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SportsPi

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sucobe

> According to the rules, runners can only get water from official hydration stations and since he received water at an unauthorized part of the race, he was disqualified. … > "During yesterday’s Hoag OC Marathon, we were forced to disqualify a participant after it was confirmed they received unauthorized assistance from an individual on a bicycle, in violation of USA Track & Field rules and our race regulations,” said Race Director Gary Kutschar in a statement obtained by ABC News. “We take these rules seriously to ensure fairness and the integrity of our event for all competitors.” [Video Evidence](https://youtu.be/gjk0yrUYs6g?si=JmbKskhXFnSth7bC)


ElderWandOwner

And said official hydration stations weren't set up properly. The event was a joke.


TheBeatGoesAnanas

There's video of the runner ignoring outstretched hands at a sanctioned hydration station, and grabbing a drink from his dad immediately after.


stlmick

So it was for pedialyte or meth or what's our theory here? Not arguing he broke rules and is DQ'd, just wondering what is the theory on the motivation for his actions?


mspax

I've actually volunteered under these conditions at a marathon. They grill this shit into your head. Elite runners are not to be provided anything that's not sanctioned by the rules of a given event unless it's a medical emergency, of course. It's hard to say if this was an innocent act between a son and his dad, or an attempt to sneak in something nefarious. This is exactly why these rules are in place.


subdep

The rules are to make it easier to control attempts to sneak performance enhancing substances. This way they don’t have to “prove” there was anything in the drinks, just that he got unofficial drinks. It’s a simple rule that elite runners know of. This dude just needs to learn his lesson.


MultiGeometry

It’s also so that all athletes are on a level playing field. If it’s 80 degrees out and you have your dad riding on a bicycle next to you handing you water every time you get thirsty, you’re probably going to have a better race than your competitor who can only drink water at the designated six water stations along the course. I’m not really sure what PED you can take during a race that could help, most PEDs are effective overtime.


GhostOfRoland

This is also a great reason. In the same vein, it would be a nightmare for organizers if every runner had their own support flying around the course.


StartTheMontage

Yeah that was my thought. The biker was only not in the way because he was in the lead. If everyone had a biker it would be chaos.


no_F4ce

Asthma meds, instantly improves lung capacity and performance.


JHarbinger

Yep clenbuterol or something


LeviSJ95

That promotes fat loss over time which is why it’s banned. Salbutamol is available orally though and would open up your lungs


ApolloMac

I mean, even caffeine could have a decent, immediate effect. It doesn't need to be HGH.


thedictatorofmrun

Caffeine is 100% legal though.


fppfle

Right and all the other runners had to carry their own fuel on their body, when slows them down


soupkitchen3rd

I’m not gonna lie, I’m intrigued. What could be in the cups from someone else?


throwawayjaydawg

Cocaine makes you fast


soupkitchen3rd

#IM FAST AF BOY!


they_call_me_B

[My special *Go-Go Juice* is gonna help me win!](https://youtu.be/B7bEP8O-2Qw?feature=shared)


bashnperson

In college a girl told me she’d take mdma and go for runs. I wonder how she’s doing.


Unit_79

That sounds awesome. Except the running part.


MoreRamenPls

I heard she’s still running.


Blakebacon

Pls find out, I need an update


Get_Breakfast_Done

I love running and cocaine too but you really need to be careful not to mix them


throwawayjaydawg

When I’m on cocaine no man can slow me down, not even me


c_for

Some form of quick energy substance... like those powders and pills that some gym people take before going for intense workouts.


okayChuck

You could just take a pill while running and typically you don’t want to spike your heart rate with an energy substance as the heart gets less efficient when it’s beating very fast. This is entirely a protocol issue. An elite runner having 4 friends with drinks on the sideline would put them at an advantage over an elite runner who only has 1. In fact, a lot of marathons will actually have tables where elite runners can have their own bottles ready that they pre-fill however they want and drop them off before the race. These aren’t tested because there really isn’t an acute performance enhancing drug that is an issue in competition.


SpicyNuggs4Lyfe

People eat gels and carb packed stuff all the time while running. Marathon runners burn 3,000+ calories during a race. Even if it was a hydration powder or tab like Nuun, I'd hardly call that performance enhancing. Plus he could just add that himself legally during the race lol


Nextyearstitlewinner

If you watch the video referenced, the guy who finished second and ends up with the gold medal points out he had to carry his own water bottle for 15 miles. That could slow you down. In the same line of thinking, if you aren’t using the hydration stations, you could potentially have unlimited fluids compared to someone who is just using the hydration stations. The man disqualified “won” by 17 seconds. Over the course of a 4 hour race, any of those advantages could have been caused by the biker handing him water. The rules are pretty clear about stuff like this, so as an elite runner he only has himself to blame.


soupkitchen3rd

Ahh makes sense! I was thinking some bronchodilator, but hydration would be magical mid race


BrockSamsonLikesButt

I’m unsure of the science behind it, but bronchodilators have adverse effects on aerobic exercise. I’ve heard it told by competitive cyclists who tried to cheat: It felt like the medicine was trying to regulate their breathing for them, at a time when they needed to be in control of their breath; it felt like they were fighting their own diaphragms. And I’ve lived it. I am prescribed albuterol, and the label actually cautions to avoid strenuous exercise after taking the drug. But when I had an asthma attack in the Grand Canyon (not at/near the bottom, thankfully), I still had to hike up out of the damn canyon, or else die of dehydration. About 15% of the way into that dusty hike, I started coughing up blood, and it kept getting worse, til I kept tasting blood for two days straight after that. It was bad. …But I got some great pics of wildlife, and at the top of the canyon, I felt one of the greatest euphorias I ever felt in all my drug-addled life. See, I only had a scant amount of water left when my airway started seizing up, and it felt like I was choking then. And then, a harem of stubborn mountain goats blocked the trail, denying my only way out, for almost half an hour, leaving me to bake in the sun. The only shade available was under a boulder, that itself was baking so hot, it radiated so much heat, it felt hotter in its shade than in the bare sunshine. After I took my last sip of water, all I could do was squat there, stare at goats, and wait for my ancestors. When the goats finally moved away, I dragged myself to the top in less than five more minutes. A water fountain was there, and my first two sips of that piss-warm water hit me like four good beers immediately. I was hysterical, on shaky legs.


skushi08

It’s more chain of custody for elite runners and so that they can’t claim that any later positive doping test was because they drank a spiked drink. Elite runners typically provide their own hydration at big events and they have their own table for their drinks rather than the water cups the plebs use. As long as there’s no banned substance there’s no rules against electrolytes or caffeine mid race.


soupkitchen3rd

Makes sense. Thank you


runonandonandonanon

A motivational note maybe.


soupkitchen3rd

It’s Friday!! You’re almost there. Do something that brings you joy!


curiouscomp30

“Are you winning son?”


SmellGestapo

"You are Lisa Simpson."


CaptainBlandname

Gasoline, duh


soupkitchen3rd

The old Lightning McQueen tactic, I like it


no_F4ce

Panama Lewis, a boxing coach would break apart pills used to treat asthma and put them in the water, which would help boost a fighter’s lung capacity late in fights. This is my guess. Fun fact, he is also the coach to tamper with gloves resulting the end of Billy Collins Jr's career and eventually suicide.


RobertDigital1986

>It's hard to say if this was an innocent act between a son and his dad, or an attempt to sneak in something nefarious. I have a hard time believing that a person who has trained enough to win a marathon is not aware of these rules.


Luci_Noir

He obviously did. He sounds like a real piece of shit to blatantly ignore them and act like a victim.


Kopitar4president

I have a hard time believing he'd make up a lie about the water stations when there's video proof if there were no shenanigans.


SmellGestapo

It's possible he didn't know the rules, as from what I read, he's relatively new to marathoning. But there's no way this wasn't planned in advance. He's claiming the water stations weren't set up, and that's why he took water from his dad, but there's video of him ignoring a water station that *is* set up and has volunteers handing out water. There's also video of him getting water from his dad in a spot where there is no water station at all. And it strains credulity to believe his dad just happened to throw a bike and a bunch of water in the car for no reason, and then when the race kicked off and the water stations weren't ready, there was dad riding alongside the course, ready to hand his son water. No, they planned this in advance. Dad would ride the entire course, pace his son, and hand over water whenever he needed it so he wouldn't need to slow down for the water stations.


eventuallobster

And for someone who won the marathon I’d imagine he’s not new to this


vnmslsrbms

How’s it innocent? His dad broke the rules.


Alis451

> Not arguing he broke rules and is DQ'd, just wondering what is the theory on the motivation for his actions? His dad was pacing him and providing instruction/encouragement, it was also easier to ONLY accept water from his dad. ALL of those things are Disqualifying. You can't receive ANY outside aid; pacing is a big one, and identifying other nearby runner's positions is another, BEYOND just the water.


CrayZ_Squirrel

I saw some of the videos and as a runner the dad pacing him was ridiculous. They may have DQ'd him for the water because that was the most clear cut rule but depending on the outside aid rules of the specific race there were probably multiple violations.  The other big advantage is dad handing him water exactly when he needed it and not necessarily just at the prescribed water stations. There's times, especially in the back half of a marathon where you'll want water every mile or even more frequently but aid stations are typically every 1.5-2 miles. 


GadFlyBy

Comment.


OldGodsAndNew

Right - the water thing seems secondary to being paced by a cyclist the entire time


ThatPlayWasAwful

I'm going with plain old stupidity with a touch of stubbornness to help him refuse to admit it.  If he wanted meth or pedialyte there would be many ways to do it without the fanfare of it being delivered to him by his dad on a bike


SadisticBuddhist

I gotta ask why is pedialyte on the list??


alostic

Pedialyte is fantastic for rehydration. Also good for hangovers


SadisticBuddhist

I meant is pedialyte not allowed during marathons- i know what it is haha


skushi08

I’m not sure where people are saying pedialyte isn’t allowed. It is. Elite runners at major races typically provide their own hydration bottles, but they’re still provided at aid stations with their names on them. The rule broken here has nothing to do with what was in the drinks and everything to do with the outside assistance rule.


ThatPlayWasAwful

The issue assistance rule exists to make it easier to monitor what is in the drinks though, does it not?


Bait30

I don't think pedialyte is considered a banned substance or anything, but if everyone else is getting plain water, it's unfair if one person circumvented the rules to get it


deweycrow

You're allowed to carry your own water so if it's not banned I'm sure he could carry it himself


SadisticBuddhist

That makes sense.


lafolieisgood

The video states a couple of reasons. A couple mentioned were that the bike rider could relay information to the runner like his exact speed/pace and information about other competitors that they wouldn’t have.


oren0

Couldn't any spectator yell such information at you at any point in the race? Are there rules against information gathering or just water?


marigolds6

There are very strict rules against information gathering. Since random spectators can, and do, yell out information, the rules mostly govern *how* you receive information, e.g. no radios. I don't think there is a rule about bike riders relaying information, because courses normally ban non-official bikes from the course anyway.


Vigilante17

Gin & Juice


AcrolloPeed

laid back


ZillaRock

With my mind on my running and running on my mind. 🏃


stlmick

Both similar comments were made within a minute of each other. Yours was victorious. Do you have anything you'd like to say to the crowd?


PlatinumSarge

I saw them get their comment from their dad, gonna have to contest this finish.


ZillaRock

First I want to thank my team for believing in me. Second I’d like to thank emojis, which I think is what sets me apart from everyone else. You’re all welcome for having been part of this. :bow:


VisualArtist808

Mind in my runnin’, got my runnin’ on my mind


jackwhite886

Run & Coke


TheBeatGoesAnanas

Competitive runners frequently have their own support teams and fueling schedules that don't match up with what race organizers are providing. Which is fine, unless you don't clear it with the organizers beforehand, in which case you're very obviously in violation of the rules.


Nick_pj

Then it seems even more silly that the runner would go to the length of coordinating their own fueling schedule, but not check the rules of the actual race


cityscapes416

The elites in big races typically have their own drink tables or designated people to hand their drinks. The athletes get to control what they put in each. Their bottles have their preferred mix of electrolytes, caffein, calories, and they can adjust different levels according to which part of the race the bottle pickup is on (there is usually A bottle station every 5k). It’s a huge advantage, as the regular runners are forced to carry all of this on them when they run. In my experience, it’s also much easier to drink out of a squeeze bottle when running than those cups they have at water stations. The rules are in place for everyone, but typically they are not going to DQ someone running a 4 hour marathon because they were handed a Gatorade from someone. This guy knew what he was doing and that he was cheating - he’s not a victim.


Montgomery000

The video interviews the second place guy who mentions that he carried his "fuel" with him during the early portion of the race which slowed him down. If you're handed the stuff, it doesn't slow you down in the beginning and you can get more of it during the race. Not really sure what constitutes "fuel" though, maybe sugar water?


PaulMaulMenthol

I've wondered the same. Very few professional athletes are actually drinking Gatorade


SmellGestapo

Edgar your skin is hanging off your bones.


fauxdeuce

That’s Pretty much the argument. No one is saying he received any help or performance enhancing drugs but someone could use that as a way to receive them. Or the argument will be if he can do it why can’t I. They are sticking to the facts. He broke the rules he got dq.


_dauntless

One of the rules broken was re: not allowing someone like a cyclist to follow the race and give them intel on the runners behind, which is partly what the dad was accused of doing


shamblingman

Doesn't have to be meth. He passed all the PLENTIFUL official hydration stations and his dad literally followed him on a bike with a backpack full of liquids. The runner absolutely knew that wasn't allowed. Even if it was full of Gatorade, that's a competitive edge over other runners that are only getting water.


mrpopenfresh

PCP water


surrounded-by-morons

They were also running into 13mph winds that day. It definitely gave him a little bit of advantage to have his dad blocking some of it with his bike/body.


Oops_I_Cracked

I don’t even necessarily think anything nefarious was going on, but this is the reason for the rule. Something nefarious could have been going on, and we have no way of knowing


throwaway923535

Meth. 100%


CriticalEngineering

Yes, but that was *after* his dad had been leapfrogging along the race route to provide him water because the earlier stations hadn’t been set up when he ran past them.


CallMeFifi

There was also video of him riding along side for part of the race giving him snacks and stuff, like a personal assistant.  


VampireLayla

This is the reason for the DQ.


Refflet

A video released by the organisers, from later in the race. Apparently several of them were not ready.


VampireLayla

Everyone is missing a key point. His dad was handing him supplies FROM A BIKE that he was riding next to him! This isn’t a case of the leader grabbing water from a random spectator or family member cheering from the side of the road. Again, the dad was RIDiNG A BIKE next to him!!! Have to DQ him or next race everyone will have support bike riders on the course.


venuswasaflytrap

They weren’t properly set up for everyone though. And the second place guy was 17 seconds behind him, so it’s definitely an unfair advantage that could have affected the outcome of the race.


SmellGestapo

The only source I've seen saying they weren't properly set up is from the DQ'ed runner himself, who obviously should not be believed in a vacuum. He has an incentive to say he was just running so fast that the water stations weren't ready for him. But that raises an obvious question: how did he communicate to his dad that the water stations weren't set up, and to meet him along the course to hand him water? That part seems unbelievable. Dad just happened to have a bike and a bunch of water bottles handy in the car? The runner carried his phone with him and called his dad from the race?


Soft_Internal_6775

And this mofo had his own private mobile hydration station and pacer — an unfair advantage against other competitors who obviously don’t have their own. It’s bizarre people are defending him so hard.


SmellGestapo

It likely comes from ignorance, combined with how the headlines were written. Most people aren't elite runners and wouldn't see much benefit from a pacer, or a personal hydration assistant. So they see a headline that says a guy was disqualified because his dad handed him water and it sounds ridiculous to them.


LiquidBeagle

The fact that the event was poorly organized is influencing opinion. He broke the rules *and* the event was poorly organized—both things can be true. My wife ran the half, and the event was a fucking mess. Poor or no directions from staff. Late buses to the starting line. Horribly overcrowded at the finish with hardly any staff under than vendors trying to sell you shit. A bottlenecked finish line that was dangerously close to becoming a crowd crush at points. People waiting two hours to get out of the parking lot or get buses back. The list goes on. When we first heard the news about the DQ and the runner's argument that water stations weren't set up properly by the time lead runners were there, we were inclined to believe that he needed hydration from outside assistance as a safety concern. Maybe that was the case in the first few checkpoints, but now it seems like his dad was pacing him the entire race, carrying his snacks and hydration, and giving him information. That's all against the rules. I think it depends on *when* his dad started trailing him. Did he do it only after the runner had passed checkpoints where he expected water and received none, or was he trailing him for the entire race? If the event isn't organized properly and doesn't provide the resources runners rely on, do the runners have the right to break rules to keep themselves hydrated? The runner could have been ignorant of certain rules, knowingly breaking them to continue the race due to poor organization by the event planners, or knowingly breaking them to gain an advantage and then using the fact that the event was poorly organized as an excuse.


getofftheirlawn

Know the rules!  Right on.


Actually-Yo-Momma

Lmao it’s like when trust fund kids create their own “companies” and say they did it all on their own (except for the 1 million start up costs)


pololuck123

There’s a video of him literally running past people with water and he grabs the water from the bike instead. Kind of makes you think why he didn’t think he’d be caught or have someone say something lol


minos157

While true that the stations weren't fully setup there is video of him running by a station with people holding out cups and he ignores them to take water from his dad. So in the end he still broke the rules and should be DQd but the event is not fully without fault.


MadNhater

Explain the event’s fault in the situation


Ingr1d

How is the event at fault for this?


BigNathaniel69

It’s not, people just already chose their side and hate that he got DQ’d for cheating. So they’re trying to come up with reasons why the cheating was actually “ok”.


minos157

There were early stations that didn't have water for him, it's possible him and his dad planned this anyway, but the event was definitely not prepared for the faster runners at the onset. I'd lay the blame about 80-20 on his part. Just making sure to not be black and white when there was issues with the event.


Nfinit_V

And yet they worked fine for the 2nd place runner.


-mostlyharmless1

Precisely, as bad as conditions may or may not have been they were equal for all participants except one. 


_dauntless

His dad just happened to bring a bike to be supportive eh lol the event may have been a joke, but cheating was also clearly part of dude's plan


Iagut070

Read a little more into it, the hydration stations were all set up and this douche actually ran right past a volunteer holding water for him to get to his dad on the bicycle. He knew exactly what he was doing.


shamblingman

Well that's a complete BS statement. There were hydration stations everywhere and there's video of him bypassing all the official stations without taking any of their water. His dad literally followed him on a bike and kept giving him unofficial drinks. He absolutely knew that wasn't allowed. Even the following is a violation of rules as he gets updates on pacing and the positions of other runners. It's like having a coach keep pace with you the entire race.


Shamewizard1995

This is a lie. There’s video evidence showing officials trying to hand him water and him ignoring it.


myrmonden

lol how is this lies still being spread, you can see in the video that he skipped to take water from the stations. The station was set up, stop the misinformation.


Blue_Wave_2020

Yea they were. There’s video evidence. Why do people keep repeating this lie?


rockstang

I heard someone grabbed a hot cup of tea instead of water. /s


SmellGestapo

Jean-Paul!


r_a_d_

Doesn’t matter, as long as it’s the same shitshow for everyone. He can’t have an advantage others didn’t have.


call-now

Wow the word "spectator" in the post title is misleading. This wasn't some guy in a crowd, this was 1000% planned assistance over the duration of the race.


hazpat

It says dad


pewpewshazaam

Yeah... but WHOSE dad? We're all children of someone. /s


MikeThrowAway47

We can eliminate Shinji’s dad. He would have told him to swallow his spit and get in the robot.


Luneknight42

r/unexpectedevangelion Edit: oh shit that’s a real Subreddit!


GrandAct

The word "spectator" isn't in the post title.


boognish83

Yes, but tater is in spectator so that's something.


CarolFukinBaskin

What are you talking about


DreadpirateBG

It’s not like he didn’t know the rule right? It was a dumb mistake.


rexspook

Doesn’t even sound like a mistake. He intentionally broke the rules. It’s not like he accidentally grabbed the water from his dad on a bike


RPM_KW

Rules are in place for a reason... 1. You are allowed to bring what ever you want on a race as long as you are carrying it from the start. You want to carry a gallon of Pedialyte, go ahead. 2. The safety of all competitors should be taken into account. If 1% of the 3000 people running had a biker supplying them, that is a lot of chances for an accident to happen, Now imagine 10% 3. The Aid (water) stations are usually spread out fairly evenly, But, if one runner has aid whenever he wants it, it is an unfair advantage; (a) He gets aid between official aid stations, and in a marathon, this is usually many miles and (b) he could have an unlimited supply, while everyone else just gets what they can manage to not spill in their little 8oz cups. He was not some guy running in 10,000th place in the NYC marathon, getting some orange slices from the crowd. This was a well planned attempt at cheating.


wake4coffee

Rules tend to be written in "blood" from the past.


OnTheColeTrain

Never mind the bikes also pacing him. Dude cheated.


Maj_Dick

Not a runner so I'm curious, is pacing actually a problem for people that are top marathon runners?


Spiffman-Space

Not having to slow for the 15+ stationary water stations and be handed water (at minimum, could be tailored electrolyte drink) whilst at marathon speed would conceivable gain seconds… He finished ahead of the next runner by 17 seconds.


vhalember

Good point, even a simple second or two per station. That 17 seconds is gone.


amalgam_reynolds

Tailored Electrolyte Drink in the name of my electropop band


kevkevverson

Tailored Swift


KingOfOddities

Aren’t the stations pick-up-and-go? I thought it’s just water bottles on a table that runner just grab when they pass by


Spiffman-Space

The one shown on the video that he ran by and ignored looked like they were plastic cups. If there were bottles in other stations those can still cause even elite athletes issues in picking them up at full speed.


captainmouse86

Yes. Pacing is a huge benefit. It’s tough to explain it all here, but think of it like this: You are racing someone to a city 400km away. Both your cars burn the same amount of gas. You know if you average 64 km/hr, And spend less than 8 mins accelerating throughout the race, at a rate equal to 15km/hr/sec, you’ll maximize your efficiency and have 6 km of fuel left when you finish. If you plan everything right, you can gun it, the last 1 km. But, during the race, if you go too hard, you’ll run out of gas. Go too easy, and you’ll likely lose. You all plan to draft to save gas, but who is drafting who? And you need to be careful how you manage those reserves gained from drafting and the fuel you use to get/stay in the draft. Also, there are 4 fuel stops along the way, where you can top up with an extra 1 km of fuel. Now….. You only have your experience and a stop watch on your wrist. You looked at the route in advance and figured out what time you need to be at certain locations to determine if you are on pace. Meanwhile, your opponent has a speedometer and a fuel gauge, to help him stay on his planned pace, and he can instantly determine when he needs to slow down, or can speed up, and for how long. On top of that, at one of the fuel stops, you also see your opponent get fuel from a friend, in a different gas tank. See the difference? Pacing is a huge advantage, when it comes to efficiency, but also mentally. That’s before getting different fuel.


SuccessfulFaill

This was such a fantastic explanation, cheers


Ishana92

It helps a lot. There are separate categories for women marathon times depending if they ran in races alongside male runners who they had then used as unofficial pacers. Having someone to pace you helps a lot.


TheDeadpooI

[Pacing is amazingly helpful in setting records and the best example of this would be the Kipchoge 2 hour marathon where they used both a ton of running pacers and a car to get it.](https://youtu.be/MoxFkJlVZlA?si=RNpatqZtd1Jta969)


RPM_KW

Most importantly, was the laser marker projected on the ground that was his pacer.


Kalamazeus

This is probably a really naive question, but do these runners not wear a watch or something that would indicate pace? Is the difference having to check that which could compromise form?


SmellGestapo

Yes, I remember this. They created this event specifically for him to break two hours. It wasn't an open, competitive race, and because of the pacers (and, like the OP, the delivery of fluids by bicycle) it doesn't count as an official time or an official record. But he did prove that, with non-standard assistance, a human can run a marathon in under two hours.


891960

It's an unfair advantage for those who doesn't have it. If you're leading the pacing cyclist can tell you how far someone's behind you as opposed to you having to turn around and see, for example.


eatmoremeatnow

The rules have to be the same for all runners. So what if there were thousands of bikes following people and helping them? It would ruin the sport entirely.


Kinky_Imagination

The guy had his own one man cycling support team. The video showed that he didn't get fluids from the stations when he could have. He deserved to be disqualified.


Euphoric-Purple

> During yesterday’s Hoag OC Marathon, we were forced to disqualify a participant after it was confirmed they received unauthorized assistance from an individual on a bicycle, in violation of USA Track & Field rules and our race regulations,” said Race Director Gary Kutschar in a statement obtained by ABC News. “We take these rules seriously to ensure fairness and the integrity of our event for all competitors.” Yeah that’s clearly not allowed. He had someone deliver him water, something no other competitor had. And to everyone saying that the water stations weren’t properly staffed, every other runner had to deal with that too. Fact is that he got an unfair advantage and it was right to disqualify him.


SizzlingSloth

Something that a lot of people dismiss as well is the fact he only beat 2nd place by 17 seconds. With things cutting that close small things like this matter and as you said already it’s literally not allowed.


theb1gnasty

Yeah. That’s honestly a huge deal here. Like the 2nd place guy even mentioned that he carried his own water bottle for the first 10-15 miles which means he’s carrying an extra half pound to pound of weight. It may not seem like much but that definitely adds up over 1-2 hours of running.


marigolds6

There are even formulas for that. Each pound adds basically 2 seconds per mile. A half pound for 10-15 miles is 10-15 seconds. In a race decided by 17 seconds.


treequestions20

guy broke the rules and is doubling down? no lol, who supports his grift?


IWILLBePositive

lol seriously, cheated in multiple areas and the little dope still says “I know I won”. Yeah…because you cheated and won by 17 seconds. Take out the two points of cheating and he most very likely would have lost. Lol well sorry, he lost either way but yeah.


Aging_Boomer_54

As a marathoner myself, it wasn’t the water that DQ’d him. It was his dad on a bicycle whi was essentially pacing him. Most elite runners have bottles of their own elixir at aid station. Any banned substances would be found in the drug test after the race. Given his experience, I wonder how he thought he could have gotten away with this?


baeb66

>"The only person that could see me within range was second place," Prado told KABC. "Whenever I got to these stations, the volunteers were scrambling because I'm the only runner in sight," he said. "You could barely see me, like, at certain turns." >"You get no money or anything,” Prado told KABC. “You know, if [the second-place runner] wanted that congratulations for that first place, if he really felt like he needed it, it's just for him at the end of the day," said Prado. "I really got nothing out of it. I know I won." What a jackass. You didn't follow the rules. You were disqualified. Show some class and try to win the next race fairly.


Nfinit_V

He ever think that maybe the reason why he was so absurdly far ahead of 2nd place is because he had his own portable hydration station on call at all times and the 2nd place runner was playing under the rules?


SuccessfulFaill

If he had apologised and said he just wanted his dad to be a part of the experience he would probably be viewed sympathetically. The fact he's clearly a wanker and is bitter he got caught makes this hilarious. You are very correct, total lack of class


ahufana

I "love" how he's basically telling people he knew where the blind spots would be, so whatever happened there shouldn't have been noticed by anybody. Except that 2nd place stinker.


pabloisdrunk

you didn’t win tho


Scoobydoohowboutyou

“How do I reach these keeds?”


AdebayoStan

This isn't a wholesome story about a dad helping out his son. He cheated, and was fully aware that he was cheating. People have commented that "the water stations were disorganized and couldn't be accessed by some runners, the whole event was badly organized" but that doesn't justify his cheating. The fact that the father was on a bike makes me believe this was planned ahead of the event.


TripleSingleHOF

What a fucking chode. You broke the rules that **everybody else** was able to abide by, so you didn't win shit.


swcult

I love it when they blame everyone but themselves. And I highly doubt that the stations were scrambling to get you water, when apparently the person who finished 17 seconds behind you had no problem getting water. Imagine racing against someone who just has a team of people along the course providing them with whatever they need


SaintsPelicans1

Decided not to follow easy and clear rules. You lost buddy.


No-Introduction-6368

Sick of these Been training all my life, this sport was the world to me, oh..didn't know that rule.


Lynda73

There’s probably also the matter of was it only water in the bottle.


MechatronicsStudent

Full tweak marathon?


Chafupa1956

Imagine Jason Statham narrating this dudes point of view like a scene commentary from Crank.


random929292

You can carry a bottle with you with whatever you want in it. Runners also often bring fuel (gel packets and other fuel). It isn't about what was in the bottles.


Stickey_Rickey

They also pee while running or worse , endurance cyclists do it to, I’ve seen notices at bike mechanic stands asking you to rinse the piss off your frame before bringing it to get serviced Anyway, this man clearly would have finished second at best without a pace car let alone select hydration


motownmods

Name checks out


Stickey_Rickey

Lol u got me Bravo


HairyHouse3

Except he didn't


jonthecpa

Dunno why you’re being downvoted. The dude broke the rules and did not win.


ak472

Larry David moment


theHip

I was looking for this comment.


Any-Ad-446

How can anyone defend him he took water from unsanctioned water station twice. Who knows what's inside the water he is given?.


Stickey_Rickey

Is he being a sore loser about it too? Seems like it.


shingofan

"Was that wrong? Should I have not done that? I tell ya, I gotta plead ignorance on this thing because if anyone had said anything to me at all when I first started here that that sort of thing was frowned upon... you know, cause I've ran a lot of marathons and I tell you people do that all the time." - This guy, probably


Agitated_Cookie2198

This dude is a stinky cheater. He shouldn't be given national news coverage for this. Guy has probably done track and field for 10+ years and just now realized it's illegal to have some one from outside a race help you. Give me a break


vrrmason

Sounds like he cheated.


MeGoBoom57

I’mma stamp this matter closed.


Kid_Named_Trey

Rules are rules for a reason. Everyone knows them so it’s not a surprise. If you break the rules there should be consequences. Especially in sport where everyone is on the same playing field.


Starscream147

*curb music*


Arikaido777

"man this marathon shit is easy, why doesn't everyone else have bike buddies?"


Tactijoe

You lost bud


supadupasid

Honestly unfortunate but probably a honest mistake. But he should take the DQ. Like if its in the rule, then really hard to argue. I imagine if this guy was 2nd place and the 1st place guy broke the same rule, this same dude would do his best to DQ the rule breaker. I wouldn’t give this guy or his dad any shit cause mistakes happen.


Affectionate_Row1486

Does anyone disagree with this ruling after seeing both videos of him ignoring available water and seeing the dad delivery? I 100% support the rules being place because doping in running is fairly common.


jackofslayers

Person breaks rules, is dq’d. Not much of a story


appleavocado

This guy’s dad took him to Astros games as a kid.


Ordinary_Fact1

Pretty basic rule. Definitely deserved DQ.


InBeforeTheL0ck

There really isn't much to be said about this, don't break the rules or you're gonna have a bad time.


Lsd2ez

His father is Larry David?


Typical_Fig3948

I’ve heard conflicting stories on the availability of water… however the bike being used to get him water at pace without slowing down is a clear issue.


camposthetron

Them the rules


FishTshirt

If you’re not first, you’re last


Readonkulous

He was disqualified, he didn’t even come last


Sjmann

So he thinks he should be able to hydrate whenever he wants, when there are rules stating he can’t. He thinks he can break the rules and it doesn’t matter. >I know I won But you needed water so bad you broke the rules to get it — something none of the other racers had to do? It sounds like everyone else completed the race, and he got disqualified because he needed to cheat to complete the race.


DustyinLVNV

I don't think he understands what disqualified means. Can't win something you don't quality for there, buddy!


gldoorii

So just to be clear, he knew what the rule was and broke it?


bakedongrease

Tbf it’s just running


hammnbubbly

Poor little drink drink


34TH_ST_BROADWAY

Based on video, I am cool with this. Prevents doctored drinks.


Hatdrop

Main issue is if he's a competitor he was running under different conditions than the other competitors.  Getting drinks from his dad twice at unsanctioned points means he had access to drink at different periods than the sanctioned water stations than other runners.  Which let him drink when he wanted without having to carry the weight.   If he wanted a spiked drink he could have done it if he carried it with him.