Clydesdale and bonnydale division for races??

[Daisybelle]

Question for the more experienced race participants!

I was looking to sign up for a local 5k coming in April. I saw something I've never seen before and that is a Clydesdale and Bonnydale division for larger people??

Am I being overly sensitive to think this is... icky??

 

[bumbershoot]

That sounds horribly icky to me. It would have killed me when I was bigger, and I'm not even going to mention the concept to DH.

Must look it up later.

Do have to say, though, that there are people out there less emotional and sensitive than we are, for whom it could feel inclusive. They might feel welcomed by it. I know that DH was very scared before he wdw 5k that he would be the biggest slowed least fit person on the course, so to know there's a division for bigger people could be helpful for some. But those names... Obviously there's a theme connected with it along with a reference to size, but still. Hey aren't going to attract the sensitive ones with those names!

 

[UConnFan]

I'm not a terribly large person, but I still qualify for my local Athena devision. I always register for that division because I consider myself competitive (but not fast). Running in that division allows me to be higher up in my division than in my age group. I appreciate that my time isn't being compared to someone who is 40 lbs lighter than I am.

 

[kirstenb1]

I dont' think it's icky at all! When I was a more avid runner than I am now, the standards for female Clydesdale were 140 lbs. I was 5'7 and 130, but anyone with any height on them could easily hit 140. And I'll tell you, I was always a mid-level runner, but some of the heavier people totally blew by me.

 

[johde]

In most cases, that Clydesdale and Athena divisions are not necessarily for the fat. If you look at the winners in these divisions in the larger races, it is normally the body builder types. In most of the races I did with a Clydesdale division, I'd go ahead and sign up in that division.

 

[bumbershoot]

I was on my phone when I first read the post, and didn't read more than the OP.

Once I did read more, I softened a bit. Especially for the Athena division. If I stay up at my higher goal, sounds like fun to me. If I drop back down, it'll be moot for me.

Thanks for bringing the thread back up, so I could mention that.

DH, who is incredibly sensitive about weight, even at his height of athleticism (black belt in TKD, football playing, running, 18 year old), could not have signed up for something called a Clydesdale. The weight issue is way too emotional for him (thanks, MIL, appreciate that!) for him to publicly identify with a gigantic horse.

 

[derekleigh]

I don't think its icky at all. I was DEFINITELLY a heavy middle-school child that eventually took up cross-country to help lose weight. By Senior year I was running sub-6:00 miles! And could hit a 100M in about 15 seconds. Even then I was probably at 190-ish which is the cut off for Clydesdales.


However presently I don't see many races with those divisions. I did a 4-miler a few years ago with those, which I did win the division! And I think in the last year or two saw a 5K offering them as well. But these categories are not offered around my area, or at least the races I annually run.

 

[RogueKnits]

I don't find the idea of a separate division for heavier runners icky. What I don't like is the name "Clydesdale". I just...something about the comparison to a horse (and I personally love horses) makes me cringe. Not sure what would be better. "Athena" for women is nice. Maybe something like "Zeus" or "Hercules" for men.