Another article on the reaction to runDisney's new Tinker Bell Half

[stampingoddess]

Here's the difference. You are capable of running. Frank is not capable of becoming a woman.

1. Actually, no I'm not capable of running
2. With modern science frank is capable of becoming a women (honestly just kidding on this last one)

All kidding aside, I guess in my mind, these women's focused races are similar to a growing number of half and fulls with walk divisions. These are new races being offered to supplement the huge number of existing races held around the world. On the same weekend, or generally within a week or so of these women's races, there are other half and fulls held close by that if a person (male or female) wants to run in a co-ed race, or if a male wants to run in a race where he can earn an award, that they can choose to run one of these other races.

On the other hand, certain demographics of participants (women or walkers) seem to be asking race directors to give them some special, be it a female oritented race, a walkers only race, or a walk division to an existing race. Race directors, looking for a way to set their race apart from the next one, are offering these demographics what they want and unless or until the races stop being profitable to the race organizers, they will continue.

While I hear what you are saying about an outcry if there was a men's only race, in talking with alot of men about this issue, I don't think any race director would suggest such a race, not because of any potential outcry of discrimination, but because men don't want to do a men's only race. Thus, the race would not be profitable for the organizers. Why hold a race that no one wants to run?

Is it fair that women are asking for something just for them AND are willing to pay for it whereas men are not asking for anything similar? Maybe, maybe not, but marketing to specific sexes happens in all facets of life and will most likely to continue well into the distant future. As racers we like to think of these races as something special, something different, but in the big scheme of things they are a commodity to be marketed, no different from consumer products, personal services, etc.

 

[stampingoddess]

Do you choose which category you sign up for when walking? Do you have the choice, since this race doesn't have a walking category, to compete in a running category?

Men don't have a choice to train in a different manner and compete in this race.

Also, as was previously mentioned, did the Walking category have men's and women's awards, or just overall best walker?

Again, I really don't give a crap about it being Tink-themed. You don't want me in the race? Fine, don't let me sign up. I'd much rather that than the current situation with taking my money but not letting me compete.

In answer to your questions...
1. Yes, when you register, you register as a walker
2. For the races that don't have a walk division, yes you can register as a runner but no you aren't going to get an award because walkers don't finish as quickly as runners
3. Some races have male/female walk awards, some lump both sexes together. Just depends upon the race. I would alos note that for most races that do offer walk awards, the AG are 10 yrs vs the 5yr spans that the run divisions hold.

 

[timmac]

The whole race-walking argument is a bit of a straw man.

By definition it's a completely different sport, with its own specific rules.

 

[CrystalCastle]

I'm much more into the pirates/villains/Nightmare Before Christmas stuff.

Off topic just for a minute, but how awesome would a Nightmare Before Christmas themed race be! DL does the NBC overlay at Halloween thru Christmas. They could hold it later in the year and Zero would make an excellent medal.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand....

 

[DrMomof3]

I'm another one who was disappointed with the new race for several reasons:
1. I'm really trying to get my family to Southern California again. The DL Half is bad timing for us because our schools start the day after Labor Day. If my DH could run - yes, I know he *can* run but he won't - this might have been my way to convince him to make the trip.
2. We already registered for Marathon weekend so we couldn't do this race anyway.
3. While I'm not opposed to female races, I'm trying to get my DH excited about running. I love that Marathon weekend offers so many different choices for different levels of runner and for families.

I enjoyed the blog article Dave. Keep up the good work! I have 2 pirates and 1 princess and I hope my running inspires all 3 of them!

Amanda

 

[cynomologus]

I understand the negative comments about the race, especially from the men....

But really, would we even be discussing this race if Run Disney didn't WAY OVERHYPE it?

I mean they had everyone expecting something bigger than what they announced, and the fact that at least 1/2 of the people waiting for the announcement (assuming half were men) end up being alienated from the race.

If they just announced one day that they were adding a West Coast women's only event, I don't think the outcry would have been as bad

 

[goofyinohio]

I understand the negative comments about the race, especially from the men....

But really, would we even be discussing this race if Run Disney didn't WAY OVERHYPE it?

I mean they had everyone expecting something bigger than what they announced, and the fact that at least 1/2 of the people waiting for the announcement (assuming half were men) end up being alienated from the race.

If they just announced one day that they were adding a West Coast women's only event, I don't think the outcry would have been as bad

I don't think you'd have the same outcry, but you'd still have people that are upset such as myself.

 

[timmac]

I don't think you'd have the same outcry, but you'd still have people that are upset such as myself.

Personally, I'd still be upset as well, but at least I wouldn't have the feeling like I'd been strung along for a few months on top of it.

I would also have to agree that over-hyping things has been a habit for Disney in general for a few years now... I'd say ever since the D23 announcement, that has been their game: new events, promotions, yearly themes, you name it. Not a single one has had a chance of meeting expectations after such over-hped promotion.

 

[SAHDad]

I don't think you'd have the same outcry, but you'd still have people that are upset such as myself.

Yep. If they had, out of the blue, announced a new women-centric race, or stated that they were going to announce a new race on <DATE>, and it turned out to be women-centric, there would still be rumbles from the peanut gallery, but probably more along the lines of "Come on Disney, what about something for the guys?" Instead, they strung everything out, and didn't even announce up from (officially) that it was going to be yet another women-centric race.

Heck, Run Disney and Disney could stop half the grumbling by announcing that, although the races will remain women-centric, men will become eligible for age awards, and will no longer be starting a corral back. The races would still remain mostly women, they can shove the guys off into their own chute at the finish line (at least until the women winners are done and recognized), and it would improve matters immensely.

As Kathrine Switzer said "In my own lifetime, we'd moved from exclusion to exclusivity" - she counts it as a good thing. (For the purposes of elite starts, sure. But, in the same article, she notes that, in the 50s and 60s

Men who ran long distance always encouraged women who wanted to run. Only officials and restrictive athletic rules limited the opportunities and distances available.

Now, however, we have women-centric races, in which not only do the race officials do everything in their power to dissuade men from running, but many women (thought not a majority, it can be a sizeable minority) seem to view men who run those races as intruding on "their turf".

 

[goofyinohio]

Honestly if they just offered a shirt that would fit me I'd be happy.

However, I haven't done the princess yet because of A the shirt and B I don't want to take the spot of a woman that may want to do that race. Now I know they had their chance to sign up just like I did, but still.

With the timing of the race I feel like they want people to chose between the WDW and Disneyland races. I am happy though that Disneyland gets another race.

 

[Saylan]

Honestly if they just offered a shirt that would fit me I'd be happy.

However, I haven't done the princess yet because of A the shirt and B I don't want to take the spot of a woman that may want to do that race. Now I know they had their chance to sign up just like I did, but still.

With the timing of the race I feel like they want people to chose between the WDW and Disneyland races. I am happy though that Disneyland gets another race.

Same with me for the DL 1/2. I didn't get a choice and mine won't fix because it's not a women's cut.

 

[goofyinohio]

Same with me for the DL 1/2. I didn't get a choice and mine won't fix because it's not a women's cut.

The local races here offer both I don't understand why Disney won't offer both. They obviously can get both with marathon weekend, Disneyland, wine and dine for men and princess and Tink for women.

 

[SAHDad]

Same with me for the DL 1/2. I didn't get a choice and mine won't fix because it's not a women's cut.

I don't know why Disney can't offer a woman's fitted shirt. I am running in a marathon next week, which had only 1800 finishers last year, and this year they are giving away a gender-appropriate shirt. (Can't vouch for last year - I think they did, but I noticed that the shirt was a step down from the zippered pullover they gave out the inaugural year. )

 

[buckeyecinderella]

The Princess Half appealed to me because I was new to running and thought that the theming was so fun - and a tiara medal that sparkles? Perfect!

However, I would NOT want to run a race that was exclusively women. In fact, I really wish more "princes" would run the Princess Half.

And I really wish DL would have additional races - I loved the ideas posted earlier about a Pirates race or Villians race. There are a lot of good ideas out there, so I hope runDisney keeps planning. Anyone think they are listening to us???

 

[Duanerice]

I'd love to run a Womens themed race. That is my idea of a good race. If I could talk my wife into it I'd be there in a heartbeat Or at least at the Princess.

Duane

 

[johde]

In the races I do walking is defined as walking 100% of the time. If you run even one step you are disqualifed. Many of these races have course monitors to walk for "cheaters" Granted there are still not many full or half marathons that do have walk divisions, but there are a few. The two I've done are Columbus and the Cincinnati Half.

I hate to tell you this, but Columbus dropped their awards from the race walking division starting in 2011. There were a large enough group of cheaters, (or people who would be winning the olympics), and not enough funds for course monitors, that they didn't feel right even offering awards. They will still have a walking division with seperate just no awards. I'm afraid race walk awards are going to be only available in exlcusively race walking event.

 

[stampingoddess]

I hate to tell you this, but Columbus dropped their awards from the race walking division starting in 2011. There were a large enough group of cheaters, (or people who would be winning the olympics), and not enough funds for course monitors, that they didn't feel right even offering awards. They will still have a walking division with seperate just no awards. I'm afraid race walk awards are going to be only available in exlcusively race walking event.

Bummer, well locally there is still the Cincinnati Half with a walk division and awards.

 

[goofyinohio]

I hate to tell you this, but Columbus dropped their awards from the race walking division starting in 2011. There were a large enough group of cheaters, (or people who would be winning the olympics), and not enough funds for course monitors, that they didn't feel right even offering awards. They will still have a walking division with seperate just no awards. I'm afraid race walk awards are going to be only available in exlcusively race walking event.

I hadn't hear that what a bummer. BTW New Albany is having a half again during their Walking Classic.

 

[stampingoddess]

I hadn't hear that what a bummer. BTW New Albany is having a half again during their Walking Classic.

Several women in my training group do the New Albany race but it never seems to fit into my schedule.

 

[chimera]

Now, however, we have women-centric races, in which not only do the race officials do everything in their power to dissuade men from running, but many women (thought not a majority, it can be a sizeable minority) seem to view men who run those races as intruding on "their turf".

I believe the IronGirl series actually does not allow men to participate.

http://www.irongirl.com/Events/Clearwater.htm#axzz1KDV5uOYX

I have a male student who ran this race with his wife, but was only allowed to do so because he volunteered to lead a pace group. He did finish and received a medal, but if I look his name up in the results, it's not there. He told me he was one of only 6 men in the U.S. to have the medal because men were only allowed as pacers...which didn't make sense to me as to why they didn't have women leading the pace groups.

I'm also not excited about another girly-girl event, though being at DL, it really won't affect me much. If anything, I'm hoping it will take some of the pressure off marathon weekend at WDW, which was waaaay, waaaay oversold this year. 27000 on the half course was insane and I'm concerned that Princess is going to go that way too.