Mr. Monk and the Marathon Man

Season 1

Episode 9: Mr. Monk and the Marathon Man

When a young woman is thrown out of her 21st floor apartment Monk knows who is guilty of the crime. There's just one problem he has an air tight alibi he was running in a citywide marathon and his race path was recorded at all times. How was he capable of committing the murder and keeping up with Monk's hero Tonday in the marathon?

"He's the Guy": 

Trevor McDowell, local furniture magnate and the victim's lover, is the man responsible for this episode's murder even if at first it appears to be impossible. 

"Here's What Happened":

It's all about the computer chip. McDowell's chip never left the race and he was recorded as having finished the race in a time almost identical to legendary racer Tonday. But we know the cad was out murdering his young lover so how did he manage the feat? Another ingeniously simple plan explains just how he achieved it. He hid the chip in the side car of the bike carrying the video camera that was documenting the race meaning that it recorded the whole course giving him the perfect alibi. He was able to sneak off in an area where there were no spectators and return later on. He had no need to recover the chip meaning the evidence was just waiting there for Monk to discover. 

In short:

Monk's fears and phobias land him in hot water once again this week as his obsessive hand washing leads the race organisers to think he's a racist. This episode also gives us a bit more background information on the young Monk and his unsuccessful running career. Monk's obsessive compulsions are something that has plagued his whole life and it shows just how he ended up the way he is now. Monk's hero worship of Tonday is a fun little side story and it's great to see Monk enjoying himself.