> If anything from reading this article it feels like the running and marathon communities are hugely self-righteous and have a colossally overblown sense of se

> If anything from reading this article it feels like the running and marathon communities are hugely self-righteous and have a colossally overblown sense of self-importance In general that is far from the truth. Running communities tend to be very helpful and welcoming groups in my experience. Yes, there are a few alpha-cock types out there and one or two online forums where they manage to dominate (mainly because they leave other groups where being an arse is actively unappreciated), but that sort of prick appears in all walks of life and running seems to have fewer than its fair share. A lot of the noise that you do hear comes from outside the running groups sometimes. For instance most people making jokes belittling joggers compared to runners neither run nor jog, they just like taking the mick out of a recognisable target. It is like the people who hardly ever leave their couch unless they need to go get another beer going on about how Cantona should have taken a particular shot differently (yeah, my football knowledge is that up-to-date!). > if you run a marathon, it should be about your own sense of achievement I would agree there. Though if there are awards for best-in-class or otherwise they should go to the people who genuinely earn them. > why care so much about what some other person has done? People don't generally like a cheat in any area, If someone else missed out on a best-in-class or other result because of a cheater they are perfectly justified in being irritated and many will be irritating on their behalf. The man didn't deserve bullying by an online mob, he needed mental help not harassment and the ban from other events should be sufficient counter action, but that doesn't mean we should dismiss cheating as a victimless action that we shouldn't care about because it doesn't directly affect us.