Working influencer Matt Choi, 29, of Austin, Texas, ran the Sunday’s New York Metropolis Marathon, ending in 2:57:15. However his participation drew some unfavorable reactions from different runners and supporters, who took to Reddit to complain about the truth that he was accompanied by somebody driving an ebike–which isn’t allowed, partly as a result of it creates a security hazard for different runners on a crowded marathon course.
It wasn’t the primary time Choi has been noticed doing this in a highway race. We first wrote about him in early 2023, when he was reported being adopted by a cellular digicam crew on ebikes. And one other poster identified the same Reddit thread after the NYRR Brooklyn Half in Might.
The New York Metropolis Marathon is organized by the New York Street Runners (NYRR). Right here’s what the NYRR guidelines (which apply to all NYRR races, besides for youths’ races) say about helping runners: “Unofficial pacers or different unregistered contributors are usually not permitted on the course, nor are they permitted to offer help. A participant who receives help throughout an occasion from anybody apart from official medical personnel could also be disqualified.”
Influencer underneath hearth for blocking Austin Marathon route with ebikes
One poster mentioned he and quite a few different runners missed with the ability to get water, as a result of the ebike (rumoured to be ridden by Choi’s brother) was blocking their path to the water station. “I used to be one of many runners that missed my water,” they posted. “Fortunately, one other runner noticed me miss it due to the bike swiping by and shared their cup with me.” There have been even stories the ebike bumped into some runners.
As one other poster identified, “There are actual celebrities who can run these races with out a crew following them.”
In early 2023, after the Austin Marathon, Choi addressed the problem instantly in a TikTok:
@mattchoi6 Replying to @manchuwok1 bikes throughout a marathon! #runners #working #austin #marathon #velocity #bikes #media #content material
Within the put up, Choi claims his crew all had media credentials for the Austin Marathon, however he doesn’t deal with the problem of them driving ebikes on the course (which might not be allowed, even when they’d press passes).
Some posters have been as aggravated with NYRR for not implementing their very own guidelines as they have been with Choi: “Police and volunteers continuously inform the help crowd to again away, but that is allowed to occur.”
We reached out to the NYRR for remark, however they’d not but replied by the point of publication.