Video on traffic cameras caught runners brazenly crossing through a nature strip from one side of a highway to the other to significantly shorten their race by up to three kilometers (1.8 miles). Meet the marathon cheats Read more 
 
 In the most blatant case, a traffic camera caught runners turning round at least 1km before they were supposed to make a U-turn, potentially shaving about 10% off the 21km race. Xinhua quoted organisers as saying: “We deeply regret the violations that occurred during the event. Marathon running is not simply exercise, it is a metaphor for life, and every runner is responsible for him or herself.” 
 
 Xinhua Sports (@XHSports) 258 runners accused of cheating during last Sunday's Shenzhen Half Marathon pic.twitter.com/ku16FCnb4Q 
 
 Hardly masking its disgust at the widespread cheating, Xinhua branded it “deeply shameful” and added: “No matter the participants or the organisers, they should reflect: What is the significance of participating in and holding marathons?
– More than 250 half-marathon runners are facing bans in China for what organizers describe as blatant cheating in a race in Shenzhen. Some 237 participants in Sunday's race face two-year bans after traffic cameras spotted them taking shortcuts. One video shows runners making a U-turn through a treed area well before the designated turn, shaving up to 1.8 miles off the 13.1-mile course, per CNN, which notes such races typically have only one or two cheaters. Another 18 runners found to be wearing fake bibs and three participants who ran on behalf of others also face lifetime bans, per the Guardian. "We deeply regret the violations that occurred," organizers say. "Marathon running is not simply exercise, it is a metaphor for life, and every runner is responsible for him or herself." Some 16,000 runners are believed to have taken part in the race. (Read about the ludicrous Barkley Marathons.)