Really, local running store? Really?

[SAHDad]

My local running store has decided to hold a race to celebrate the anniversary of Title IX, which legally ended discrimination by sex in education, which had the effect of increasing women's participation in athletic programs. So far, so good.

So, how do you celebrate 40 years of trying to achieve a level playing field? By having a women-only race, of course.

I can kind of understand it, but on the other hand, since women now dominate the half marathon (and I think the 5k and 10k distances as well), are women really so intimidated at being only 60% or more of the field in any race under 13.1 miles that they still need women-only races?

I used to love running because, at its very core, anyone could go out and participate. Get some shoes, do a lot of training, and you really can run a race at the same time as the best of the best. That's not the case anymore - races have moved from excluding women to being exclusively for women; the egalitarian in me fails to see that as progress.

 

[GusGus77]

I do think it is funny they are having a race that celebrates the end to discrimination by sex by having a race that discriminates by sex.

 

[halvnorsk]

Plus, how can a woman truly celebrate equality in a race if she doesn't even have the chance to beat any men? Hee, hee.

I'm not fast by any measure, but I do enjoy watching the reaction of men when they get "chicked" (especially by me).

 

[liznboys]

That's ridiculous.

I have never done a women only event, and have no desire to. I don't care that they exist (I don't have to participate), but men only events should exist, too, then, if there is a demand for them.

 

[Princess on the Run]

I don't like the women only stuff most of the time because not only is it just as discriminating as it would be if it excluded women, but frequently I find the events patronizing and water-down. I like mud runs and obstacle course running and the women only ones frequently have things like inflatable slides, or "walls" to jump over that are like 2 feet high (as opposed to the 10 and 12 foot walls in regular races). Brightly colored ones, you know, because we can't have anything that might actually promote challenge and competitive spirit.

I get the push to make things less intimidating to encourage people to participate, but let's not kid ourselves, participating in an event that was water-down so that you stand a better chance of finishing it is not the best way to make women (or anyone else) an equal participant.

 

[jimandami]

I don't like the women only stuff most of the time because not only is it just as discriminating as it would be if it excluded women, but frequently I find the events patronizing and water-down. I like mud runs and obstacle course running and the women only ones frequently have things like inflatable slides, or "walls" to jump over that are like 2 feet high (as opposed to the 10 and 12 foot walls in regular races). Brightly colored ones, you know, because we can't have anything that might actually promote challenge and competitive spirit.

I get the push to make things less intimidating to encourage people to participate, but let's not kid ourselves, participating in an event that was water-down so that you stand a better chance of finishing it is not the best way to make women (or anyone else) an equal participant.

I agree with you....I refuse to do a Dirty Girl because it just looks to easy!! And I can totally understand Run Disney having the Princess 1/2, because well, everyone knows Disney loves princesses but having a race to celebrate equality by excluded men is just ridiculous!

 

[katiet524]

I have no problem with all women races, I have done a few myself. But to host one to celebrate Title IX make no sense at all.

 

[cewait]

So, maybe one should celebrate the 45th anniversary of Kathrine Switzer's Boston Marathon - in reverse

 

[jimandami]

You know what I think is the worst part? If ANY organization tried to run an "all male" race, people would be freaking out!!! Yes, I know that years ago, races were make dominated and women had to work to be accepted, but that is not the reality today and we need to move past it!

 

[momhmmx2]

SAHDad you must live by me! Howdy neighbor

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

The Chicago Women's Half was actually on the 40th Anniversary. To me, that made sense. But, it sounds like the race organizers with the local race are just grabbing for a cause to attract runners with. I just don't think they are going to get a lot of runners to participate. Definitely not a bright idea being that the entire year isn't about that law.

I do like most women's focused races, but find that I can do with a little less pink. Not sure why that was decided as an official color, but I have seen it far too much this year!

 

[thndrmatt]

Of note, most of these races are advertised as women only, but do not actually prohibit men from registering. As a couple examples, I ran the first Princess half at WDW (albeit not in the first corral) and when I saw there was a WISH group signing up for the Nike Women's Half in DC, I looked into that, and they take adults both male and female there too.

Granted you'll get dirty looks, backhanded comments in your general direction, and a lot of really loud discussions by those who feel they are entitled to their very loud opinions nearby. Or at least I did...

The policy does seem to be restricting registration numbers and thus getting less profits/fundraising, but maybe they think they compensate for that by an equal increase in women entrants who weren't comfortable running a race that wasn't "mostly" women?

 

[SAHDad]

Of note, most of these races are advertised as women only, but do not actually prohibit men from registering. As a couple examples, I ran the first Princess half at WDW (albeit not in the first corral) and when I saw there was a WISH group signing up for the Nike Women's Half in DC, I looked into that, and they take adults both male and female there too.

Granted you'll get dirty looks, backhanded comments in your general direction, and a lot of really loud discussions by those who feel they are entitled to their very loud opinions nearby. Or at least I did...

The policy does seem to be restricting registration numbers and thus getting less profits/fundraising, but maybe they think they compensate for that by an equal increase in women entrants who weren't comfortable running a race that wasn't "mostly" women?

Nope, this one is truly "women only." I heave heard (anecdotally) that the faster you run in something like the Princess or the Tink, the nastier the reactions from the women runners becomes.

As I said, women are the majority of runners for 5ks, 10ks, and halfs. At what point does the "we need women-centered races because otherwise women might feel uncomfortable" become no longer an issue?

 

[Buckalew11]

I'd let that be known to my local running store. Just not a fan of any "only" type races. Why exclude anyone?

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Nope, this one is truly "women only." I heave heard (anecdotally) that the faster you run in something like the Princess or the Tink, the nastier the reactions from the women runners becomes.

As I said, women are the majority of runners for 5ks, 10ks, and halfs. At what point does the "we need women-centered races because otherwise women might feel uncomfortable" become no longer an issue?

Because races like that help start a healthier lifestyle for some. Why are there women's only gyms? Because some ladies just need that environment. I don't care about it, but what is it to say that others don't? If that race gets someone off their butt, then who am I to judge what helps start that motivation? I could see being upset about these races if there weren't a plethora of others to choose from, but guess what? It is difficult not to find another race that day or weekend that isn't exclusive to women.

I haven't ever witnessed women giving any guys a hard time about being in a race (other than the guy running at the Myrtle Beach Diva that happened to have fake hanging nipples and all dangling out of the bottom of his hooters shirt. The probably was more due to the inappropriateness of the costume but even the race has a picture of the guy in its slideshow for that race. ) but have never been a contender for any of the awards. Most women are actually supportive and most guys participating are supporting a woman during the race. I did hear from Captain Ivan Castro (blind veteran that was at the Disney races this year) that he ran some Florida Women's race in Tampa I think, and had some harassing him and his guide about being in the race. That is more appalling than just a regular guy in a race...to be blind all because the sacrifices he gave our country makes me very angry. I for one will always welcome the guys to any race.

 

[SAHDad]

Because races like that help start a healthier lifestyle for some. Why are there women's only gyms? Because some ladies just need that environment. I don't care about it, but what is it to say that others don't? If that race gets someone off their butt, then who am I to judge what helps start that motivation? I could see being upset about these races if there weren't a plethora of others to choose from, but guess what? It is difficult not to find another race that day or weekend that isn't exclusive to women.

But the flip side then is that it presumes that men never need that kind of environment. Instead of labeling itself as novice-friendly, or a casual run, they decided to simply exclude (roughly) half of the local runners, in the name of equality.

And, depending on where you live, there can be a scarcity of races. There are not as many local races as I would like, and a growing percentage of them are becoming women-only or women-centered. I can find a race easily enough, provided that my definition of "local" is about 90 miles.

Look, I generally think that anything that encourages people to get up, get out the door, and get moving is a good thing. But, the plain reality is that we have quite a few women-only or women-centered events, and if you tried to start one for just men, you would not be able to get out of town before they would tar and feather you.

 

[Princess on the Run]

You know what I think is the worst part? If ANY organization tried to run an "all male" race, people would be freaking out!!! Yes, I know that years ago, races were make dominated and women had to work to be accepted, but that is not the reality today and we need to move past it!

Absolutely!!!!!

 

[Princess on the Run]

Because races like that help start a healthier lifestyle for some. Why are there women's only gyms? Because some ladies just need that environment. I don't care about it, but what is it to say that others don't? If that race gets someone off their butt, then who am I to judge what helps start that motivation? I could see being upset about these races if there weren't a plethora of others to choose from, but guess what? It is difficult not to find another race that day or weekend that isn't exclusive to women.

I am all for promoting healthy lifestyles and people getting off their butts but this isn't exclusively a woman problem. Plenty of men need to get off their butts too.

 

[AnotherPrincess]

I for one would not want to be in a race that completely excludes men. I like racing with men. I like passing them. THAT'S empowering! Leaving them out is not.

 

[SAHDad]

I for one would not want to be in a race that completely excludes men. I like racing with men. I like passing them. THAT'S empowering! Leaving them out is not.

Heh. I have no problems being chicked. Well, until the last couple hundred yards. Then I don't like getting passed by anybody.