Plagiarism of Kiprunpacer branding, the Innovation of running by pacing originated by Jacob Kenan aka Kiprun pacer ATS Advanced Training System

  The Original KIP RunPacer

(A Tale of Brilliant Innovation and Shameless Plagiarism)

Chapter 1. A Short History of the KIP RunPacer

In the 1970s we were asked by the ITA (International Track Association) to develop a pacing system for their shows. A string of pacing lights, placed around the inside perimeter of a running track, was programmed for a world record time. While the runners were pacing themselves, the spectators could follow their progress and cheer them on.

Our ITA runpacer worked so well that we decided to commercialize it. At the same time as we were refining the hardware and its software, we were also developing our ATS (Advanced Training System) which could be implemented thanks to the runpacer's precision visual feedback.

At about this time, the late 70s early 80s, we named our entire system (hardware + software + ATS)  the KIP RunPacer, where KIP stands for Kenan International Pacing.

Unfortunately, the KIP Run Pacer was not a commercial success: first, the lights and cable were too expensive; second, they were too cumbersome to put up and take down for every practice session. Nevertheless, we continued improving the ATS, of which we were certain was the best way to train runners.

Suddenly, it came to us! Suppose, instead of expensive pacing lights, we placed evenly spaced markers along the running area? If the runner heard a beep every time he arrived at a marker, he was doing the pace perfectly.  Now, KIP RunPacer ATS training was available wherever runners trained - from indoor gyms to 400 meter stadia to outdoor trails. And the cost was minimal!

After the runner created his exercise on a computer with the ATS - negative splits, interval training with different speeds and rests and even world record races - he converted it to an MP3 file. Then, he “played” the exercise on his cellphone and did the exercise precisely.

We opened two sites, runpacer.com and run.pacer-on-the.net, where runners and coaches could download the KIP RunPacer ATS for free. In 2009 we set up a link on Facebook to download the program.

We kept the sites open until 2018 and then let them lapse for lack of interest. Perhaps when you offer something for free, no-one takes you seriously.

The latest version of the KIP RunPacer ATS does away with earphones and beeps. Instead, it makes use of sports watches, which have the capability of receiving signals from a cell phone and of vibrating. Instead of a beep the runner feels an unobtrusive buzz on his wrist. Out of affection for my grandson, Benjamin, we have posted the sports watch version on Google’s Play Store calling it, Benny’s Pacer, again 100% FREE. 

Chapter 2. Imitation is the Sincerest form of Flattery or Plagiarism Done Stupid

Recently, we discovered that a French sporting goods chain, Decathlon.com, has been selling “Nike knock-offs” (even turning the Nike Swoosh upside down on their shoes) for over ten years under the name, KIPRUN. We wrote to the CEO that the probability of randomly coming up with K-I-P-R-U-N was about one in three hundred million and that the odds were infinitely greater if they had plagiarized KIP RunPacer.

Obviously, someone in the organization had pointed out the consanguinity of KIP RunPacer and KIPRUN because Decathlon had the creative gall to publish that KIPRUN was derived from “Keep on Running.” Balderdash!

In response to our letter to the CEO, Decathlon replaced the above nonsense with an even more pathetic “explanation,” courtesy of a former Kenyan runner turned coach. By the way, in doing a Google search we had come across a previous declaration by Decathlon (since removed) that there was NO connection between KIPRUN and the name of any Kenyan runner!

First of all, “Kip” is a prefix to a word indicating time of birth and is given to a Kalenjin male baby who can later drop it after circumcision. For example, “Kipkeino” means born when sheep or goats are being milked. Unless a baby was born while running, Kiprunning is just silly.

KIPSTA is another brand of Decathlon’s that has an “imaginative” provenance.

This time, DECATHLON claims that KIP comes from the French word “equipe” (team), instead of a Kenyan name-prefix. Then why doesn’t Decathlon just say that the name of their KIPRUN shoes is derived from something like “EQUIPERUN”? They could even shorten it to QUIPRUN; no plagiarism there!

Even more peculiar is the suffix, “sta.” Around the time Decathlon was looking for a name for its wares, the genre “Gangster Rock” changed its name to “Gangsta Rock.” Since Decathlon had already “appropriated” KIP, they probably thought it would be cool to add STA to make Kipsta.

One can only speculate on Decathlon's infatuation with “K-I-P.” Perhaps they thought that the KIP RunPacer ATS was so wonderful that it would soon be the standard training system for all runners and that Decathlon could cash in by calling their shoes, KIPRUN, as if customers were dumb enough to make the hoped-for connection between KIPRUN shoes and the KIP RunPacer ATS.

Chapter 3. Repentance and Redemption

While plagiarism is repugnant and dishonorable, it is not likely a capital offense in France and, therefore, no reason for the French legal system to sharpen the blades of their guillotines. Has Decathlon won?

A serious runner has to be concerned about the quality of his shoes. It is doubtful that he would buy from a company which “cuts corners” to brand its shoes by plagiarizing. How does a runner know that Decathlon doesn’t also “cut corners” in manufacturing, just to be able to sell its shoes for a few francs less than established companies?

We strongly suspect that a runner would prefer to spend the extra money on quality, name-brand shoes rather than risk damage to his feet. We also suspect that runners will want to BOYCOTT Decathlon’s KIPRUN shoes because they do not wish to be associated with a company which plagiarizes shamelessly.

Although Decathlon may have "won" in the short run, it will certainly lose in the long run. Fortunately for us human beings, Redemption is always close at hand and can be achieved by Confession, Contrition, Repentence, Compensation and Consecration. Let us all pray that Decathlon sees the light and fulfills its destiny as the premier sporting goods store in the world, offering the highest quality goods at the fairest prices.

Contact: jacob@kiprunpacer.com