One of America's most admired ultramarathoners has found himself at the center of a controversy over Wikipedia. Running Magazine reported.
Camille Herron, who holds more than 12 ultramarathon world records, is accused of editing other ultramarathoners' Wiki pages to remove and discredit their achievements and add embellishments to her own page. The edits were reportedly based on Herron's email address and an IP address belonging to her fiancé, Conor Holt.
According to the report, Herron and Holt operated two separate Wikipedia user profiles between 2017 and 2024. In February, their first profile, “Temporun73,” was blocked from editing for “outdated and profane language,” in addition to an “edit war” on Herron's own page. An edit war is when multiple contributors disagree on the content of a particular page, repeatedly invalidating each other with additions and deletions.
Just hours after temporun73 was banned, a profile under the name “Rundbowie” was created and began making edits to Herron's page, as well as those of runners Courtney Dauwalter and Killian Jornet. Temprun73 removed the phrase “widely regarded as one of the greatest trail runners of all time” from both runners' Wiki entries under the pretext of “removing hyperbole”, but added similar phrases to Herron's page.
On February 28, Courtney Dauwalter's Wikipedia entry underwent multiple revisions. The original entry read: “Courtney Dauwalter (born February 13, 1985) is an American ultramarathon runner and former teacher. She is considered one of the best female trail runners in the world. [sic]In 2023, Dauwalter will become the first person to win three iconic 100-mile races in the same year: the Western States 100, Hardrock 100, and UTMB.” After temporun73's edits, the page reads: “Courtney Dauwalter (born February 13, 1985) is an American ultramarathon runner and former teacher.”
Actually, Running Magazine It found that since 2017, two accounts associated with Herron and Holt had contributed to more than 300 Wikipedia edits. More than half of those were additions to Herron’s page. In addition to the edits to Dauwalter and Jornet’s pages, there were “notable deletions of positive content” on pages belonging to 2018 Boston Marathon champion Des Linden, Danish ultramarathoner Stine Rex, and legendary Greek ultramarathoner Yiannis Kouros. On March 22, Wikipedia concluded that Rundbowie was merely an extension of the Temporun73 account, as both were registered to an email address Herron had used since 2007.
Trishul Cherns, president of the Global Organization of Multi-Day Marathoners (GOMU), said she was “appalled” by the allegations against Herron and Holt, which were part of what Cherns called “a pattern of interference.”
“In my 46-year career in ultramarathoning, I have never seen someone as talented and dedicated to creating division and hostility within the ultramarathon community as Camille,” Churns said. “Unfortunately, the Wikipedia story is part of a pattern of interference. This couple has a history of trying to undermine athletes, their reputations, their races and their performances by citing World Athletics rules that do not apply to ultramarathons and multi-day races. I am appalled by Camille’s criticism and efforts to discredit athletes who challenge ‘her’ records. This unsportsmanlike conduct is bullying and abusive and has no place in the broader ultramarathon community.”
Running Magazine Herron reportedly did not respond to a request for comment regarding his report. Men's Magazine We also reached out to Herron but he could not be reached for comment.