Are lifetime bans good for the quality of a sport?

2015-11-19T15:19:04-05:00

http://www.runnersworld.com/races/marine-corps-marathon-issues-lifetime-ban-to-runner

This one is near and dear to my heart, because it's a race I actually run. I know the Race Director, and the Operations Director (Used to work with him at my last unit), and this decision is not a light one.

For those unfamiliar, there is a 16 minute / mile pace (7:00:00) on the course, so the "competitor" in question really had no issues with completion. Based on finish times at Boston (3:40:xx), this would have been a significantly easier course. Heck, the qualifying time for a 61 year old male is 3:55:00. He would have made it without cheating.

The People's Marathon (Marine Corps Marathon) has NO cash prize. You are literally competing against yourself. It is a truly great race, and although it is one of the last races that "qualify for Boston" (a "Prestige" race), I just don't understand the idea of cheating yourself.

I've completed the course 4 times. My times aren't great. Not going to lie. I'm not fast. I haven't been "fast" in 15 years. I doubt I'll ever be back in the sub-4 category, but my splits are honest. I just don't get why.

That said, I tend to agree with R. Nealis. I almost want to see bigger repercussions, but I'm not sure if it's because it's personal or because I dislike cheats. The idea of this guy never being allowed in a sanctioned race again sounds really appealing. What's your thoughts?

Marine Corps Marathon Issues Lifetime Ban to Runner

The Marine Corps Marathon has issued Gregory Price, 61, of Washington, D.C., a lifetime ban from all its events after his 3:17:47 finish last month (good for second in the 60–64 age group) attracted attention. Once race organizers began looking at his race history, a pattern emerged that showed Price consistently missed timing mats and ran highly suspect splits at the race, which he has run 13 times since 1998.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Nov 19 at 2015 3:30 PM

2015-11-19T15:30:35-05:00

What happened to the first place finisher?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2015 3:34 PM

2015-11-19T15:34:06-05:00

Well, if he was breaking the rules all these years, then he needs to pay the piper.

Response by Sgt Tim Osborn made Nov 19 at 2015 3:35 PM

2015-11-19T15:35:00-05:00

I support the lifetime ban for cheating and other conduct that would be a discredit to the organization. I wish professional sports would do this for their problem players.

Response by SSgt James Howerton made Nov 19 at 2015 3:54 PM

2015-11-19T15:54:50-05:00

When I was in my mid to late 20s, I ran 3 marathons. I ran 20 miles probably about 10 times in a 4 - 5 year period. But my "wall" seemed to be about 24 miles. If I did 20, I was always fine but when I ran the marathons, I hit the wall every time, I felt ill afterwards. Nauseated, shakes, etc. like when my blood sugar gets too low. These reasons are why I never got to run the MC marathon. No matter how much I trained, how I carb loaded, etc., I always hit that wall. But I never ran to beat other people. I did run for the pure pleasure of running. I also was never fast. My best PFT time was 21:30 and that was when I was young and in good shape. But I'm with you. I don't get the cheating anyway, anyhow. It just made no sense to me. I knew I'd never win ANY race I ran. That's not why I ran. I ran to see if I could better my own times, competing against myself. At my last duty station, I was in charge of weight control for the units attached to the Marine Aviation Training Support Group I was assigned to and I'd get a lot of Marines who had been to their MOS school and were reporting to their first Duty Station after a 30 day leave. It was hard to believe how many guys ate themselves out of shape before arriving. I agree with the lifetime ban. I just never have understood why a person would cheat at ANYTHING, but especially at a sport. I was medically retired for repeated ruptured disks in my back. My first injury was in Boot and although I was given 3 days bed rest, I took none due to my D.I.'s threat of being recycled. If I had it to do over again, I would have done the bed rest and been recycled, if necessary. Running with 3 herniated disks is something I wouldn't recommend but at 19, I thought I could just run through the pain, which I did. 13 years later it caught up to me and ended my career. That was like 20 years ago and I still miss running every day. If I could still run, I'd never cheat myself by cheating. Shoot, I'd love to just walk/jog everyday. So I say yeah, ban them for life.

Response by Sgt Spencer Sikder made Nov 19 at 2015 4:07 PM

2015-11-19T16:07:30-05:00

Pete Rose came to mind with your question. There is a place for life time bans and it needs to be applied fairly. A one time incidental mistake shouldn't warrant a life time ban, but intentional actions, yes.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2015 4:07 PM

2015-11-19T16:07:45-05:00

I don't get it. Why stylize yourself as a good enough marathoner to go to Boston and then tank?
Even a course cutter has to legitimately train for the event. Ye t all of that work goes out the window when you don't actually run the race.
This is stupid.