Ever Catch A Cheater? #Fitfluential #GirlsGoneSporty

Recently on Facebook a woman posed a question that had to do with seeing someone she believed to be cheating at a race. I won't get into that post exactly since it was not posted directly to me or my page. Besides, it is her story so I feel it should remain as such. However, it did get me thinking about the topic in general.

Have you ever saw someone cheat at a race?

I am not talking about a mistaken change of course that may have shortened a race for a runner. We see runners get lost on improperly marked courses all the time. It happened to me once when volunteers sent me by accident heading in the wrong direction, under a very low underpass that I had to literally crawl on my hands and feet to get under. In my case my little detour added time to my finish. It does happen. I am talking about a clear cut case of cheating, red handed.

If you ever saw someone cheat at a race, by taking a shorter route, or maybe by allowing a faster friend run for them to get a better time, would you say something? Even if a threat of retaliation may be likely? Would it matter if that person was a well-known member of your running community? Would it bother you more if it was a big race as supposed to a small race in your area? What would the appropriate punishment be if guilt could be proven?

I pose these questions not to say that the community of runners we know and love is full of these instances. Yet, I think these topics are ones that are good ones for us to discuss, so that if it does happen we know how we would respond. Perhaps knowing what to do is a sure fire way to never actually have to do it.

I would prefer even to fail with honor than win by cheating.
Sophocles 

Labor of Love Weekend Race Report #Fitfluential #GirlsGoneSporty

Last weekend I participated in the Labor of Love weekend at Lovell Canyon. If you follow my blog you know that this is the same canyon that my husband and I go to for target shooting (at a different area of the canyon). So for me this was a great race to run. I had planned to do my typical race report, what went right what went wrong but decided that it was better to tell you why and for whom I ran this race.

After the events of the last week or so, most definitely the total 19.3 miles I put in for both days (Half on Saturday, 10K on Sunday) were for Boston. No doubt many of you dedicated races to the town, the runners, and spectators affected by the events of Monday, April 15th.

For me there was another reason I ran. An alum at my high school, Dan, had a lifesaving double transplant this past fall. His family and friends in Pennsylvania, where I originally hail from, were walking in the Heart Walk that same day. I knew I wanted to do a half marathon during my birthday month (I turned 39 on April 8). This seemed to me like it was kismet. I was meant to run this race.

Despite the hardships I faced both days, none of that matters. It pales in comparison to what those that were there that day in Boston went through, as well as what Dan went through to become well again.

Sometimes, we just run to run. The times don't always need to matter. The performance can be secondary to the feeling of accomplishment felt doing something for someone else or in their honor.

So run on....and be Boston strong.

United, we run!

Terror.

The word itself came from a French word that meant "great fear". Our interpretation of it now, after several large scale attacks these last few decades (both domestic and foreign) has taken on a whole new sinister and terrifying meaning.

Terror is now a coward's way of getting whatever they feel entitled to: whether that be to create fear in people, to point out political or religious beliefs, to justify their hatred as righteous anger, to some misguided sense of wrong doing that was inflicted upon them, the list goes on. Regardless of the reason, one thing has become increasing clear. They cannot be allowed to win.

It is going to be up to you, me, and all the people we love and respect in our lives to make sure that this event and those of our past which have also been etched into our memories, be remembered and learned from, but NEVER allowed to make us fearful. That is what they want. They want to create that "great fear" in all of us. They will stop at nothing to get it, and we must be as equally determined to stop them from getting what they want.

There is something else that these cowards need to know. You have messed with the wrong group of people. From novice to elite, runners are fiercely united. From each step we take there is a sense of purpose, a determination that cannot be rivaled. We are warriors. Our spirit is strong. Even in our weakest moments we are a force to reckon with. Even when we are scared, tired, hurt, emotional we always keep moving forward. One step at at time.

Even now, as I write this, there is this anger that arises in me when I think about what it must have been like for the runners and spectators at that finish line. My heart goes out to each and every one of them, and to all the people that cared about them, who were frantic to hear word if their loved ones were safe and sound. The thought that their feeling of pride of completing this race was quickly turned to anguish for them breaks my heart.

I know that my anger, and that being felt by my fellow runners, will only spurn our running community to action. I already see it happening. Numerous stories out of Boston of runners who had finished their  race seen giving their medals to those that could not, to people helping those injured without hesitation, to the epic and swift response of EMT's and police...all the way to those on the web and twitter rallying support by wearing race tees today or the colors of the Boston Marathon, to virtual events to raise money to help the injured, or simply to send their thoughts and prayers to those that now need them most.

This is what human nature should be about, not the senseless acts of violence and tyranny of people who are too easily able to blame others for their misfortune.

Right now, tears well up for those that were lost and my love goes to each of them and their families. For many days, weeks, from now, please know that we now run for you. We run towards a world where terror is word no longer in the forefront of our minds.

One thing is for certain, we will never run away.


Cause we are 
We are shining stars 
We are invincible 
We are who we are 
On our darkest day 
When we're miles away 
So we'll come 
We will find our way home...
"Carry On" by Fun.