“Serious Runner” satirizes confusion between social influencers and journalism: Targets the Kenyan doping scandal

A YouTube video producer named “The Series Show” satirized the confusion that exists between social influencers and journalism by targeting the Kenyan doping scandal. The animated short features the characterization of former marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge and an unknown “president” and a representative of the Boston Athletic Association (BAA), that operates the Boston Marathon.

The story seems to borrow from the popular American comedy show South Park using clever and conspiratorial dialogue.

Chepngetich and Kipchoge

Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich set the marathon world record at the 2024 Chicago Marathon. That performance resulted in people wondering if the record was clean. In this episode, Kipchoge is recruited by the Kenyan government to suppress speculation about whether or not doping was involved.

The story hits close to home for influencers and fan-media websites like Citius Magazine.

Recently, Kenyan Pairlament addressed international media speculation about Chepngetich’s world record performance of 2:09:53 during the 2024 Chicago Marathon. The speaker directly implicated Robert Johnson, co-owner of Let’sRun.com.

Athletics Illustrated Magazine and Amby Burfoot — former senior editor of Runner’s World Magazine and former Boston Marathon champion — were spared. However, Johnson was questioned for his post-race press conference question to Chepngetich asking about media who will speculate about her performance and cheating with performance-enhancing drugs — given the doping scourge plaguing the country.

She didn’t seem to care.

Conspiracy theory

There is a conspiracy theory making the rounds about protectionism. The theory is that athletes like Kipchoge and Chepngetich are protected from being caught doping. The theory is that authorities are protecting the image of the sport, saving the fastest from brining the sport down. The Serious Show indirectly addresses the alleged protectionism, social influencers, and legitimate media’s ability to ask questions.

The sendup features Kipchoge, with the Mission Impossible-like task of meeting a social media influencer. The purpose of the meeting was to buy the influencer’s silence for the price of meeting one of the greatest runners of all time. The two meet at a track at 8:00 PM to rendezvous, while Kipchoge casts his legendary spell of fame upon the fan, presumably buying his silence, for nothing more than a faux race together.

The dialogue is clever and features brands, and jargon that only a serious runner may know.

At the time of publication, the YouTube channel’s video had 999 views from 645 subscribers. These numbers will surely grow.