legit or not) than with finisher medal in hand re-entered the course to run alongside 3 runners. (could they be from his running group) The one strange thing is obviously why the woman ends up with his belt and bib. (seems Frank would have NOTHING to gain from this) Maybe she forgot her bib and was nervous about crossing the line without one- and Frank did the chivalrous thing. Maybe the other 2 runners have their bibs not in sight and are not bandits. For sure, those who are mean-spirited on this thread have serious issues. If Frank turns out to have cheated, (for whatever reason, even just to be an inspiration to others) it will be truly a bummer. I've said this before, I could solve this riddle real fast just by confronting Frank. I just can't do that. His times have been a motivation for me for too long. Not just the times, but the improvement. Now Gene Dykes (and others) show me that improvement at 60-70 can happen.

Roderick - you are a strange dude. Throughout this thread you have been toggling back and forth between being Meza's biggest fanboy and someone who points out how unlikely his "achievements" are to be real.

A couple of suggestions after reading your last post:

1) I don't think anybody cheats at marathons "to be an inspiration to others". Whatever it turns out to be, the explanation for this type of cheating is probably quite strange from a psychological perspective, but I'm pretty sure it involves personal benefit for Meza, not misguided altruism.

2) Perhaps you could cool it with the reliance on the examples of heroic age group runners to motivate you? Some of the race results posted for you earlier were pretty darned good for your age. You seem to be doing pretty well for yourself - why this need to latch on to the questionable accomplishments of Frank Meza? Assuming that your own times are legit, why not just keep doing the training that works for you and ditch the hero-worship which seems likely to lead to embarrassment later?