The Running Thread - 2026

I was took the M/F split as just the elite/professional field, but maybe I am misunderstanding that.

Cool idea since the demand is certainly there.

Edit: removed info of no value
 
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Well that actually does make sense - it's not like you could have half the elite women run on one day and half on the next. They have to race each other!
Not only do the elite women have to run against each other and the elite men have to run against each other, but ALL the elites should run on the same day. Otherwise different weather/course conditions on the two days would make comparing the two days poor. For the elites, a slightly cooler or less windy day could be just what they need to do a smidgen better in competition. I realize that usually the elite men are going to run quite a bit faster than the elite women, but it still seems like it would be best to have them all running in the same conditions.
 
Not only do the elite women have to run against each other and the elite men have to run against each other, but ALL the elites should run on the same day. Otherwise different weather/course conditions on the two days would make comparing the two days poor. For the elites, a slightly cooler or less windy day could be just what they need to do a smidgen better in competition. I realize that usually the elite men are going to run quite a bit faster than the elite women, but it still seems like it would be best to have them all running in the same conditions.
Yeah, but their results are entirely separate. So they don't HAVE to compete on the same day. Usually they do, but the Olympic marathons are on two different days. As long as everyone who's competing for the same podium has the same conditions, it's fair.
 
Yeah, but their results are entirely separate. So they don't HAVE to compete on the same day. Usually they do, but the Olympic marathons are on two different days. As long as everyone who's competing for the same podium has the same conditions, it's fair.
The World Championships are also on separate days. Until recently, the usatf qualifying races were also on separate days, and even separate sites.
 
I saw this and actually thought it was a good idea to do the split by gender (though admittedly didn't think about how that would affect non-binary). The reason being that there are still non-pro field winners, age group winners, etc. Imagine a 15 deg temperature swing between the two days. While it would stink anyway for those people who get the warmer day, imagine your race results are now compared against those who got to run the cooler day. Men and women aren't "racing" each other and their results will always be independent of one another, so this is sort of the only option unless they're going to double up on awards.

Also, while I run with men all the time in training and races, I think this would actually be amazing. I ran in the inaugural Every Women's Marathon in Savannah in 2024 and the energy of that race was EPIC! No offense to the guys on here! You all are awesome!😂 But there was something about running with (almost) all women, and all the women cheering each other on that still makes me tear up thinking about it. I can't imagine it on a scale as large as London.
 
The reason being that there are still non-pro field winners, age group winners, etc. Imagine a 15 deg temperature swing between the two days
They could just double up on those prizes and award them on both days. That would be a nice feel-good gesture and probably wouldn't cost them all that much.
 
Glad to read that Jessica McClain, Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat were given spots in the World Championships after World Athletics gave USATF permission to expand the team from 4 to 7, mitigating the damage from the disastrous half race in Atlanta.

Downside….3 of the 7 (the slowest of the 7) will be considered “non-scoring” athletes with distinct kit and separate prize money, no medal possibilities, but will score points.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/71...hared_gift_article_copylink&smid=url-share-ta
 
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