Why the Mexico City marathon attracts so many cheats

IN RECENT YEARS the Mexico City marathon has caused crowding on the city metro. That is not just because the city shuts down numerous roads above ground for the 42-kilometre race. It is also because cheating marathoners have been known to hop on for a quick detour to the finish line. Last year 5,000 of the 28,000 runners who finished were disqualified. Hundreds more were kicked out mid-race. No other race admits to stripping so many competitors of their places. Ahead of this year’s event, on August 25th, organisers are hoping for scurrying without skulduggery.

Most of the corredores de chocolates (Mexican slang for fake runners) are easy to spot. Each runner carries a chip across electronic checkpoints placed along the course. Those who skip to the end are doomed to disqualification—but only days later, well after they receive their medal and the crowd’s adulation. Over the past six years marathon medals have each been emblazoned with a letter. Collectively, they spell out “Mexico”. That has motivated some people to cheat and complete the set, says Javier Carvallo, the Mexico City marathon’s chief. This year a new series of six medals, which together will make up a map of the city, begins.

Other cheaters give their bib to a speedier “bib mule” before the race, hoping to...

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