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Perplexed by the 5K Virtual Run Leaderboard
The last lap of 2024 became the last lie of 2024 for many, many people who cheated on their running stats
I ran a virtual 5K on 31 December. It took me 56 minutes to complete the distance and I was happy it was over.
I went to some trouble to run properly. I practised a 1 km distance every day on the roads outside my home, ran 3 km a few days ago when I had to go in late to work, and hoped that I would be able to finish the 5K, my longest distance ever, without incident.
I went to the local stadium, which is open to all citizens of India (we have to show our citizenship proof at the entrance, in the form of our Aadhar cards) for my run. I was accompanied by my daughter who took a few pictures while she was waiting.
What perplexed me was the Adidas leaderboard. I expected the elite runners to have run virtual rings around me; but that’s not exactly what happened.