These days, influencers and marathons appear to have a close relationship. But which originated first — influencers participating in marathons, or marathon runners evolving into influencers? It resembles a classic chicken-and-egg dilemma, yet one aspect remains evident: the convergence of running culture and social media, especially on platforms like TikTok, has been on the rise, particularly since the onset of the pandemic.
Generally, this trend has been beneficial. Influencers have contributed to the increasing popularity of marathons, attracting new participants and rendering the sport more approachable and thrilling. Nevertheless, events took a contentious turn this past weekend when an influencer was disqualified from the New York City Marathon for breaching race regulations by running alongside a team of people filming him.
“Following a review and owing to breaches of World Athletics rules, along with the New York Road Runners’ Code of Conduct and Rules of Competition, NYRR has disqualified Matt Choi from the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon and has excluded him from the results,” stated the New York Road Runners (NYRR), the organization orchestrating the marathon, as reported by *Runner’s World*. “He is prohibited from participating in any future NYRR events.”
Matt Choi, an influencer based in Texas, completed the marathon with a commendable time of 2:57:15 — below three hours. However, this accomplishment won’t appear in the official results. According to NYRR, the 29-year-old was assisted by two unauthorized individuals on electric bicycles, which obstructed other runners along the course.
The incident has elicited varied responses on social media. In a TikTok video that has amassed nearly half a million views, creator Michael Brandt recognized Choi’s influence within the sport. “He motivates a lot of people to register for their first marathon or their next marathon,” Brandt noted. “He’s drawing significant attention to a sport that can sometimes be perceived as dull. He’s making it quite dynamic and thrilling.”
Nonetheless, Brandt also pointed out the repercussions of Choi’s conduct. “Many individuals try to obtain tickets and fail. Space is extremely limited, so bringing unauthorized participants onto the course, particularly on bikes, violates the rules.”
Choi took to TikTok on Wednesday to express his remorse, acknowledging that he jeopardized the safety of others and disrupted the race. “I have no excuses, full stop,” he acknowledged. “I was selfish on Sunday.” He also affirmed that he wouldn’t contest NYRR’s decision to ban him, saying, “I made my bed, so I’m going to lay in it.”
The larger running community on platforms like TikTok and Reddit has largely criticized Choi’s behavior. Many contend that while influencers can elevate the sport’s profile positively, they still need to honor the regulations and the experience of other competitors. After all, numerous influencers ran the race this year without violating the rules or alienating fellow runners.
In the end, Choi’s disqualification stands as a reminder that while influencers can indeed enhance the excitement and inclusivity of marathons, they are still required to adhere to the same rules as everyone else.