UA Runner wrote:
Is it possible Frank has no idea what's going on?
Possible, but highly unlikely.
UA Runner wrote:
Is it possible Frank has no idea what's going on?
Possible, but highly unlikely.
UA Runner wrote:
he could just be an old, senile man going about his business oblivious to all of this.
Bit of a worry if he is cos this looks to still be current:
"About me
Welcome to my Web page. I'm happy to have this chance to introduce myself and tell you about my practice. I am currently physician-in-charge at our Kaiser Permanente East Los Angeles Medical Offices"
https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/southern-california/physicians/frank-meza-9066593Ultra or Die wrote:
Very Interesting. wrote:
If you hover on the "Likes" button on Frankies Tribute video, Surprise Surprise the top "like" is none other than Roderick Powell.
What say you Roderick? This was pretty buried on the Internet and from four years ago.
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this is the real smoking gun!!!!!!!!!
What's wrong with liking the video? Before now there were quiet suspicions, but to most everyone Frank was an upstanding and inspirational guy. I haven't followed all Roderick has said here, but what would be wrong with starting a thread on a record-holder you thought deserved more attention?
I'm surprised there are no official race "rules" against veering way off course, or violating municipal or state criminal laws during the race.
Here, the prep in question not only admits to veering way off course, but he admits to breaking a law during the race.
It's against the law to pee on public sidewalks (I know bc this one time in college after a night out...), and it should be against race rules to veer way off course to pee, especially when the race provides ample facilities.
There are a number of public policy reasons to strongly discourage marathon runners from engaging in this type of disgusting conduct. I get it, you're arguing that you're on world record pace time, but as the elites and Billy Madison say, "everyone pees their pants/shorts chasing PRs in a marathon, it's the coolest."
it's not possible that he doesn't know. of course, he knows of this thread and the articles. remember, derek reached out to him and he gave derek the lame excuse for the 2019 la marathon. additionally, the la marathon article includes a link to this message board. it's not clear who at loyola knows, but i imagine word will begin to spread and hopefully the loyola community will open its eyes and see that he's a cheat.
I just powered through the bulk of this thread and the thing that jumped out at me right away was the similarity to the Mike Rossi thread.
What appears to be many posts by the same person posting under multiple names blindly defending Frank despite all facts leading to one conclusion. Random posts and red herrings scattered throughout. Most likely all or most of these people are Frank.
Having raced Ed Whitlock on a couple of occasions I can tell you 100% without a doubt that Ed was legit. In one half marathon race I ran stride for stride with Ed for 10 miles prior to him destroying me over the final 3 miles. I don't remember exact times or year this was but finishing time was in the 1:26 to 1:28 range. I can say that when I was in that shape my best time for 5K was around 18:30 so splitting 2 18:30's would have been impossible.
To see this clown taking down his records makes me want to puke.
Amen.
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These are photos from the LA marathon 2015 where Frank Meza ran 2:52:47, about 4 months after running his slightly faster 2:52 at CIM where he was DQ'ed. Just check the various bib placements. (outside shirt, inside shirt, right, left, center) The last photo shows Frank adjusting the bib belt. 3 years later 2018 LAM, Frank is on video tossing some clothes item away doing all kinds of clothes adjusting including his bib about 3 or 4 minutes from the finish line. These are as close as we get to "smoking guns". Along with admittance by Frank of exiting LAM 2019 and re-entering. (had to urinate during his record breaking marathon)
at 42:20 Frank Meza will enter the top of the screen
Roderick Powell wrote:
at 42:20 Frank Meza will enter the top of the screen
He’s running faster than I thought he was capable of .... but I guess it was also 4 years ago.
Nope, this is from 2018 LAM, so not 4 years ago.
But he is not running very fast. That's a trick of the camera. If you look at the runners near him at the top of the screen, they have completely dusted him by the time he gets to the bottom of the screen. He's running a lot slower than everyone around him.
The video is 2018 LAM, (actually at 43:20) I put up some photos from LAM 2015, as I noticed how many different positions his bib got into at this race. That would be odd if it was someone else. Frank is real adept with that bib belt. (as seen at Pasadena when he passed it mid-run to Sara Tartof to use as he completed the race for the second time and her the first time) Of course she actually is not in the results, nor Francisco Meza or Phillip Bland. They all ran the Pasadena half, but are not in the results and ran without bibs. (aside from Sara who finished the race with Frank Meza's bib) Now that is a true mystery.
Roderick Powell wrote:
https://www.marathonfoto.com/Proofs?PIN=7K0H12&LastName=MEZA
We'll never have to look at a smug photo like the one above from future marathons, I'd hazard a guess Frank is officially retired, from sub 4 hour marathons anyway, probably sub 5 hour.
Roderick Powell wrote:
The video is 2018 LAM, (actually at 43:20) I put up some photos from LAM 2015, as I noticed how many different positions his bib got into at this race. That would be odd if it was someone else. Frank is real adept with that bib belt. (as seen at Pasadena when he passed it mid-run to Sara Tartof to use as he completed the race for the second time and her the first time) Of course she actually is not in the results, nor Francisco Meza or Phillip Bland. They all ran the Pasadena half, but are not in the results and ran without bibs. (aside from Sara who finished the race with Frank Meza's bib) Now that is a true mystery.
He's innocent and just the subject of a witch hunt. Frank legally still has the new record for 70 year old males. Give the fella a break already.
Franksfurts wrote:
He's innocent and just the subject of a witch hunt. Frank legally still has the new record for 70 year old males. Give the fella a break already.
Even if you weren't trolling and his run was legit, he wouldn't have a record as the course isn't record eligible.
As it is, he's a plodding, cheating loser with the speed and appearance of an embalmed turtle.
Far from being a role model, he's become a laughing stock in the running world.
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Kung Pow Chicken wrote:
It's against the law to pee on public sidewalks (I know bc this one time in college after a night out...), and it should be against race rules to veer way off course to pee, especially when the race provides ample facilities.
Really? Here in San Francisco they let people pee and poop all over the sidewalks and even hire people to clean up every morning!
I will have another article early next week. I will post the email that The L.A. Marathon sent me, and offer my criticisms of their decision.
There is clear evidence that he re-entered the course at a different point than where he exited the course. Whether he exited the course 10 yards up the road or 2 miles, there is grounds for disqualification. They do not need to call him out as a cheater. Just DQ him for a rules violation.
Staff members knew of the allegations against Frank. They were suspicious themselves. Yet they let him run unmonitored. If a small Marathon like Sprouts-PHX can have a camera on the course and away from the official checkpoints, why couldn't LA? Or why no cheater mat. In 2015 CIM knew to look for Frank and DQd him minutes after he crossed the finish line.
I will post on my social media as well: I'm sure there are people checking on the thread that have some information. They either witnessed or suspected Frank of cutting courses in the past. If anyone has any relevant information that has not yet been disclosed, all tips are kept 100% confidential. Email me at
derek@marathoninvestigation.com
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I am also going through photos from all his races to get as many data points showing confirmed splits where we know he was on the course.
Course-Cutting
Participants must stay on the race course which is defined as the roadway between its edges and curbs or as defined by marks or cones. Participants who intentionally shorten the route of the race (“course-cutting”) will be disqualified. Any participant leaving the race course for any reason must re-enter the race course where he or she left it or be disqualified for course-cutting. Course-cutting may be determined by eye-witness reports, by surveillance equipment and video, or by the participant failing to register times at timing mats or appearing in race photography. Participants with missing or irregular mile split times at official timing checkpoints will be reviewed and may be disqualified.
"Any participant leaving the race course for any reason must re-enter the race course where he or she left it or be disqualified for course-cutting."
From The LA Marathon website.