Hacker News Reader

Comment by runnr_az | Hacker News Reader

A little surprised to see this on the front page of HN, but I don't think we can deny that running is probably the nerdiest of sports.

Anyway, that's nice that she owned up to it. Most of the cheaters don't. As a guy who's no doubt proved my running bonafides -- 3:06 marathon pr + there's a picture of me on the Western States 100 wikipedia page -- I always wonder why people get so angry about this kind of thing. I mean, sure, it's not cool to cheat, but this ain't the Olympics. Who gives a shit?

Nothing is getting "stolen," especially not if you weren't in the top 10 or whatever.

View on HN

I'm a casual runner, but I am engaged in a secret athletic struggle against my nemesis, a guy in my age group (55-59) who routinely finishes about 5 minutes ahead of me in local 5K races. It's a secret struggle because I'm not on even on his radar...but HE is on MINE. Believe me, if someone cheated and put yet another spot in the rankings between me and Nemesis, he would be stealing something important from me.

Haha. Yeah... I totally hear ya. That's fair. It's important to have a Nemesis. Go get him!

Cheating and doping both make me very angry as a casual athlete. I don't let it ruin my day, but it annoys me. Like come on, we are training 10h a week to go pay money to run a race and get a $1 medal. Let's kinda sorta keep it fair?

Obviously, I'm not gonna defend those behaviors. It's kind of a cliche, but they're really only cheating themselves.

As for the rest of us, who are we really racing against? Sure, there are the handful of jerks who you battle it out with on the local scene... and if one of those guys were to cheat, you're right, that would feel personal and that would piss me off.

But if some other random runner cut the course? Aren't we pretty much all just racing ourselves, seeing how far and fast we can push our bodies?

Yes and that is how I stay sane. However I really like to see how I rank.. like "Last year I ran in the 50th percentile, this year I ran in the 90th". 1 cheater, meh. 100 cheaters? Meh messed up my math ;)

That's an interesting perspective.

I train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with a bunch of guys that are on steroids and it doesn't bother me a bit. In my mind I just handicap myself vs their strength advantage so I'm happy with my relative performance.

What if one of them hurt you seriously, say causes paralysis? Would that be OK, because of course it could have happened anyway?

Heh. Actually I have a neck injury from a UFC fighter that was busted for doping. I don't blame him. He was just trying to keep his kids clothed and fed.

> I mean, sure, it's not cool to cheat, but this ain't the Olympics. Who gives a shit?

People who value fair play and personal honor more highly than you do. (well, you asked)

> Nothing is getting "stolen,"

Those whose rankings are affected by the cheater have had something taken from them.

"God dammit! Don't you know who I am? I finished 355th at the North Face 50 Mile National Championships!"

I mean... on some level, I get you. On another, though, I can assure you that no one cares about your marathon time or finishing place, unless you're at an elite level.

This was a weak field local race with no prize money. She cheated out the top 3 female runners for bragging rights, that's really it.

In a better stacked race her time would have been much further down in the AG ranks, not competing for overall.

It took several attempts at doubling down on the deception (riding the course on her bike and posting the Strava trace) and being repeatedly called out before she gave up and admitted it.

Not nearly as laudable as admitting it as soon as someone accused her of cheating.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com