Woman riding bike during marathon gets lifetime ban
File under "odd behaviour during marathons"
The story is so simple and yet so bizarre: an identified woman wearing bib number D2113 was seen riding her bike at various points on the course during the Xuzhou International Marathon last month. When race officials yelled at her to get off the bike, she apparently did–but shortly thereafter, she got back on.
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As has been pointed out in other reports, the bike doesn’t seem to have helped her make much headway through the back-of-the-packers (she finished in 5:38). She did make better time near the finish line, though–one report claims she recorded a 7:10 for her final split (from the 40K timing mat to the finish), which works out to 3:15/K. We suspect she wasn’t even motivated by the desire for a faster time. Perhaps she just wanted to be able to sit down now and then.
Regardless of her motivation, she was disqualified (no surprise), and has received a lifetime ban from this marathon.