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In case you didn’t know, a new season of Dancing with the Stars started and I’m all over it as usual. I was most excited to see Olympic Hurdler and Bobsledder Lolo Jones. In case you missed it, Lolo’s first dance was kind of a mess, but who cares? Well apparently she did, as she talked over the judges, barely letting them get a word in. She took it very seriously, too seriously. It’s a freaking dance show afterall. I’d much rather have seen her be a good sport, shake it off and come out dancing the following week. I was not alone in feeling this way because Lolo was voted off. Personally I was pretty stunned by her demeanor. This wasn’t the image of her I’d conjured in my head. But if that’s her personality, so be it.
Fast forward to a trail race this weekend. My friend is her running club’s race referee. She saw one of the runners, (a Medical Doctor and 1:01 10k runner on her best day) dart out of the woods off course and run it in to a 44 minute finish. She didn’t hesitate to climb the podium and claim her prize. How’s that for cheating? Would you want this woman as your doc?
One final example is from one of the blogging groups I belong to. In an effort to increase followers on Instagram/Twitter/whatever, we were encouraged to follow each other. Great. Except some will gladly put their name down so everyone will follow, then not reciprocate. Or they’ll follow for a day then unfollow. Or they’ll stop over, like a pic, make a comment, but not follow. Overwhelmingly they’re the people who have thousands of followers but only follow about 47 people, which is awesome. I’m not here to judge how anyone handles their social media accounts. But if you’re going to add your name agreeing to exchange follows, and not doing that, you are cheating, just like the runner. It’s a crappy reflection of you you’re putting out into the world. Whether you’re a doctor, or a health coach or a trainer or whatever, you’re showing the world who you are and infecting your profession with petty, unethical behavior.
Let’s be clear: Lolo is not a cheater. Just needs work on how she comes across. I’ll get off my soapbox now.
Congrats to everyone who completed their capstone long run for their marathon this weekend! So excited for all of you! What was exciting for you this weekend? Have you ever caught a “cheetah”?
my weather was stellar this weekend and i mostly got packed for RAGNAR!!! I will stop in your city for a few hours too 🙂 i hope your airport is loverly!
oh yes…her demeanor sucked. that show is kinda fun. i watch it and think about my parents (who TOTALLY watch it) and I can hear my moms running commentary. Not bitchy jsut so funny cause my mom is so funny. First show is always good…cause its like…well SHE is a ringer or wow…oh man…that was bad. But regardless it must be a big deal to do that show cause you put it all out there for people to judge. As for the trail experience…funny seen the same thing too. Shady for sure. I have a pal who has run with someone elses bib, then won something in the AG…i was..you cannot take the prize. She was all…well they GAVE it to me. EYEROLL.
Glad you talked about the IG thingy. I reciprocated with all who liked me…bt several of them have now disappeared. Again…with the cheetahs in the neighbourhood. le sigh.
Tina of course your mom is hilarious! Now I know where you get your sparkling sense of humor! 😀
So frustrating when people want to get ahead without actually doing the work…this is a huge pet peeve of mine!!-Ashley
Really on that doctor? That is insane!
And I agree on the IG/social media thing. Sometimes when those opportunities arise, I don’t add my name b/c it might be a time when I can’t take the few minutes (I know that sounds silly but) to go out and reciprocate. If I do add my name, though, I’m planning on it!
OMG! How low can people go? Is it really winning at any cost all that matters these days?!?
I loved that you mentioned the social media follow-me thing. I thought I was the only one seeing those stingy pass-by. I could not agree with you more. People are not obliged to follow anyone HOWEVER, if they sign up for something that implies MUTUAL support…. I call it cheating too.
I can’t believe that runner cheated like that! I don’t like when people cut courses, especially if they are going to place in their age group! That’s ridiculous!
I’m over here nodding and “mmmmmm HMMMM”-ing on this post for sure! I don’t watch DWTS, but nobody likes a poor sport at any sport! Or cheaters, or follow-to-unfollowers. Blech on them all!
I have a client at my boot camp who might actually be the world’s worst counter, but seems more like she’s always cheating when we’re doing work for reps. She’s always done first, even when it’s obvious that she’s moving slower than the others and even when we’re not really competing. I’m a competitive girl, but…really? There’s no prize for being the first one done with jumping jacks. LOL.
HA! I’ll be honest, I sometimes think how easy it could be to become a cheetah in some races. It’s mostly to be done, though, not earn an AG award. What’s the point? No one but you and No. 4 in your AG give a crap. Ugh.
I don’t watch DWTS, but I think I might be the only one.
The cheetah picture is absolutely hilarious- I can’t stop laughing! Cheating really is no laughing matter though and it always irks me when I see that type of behavior in other people! I CAN NOT believe that doctor did that during the race- I hope she gets called out and her prize gets revoked!
DWTS IS MY JAMMMMMM!!! They film right down the street from me, and I go attend the show tapings all the time – I LOVEEE IT SO MUCH. Probably because I am going to marry Derek Hough. LMFAO
I will never get how people can cheat like that and then proudly go up and claim their prize!?! I’m so with you on the social media following/unfollowing game that goes on – and why is it always the one with thousands of followers? Shaking my head….
What a glorious, beautiful weekend! I had the Berryman Adventure Race, 15 hours racing outside. Had a blast! And two cheetah moments during the race: teams are required to stay within 100 feet of each other, but while my teammate and I were at a hard-fought, long hike of a checkpoint, one member of another team came and punched the CP with no sign anywhere of his teammate. Lame! And then we were bumped out of third place by a team who only got their points by following another team all day long. Not necessarily cheating, but since the whole point of the race is to be able to navigate — and they couldn’t — it’s super lame that they placed.
Cheaters and rule breakers really get on my goat. Like the ones who drive around talking into their mobile – totally illegal here and unsafe! And the stupid woman who was out walking her dog without a lead yesterday. She kept walking while her dog stopped mid-road because I was walking my two. On leashes of course. The woman didn’t even stop to look around to see if her dog was following. Some people shouldn’t be allowed to be pet owners and I should be allowed to carry a taser.
I hate cheetahs! I saw a person at a run/obstacle race- she ran but skipped the the obstacles! I worked my butt off to get over those hills and when that lady walked up to get her third place prize I wanted to SCREAM!!!!!
Mary Beth that’s just so wrong! Fine w/me if somebody wants to skip stuff but they shouldn’t be eligible for a prize.
I was disappointed with Lola’s attitude, too!!
And, I have zero tolerance for the whole cheating thing!!!
Lolo seems like kind of a jerk in general. I hate to say that. I want to like her… I really do.
I hate cheaters. I wrote a post on some annoying cheats last year: http://ericafinds.com/2013/05/a-running-dilemma/ To get on the podium. That takes guts!
It’s never pleasant to cross paths with such behavior. Cheating is worse than bad sportsmanship but I dislike both. I haven’t put much effort into my social media presence so I haven’t had to deal with bad actors there (yet). What did you think of Ashley Wagner’s reactions to her placements in Sochi?
Mary I definitely raised an eyebrow when Ashley Wagner responded the way she did to her scores in Sochi.
WTF on the cheater runner – I don’t get it!!!!! WHY – so crazy! Nope, would not want as a friend or doc!
I often ask myself how people sleep at night. REALLY. WHAT.IS.WRONG with people. I’ve heard about cheating (a running blogger, actually) during a race but never seen it.