'Biggest Loser's" Dane: Not giving the marathon medal back

"I wish I hadn’t done that...it looked bad."

That was Dane, facing the media today during a conference call with NBC, where nearly all the questions were about the flap that erupted last week when it was revealed that the epilogue to the show did not exactly reflect reality. Dane did not in fact run a marathon in 3 hours, 53 minutes -- he got a ride closer to the finish line so a field producer could get footage of him crossing the finish line, and that took him 5 hours, 53 minutes.

Although Dane said he went back later in the day to run the distance where he'd gotten a ride, many in the blogosphere and running world feel that he cheated and should return the medal he received for completing the marathon. The incident also cast a shadow, in some minds, across a show that aims to inspire folks at home to do what the contestants do.

Well, he has no plans to relinquish that medal. Highlights from the conference call:

--"I was proud that I accomplished what I accomplished....In my mind I ran the full 26 miles."

--He had no idea such a big flap was going to be raised; he thought he was helping the field producer get his shot. "I was extremely exhausted" when the field producer approached, and "you never know what’s going to make it on the show." He said he had no idea it would all lead to a misstatement of the facts. "It was kind of embarrassing actually. It wasn’t true. It looked bad."

--So far, Dane has gotten nothing but support for his accomplishments, but he knows that, to some, he violated runner's etiquette by taking a medal for running the entire course when that had not happened. "I understand why they would feel that."

--He said the race organizers knew what was going on and gave him the medal anyway. So, given that he did run every inch of the course, he's hanging on to that. He says he earned it: "I obviously didn't mean for any of this to happen. The medal was given. I would not give that back. I’m proud of it."

At one point, he joked that he wished the media questions were about how he "got thrown under the bus" last week by Ron, and predicted that his teammates will soon regret ousting such a big guy who could lose weight and win challenges, thereby protecting members of his team from elimination.   

In other developments, Dane said he has already lost 142 lbs. and is definitely gunning for the at-home prize. He said his cousin Blaine is continung to work out and lose weight for the finale, but no longer has that prize in the crosshairs. He also said he is planning to run many more marathons with his wife.

--Rene Lynch

Comments

[Jack Henry]

He lied. The show lied. The audience won't care.

[JohnnyRussia]

How anybody in their right mind could watch "reality" TV is beyond me.

[Steve]

Amazing how some people can excuse blatantly wrong actions. He did not run the course. He does not deserve the medal. He knows that, but just talks, and talks and talks trying to give reasons why he should be awarded. He is sorry that he got caught. That's all. And the producers are just as wrong as he is, but somehow the writer did not see any reason to talk with them and ask how they can excuse their behavior.

[Thomas46]

I think there may be a producer position available in Manhattan Beach, or two.

[Frankie DoRight]

What! He said "In my mind I ran the full 26 miles", dude please, go register for another race, pay the $100 or so entrance fee yourself and please run from start to finish. What a fraud.

[chad]

I have 10 marathon medals, all of which I earned by running 26.2 consecutive miles under my own power. When someone wanted to borrow one of my medals for a Halloweed costume I said no because you only get to wear a marathon medal if you've earned it.

Not only should this guy be stripped of his medal, he should be disqualified from any future USATF (the governing body of track & field, including marathons) sanctioned race.

I assume that the race was Rock n Roll Arizona, which is run by Elite Racting. They have a very good reputation in the running community for their organization and I doubt they would jeopardize that by being a willing participant in this fraud.

[Ka P]

The Media is the one that causes all the controversy. From TV to News, look at the way they portray the war.....have heart - that will sell newspapers too!

[Beth]

The only way this "Big Loser" could redeem himself now is to donate that medal to the Medals 4 Mettle foundation, which gives persons facing life-threatening illness or disability medals from races all over the world to cheer them up. He has no business keeping that medal or excusing his behavior--he is a cheater pure and simple, no better than that guy a few years ago in the Chicago Marathon who took the "L" or a cab to cut off some of the mileage.
As someone who has completed 6 marathons, one of which I had a stress fracture, another the stomach flu and a third in torrential downpours, the courage comes in finishing all 26.2 miles no matter what, even crawling if necessary, but doing it under your own power. I agree with Chad who said ban this guy from any future USATF events. BTW, Chad, the race was the Desert Classic--RNR is in January. Cheers.

[JORY]

He aided the producer so they could get their shot. Then he went back and finished the race. It is the production's fault for stating that he ran the marathon in a certain time when it clearly took him longer. This is not Dane's fault, but the production's error. I am sure he is contractually obligated to put the show first. He shouldn't have to return the medal since he finished the race.

[Beth]

Sorry JORY, he didn't finish the race, he cheated, and his going back to re-run the 3 miles at a later point doesn't cut it. Slippery slope approach--does he deserve the medal if he went back 2 days later to re-run the 3 miles he skipped? What about 2 weeks later? Again, completing a marathon is about doing it all at once, under your own power, even if it takes 10 hours to do it. This is why just anyone can't and shouldn't be signing up for a marathon--it is something that takes dedication, discipline and training to accomplish. I would have had more respect for the guy if he just dropped out at the 23 mile point and said, you know what? I did 23 miles and that's fantastic. But for Dane to claim he "completed a marathon" is a lie and not deserving of a finisher's medal--it's a slap in the face to the people who gutted it out all 26.2 miles that day. Of course, and I hate to say it, I suppose if this guy had discipline he wouldn't have been so severely overweight to begin with.

[Big Sam]

Remember the movie "Quiz Show" about cheating on TV game shows.
Well, here is the 2009 version. Nothing's changed.
Bring back the special Congressional investigation commission.

[Marathonlaura]

I've run many marathons and even did an Ironman, many of them were NOT pretty, and were in fact pretty miserable. I think it's pretty lame when he says that he ran the full distance in his mind. What about all of the people who dropped out early? I've heard it hurts worse to quit than to suffer through the pain to finish... I can't imagine how bad it hurts to cheat and pretend you didn't.

[wizmom]

This show is getting so pathetic! I watched tonight's episode and after watching two hours, WAY too many commercials, they didn't even show the final weigh in for Mike!!! I am seriously considering watching American Idol full time this year. People can only deal with so much of the "drama". I feel sorry for the contestants. I am amazed they lose so much.

[Ron]

Hey, I've run enough miles to circle the globe, but I don't have a medal to show for it, because I went home to sleep a few times before finishing.

The Biggest Loser is a cheater too.

[Aaron]

Medals 4 Mettle will not take unearned medals, per Running World magazine interview I read. They only want medals that acually mean something. If this guy wants to showcase a symbol of dishonesty in his family home that's his business. His name has already been removed from the official race results. The medal is worthless now.

[Rob]

What a joke, this guy has no scruples, I would admire him if he came clean and admitted he didn't run a marathon. I've run 190 miles since January 1st this year, does that mean I've ran 7.25 marathons? No it means I've ran 190 miles. As someone who has actaully completed marathons, one of the most challenging things to do, he is making a mockery out what should be a huge accomplishment. If you've never completed one, you would not understand.

[Katie]

Hey maybe we should all email the Desert Classic and ask for a marathon medal! I cannot believe he's keeping a medal he didn't earn. Wow

[Sharon]

I have run and finished eight marathons. I DNF'd at Chicago last fall due to a back injury. It was the worst thing in the world to DNF but I would never claim that I "ran" Chicago last year. I won't even wear the t-shirt. I didn't finish. I didn't run the marathon. Danes statement "I ran the marathon in my mind" is a joke and shame on the Desert Classic for supporting this sham.

[Kevin]

I have ran and completed two marathons and did every step. I did not have a cane, or any other device such as bike or car. This guy is a joke and poor excuse as a human. I treasure my medals because I earned them with the hours or training that I put in and the pain of every 26.2 miles on the course.

[thon]

Claiming a medal he didn't earn? Apparently, he's still the biggest loser. Probably always will be.