The Joasia Zakrzewski Ultramarathon Controversy: The Race Director & The Runners View
Background
By now, most runners and people in general have likely heard about Joasia Zakrzewski’s ultramarathon controversy earlier this month. She was competing in the race, began feeling ill, received a car ride to a checkpoint, continued from there, and ultimately finished in third place. I was invited to discuss this incident on my local radio station in a light-hearted segment with another local runner, Beth Rainbow. Initially, I didn’t think much about it, but as the week progressed, I noticed increasing coverage on websites and social media platforms not typically associated with ultramarathons. The incident has transcended the sport and entered mainstream conversations, which may not be the ideal representation of the sport for outsiders.
The Race Director
As a race director, I feel conflicted. Part of me understands the negative impact this incident has on the event and the hard work of the race organizers. It casts a shadow over an otherwise uplifting event with happy participants. Most people who organize such races are passionate about the sport and want to create an environment where people can challenge themselves and be part of something special. When incidents like this occur, it can mar the experience for everyone involved. Although events usually have rules in place to ensure safety and fairness, it can be difficult to enforce them given the small organizing teams and large distances involved. A certain level of fair play is expected from all participants.
In light of this incident, there may be a need for increased scrutiny or additional rules to prevent similar situations in the future. I have experienced this myself as a race director, starting with basic rules and trust in participants, only to have someone exploit a loophole and necessitate rule changes. Eventually, the rulebook grows and race briefings begin to sound like scoldings
The Runner
As a runner, (and a human being) however, I also empathize with Joasia as a person and wonder how she feels amidst the backlash. A simple search of her name on social media reveals countless posts berating her character. She is a doctor and a renowned ultrarunner who held world records until recently. She had flown in from Australia the night before the race, posted her run details on Strava afterward, and that’s when discrepancies were noticed and the storm began. Joasia has yet to apologize or comment publicly, and social media and news outlets are sensationalizing the story with little regard for the facts.
While I don’t condone cheating in any form, is it possible that Joasia made a mistake and is now facing disproportionate consequences? Her running career, credibility, and perhaps her life as she knows it may be in shambles. This wasn’t the Olympics, after all; there was no prize money, and was it worth risking everything for third place? We don’t have all the information yet, but if I were in her shoes, I’d feel ostracized and upset by the vilification. Everyone faces temptation at some point, and we’ve all likely succumbed to or been tempted by our darker side in various aspects of life.
The incident is undoubtedly unfortunate for the sport, race organizers, and the fourth-place runner who was later promoted to third. However, the backlash against Joasia in social media, sports media, and mainstream media seems disproportionate to the offense. While sports and fair play are important, it’s crucial to remember that behind every controversy is a person who may be struggling as a result of their actions. As a race director, I understand the impact such incidents can have on an event. But as a runner, I also empathize with Joasia and the scrutiny she’s facing.