It is Boston Marathon weekend, so like many runners, I have running on the brain. There have been a few interesting running stories on my mind and some running related questions on my Blogiversary Giveaway. [Did you enter?] So here is what’s running through my mind on running at the moment:
I haven’t run Boston since 2007 (my 5th running). Don’t get me wrong, I love to run for BQs (Boston Qualifying times) and I like knowing that I can run next year if I want to. I am just not super compelled to sign up. This is even more true since they changed the rules so that not everyone who runs a qualifying time may run. For the non marathoners out there, Boston has a set of qualifying times which they lowered (made faster) a few years ago. Also, now they allow people to register in order of how far they exceeded the time. Then, they cap the race at a certain number, so for people who closest to the standard, they may not get in if too many qualifiers beat the times. For this year’s race, people had to run more than two minutes faster than the standard. I personally think that all first time qualifiers should get in no matter what. That is a rant post for another day.
I am super excited to “watch” my friends on Monday. There is a live feed and an awesome tracking app. I have more than 50 friends running. So cool! I also work from home so I can keep the sound on one computer and work on another. It’s a win-win! (And, I sure hope my boss is not reading this post. LOL) I do love the energy in Boston and it looks like it will be a great weather day, too. I was also excited to see that Charlyn qualified for 2017 by 6+ minutes after nearly qualifying in her last attempt and Pete ran a big PR yesterday in a warm Carmel Marathon. A good start to the running festivities!
There has been a huge hullabaloo about cheaters at the Boston Marathon. Wendy wrote a great post on this and focused on a blogger who was caught by a mathematician’s algorithm that uncovered over 47 people who cheated to get into the Boston Marathon. [See the Runner’s World article HERE.] There are a variety of ways people cheat to get into Boston – using another person’s bib, cheating by cutting a course in a qualifying race, falsifying results to get in or using a “bib mule” (someone else to qualify for you in another race). I’ve never understood cheaters – especially people who cut the course or have a mule. Really? You want to run Boston that bad? Run for charity. You can read my post on a personal brush with cheating here.
Not exactly cheating but caught in this investigation, there was a blogger who legitimately qualified for Boston, could not run and gave her number to a friend. That friend ran a qualifying time and the blogger registered for this year’s race with her friend’s time. She was outed and then “apologized.” She was banned for life from BAA events as running there is no transfer allowed and she registered with a result that was not her own. I think that this is the right resolution. She was wrong to give away the bib and then wrong to use the time. There are rules. 5,000 people who ran qualifying times will not get to run this year. Her friend ran a very fast time. She could have run another race and gotten in legitimately. The blogger qualified once, she could have tried again. It is a shame that she missed the race, but that happens in life. I can see how the blogger may have rationalized this choice, but I think the ban is fair.
What do you think? Have you ever seen anyone cheat or falsify results? Is the ban on this blogger fair?
I am shaking my fist at a new update to my Fitbit app. Bear with me, this is loosely about running and also was a question on my Blogiversary giveaway post. Fitbit wearers, have you noticed the new hourly activity tracker? I get tons of steps before work most days. I usually run in the morning so I sometimes far exceed my daily goal before 8 AM. Now, the tracker is checking to see that you get 250 steps per hour and giving you a “star” for days when you get 250 steps each hour from 9 – 6. Like I needed a new obsession hobby? You may know that I normally work from home. We live in an apartment. I work at a computer. I have been getting very creative. This week, I have been walking stairs in the hours that I am not typically moving and I am trying to walk when I take calls that I do not need to take notes on. I also walk airports when I travel. I hope this is not too suspicious! Well, sitting is the new smoking. Thanks for the new obsession motivation, Fitbit. What ways do you get extra steps? What do you think? Should I flush my Fitbit down the toilet*? [*I can neither confirm nor deny that a Fitbit may have accidentally found its way into the Chicago sewer system from my house.]
Lots of people asked me to review my shoes and other running products on the blog. I have also been asked for some training tips. I will work on those in the months ahead!
Anything running through your mind on running at the moment? Please leave it in the comments. And don’t miss my Blogiversary giveaway with great running prizes!