An interesting discussion...

This topic showed up recently on the Runner's World forums, based on an article on men running in women's-oriented races.  And since it's a week until my own marathon (yikes!), I thought it'd be a good topic.  There are more and more women-geared races appearing around the country - the Nike Women's Marathon, the Iron Girl series of races, the Disney Princess Half Marathon, the Women's Running Half Marathon series of races, the Run Like a Diva race...  These races have more female-oriented swag, finisher's awards, etc.  The debate has come from male "interlopers" running in these races.

Reading the comments posted on the actual article is rather depressing, like "What's next he's going to enter a 12-year old's race? Jonathan Mederos, King of the Sixth Grade Fun Run."  Thanks, idiot, for comparing a predominantly-female field to 6th graders.  Very supportive.  How fast can you run 13 miles?  (Can you hear the sarcasm, folks?)  Just another sad reminder of how bitter and derogatory people can be behind the anonymity of the Internet.

The forum at Runner's World was a little more balanced.  If you set a best time, no matter what the competition it, it's still a good race.  However, if you're focusing on what place you came in, instead of what time, then it's a different story, and that's what really triggers the debate over these races.

Races are becoming a big business nowadays,  both for the companies running them and for the numerous charities who take advantage of the races to raise money for their causes.  Obesity is a serious problem nationwide.  As people try to get moving, get away from their computers and sedentary jobs, races provide plenty of opportunity to get some motivation to get moving.  Gotta train for these things!  A lot of women might feel uncomfortable in a mixed setting, the same way some women are more comfortable in a women's college instead of a co-ed one.  It's the same reason behind the running club Girls on the Run - giving women and girls who might be a bit shyer, a place where they might feel less pressure.  And if having a race where you don't feel judged, or there are some wonderful swag bags (the Nike Women's finisher's loot includes jewelry from Tiffany's), whatever it takes to motivate you to get moving, then that's a great step in the right direction towards being healthier!  And if you are a faster woman, it's a nice mental boost to actually be the first to cross the line, not just the first woman.

However, it's true - the races aren't restricted to women, just geared towards them.  Men can enter, if they don't mind the "girlishness," like having their finisher's medal presented by a guy in a tux (at the Nike Women's).  If they are running as Prince Charming to their own Princess, then more power to 'em!  I think it's great to be that supportive.  I think it's uncalled for on the specators' side to be heckling the runners, regardless of sex.  No matter the gender, those runners are putting forth significantly more effort than the spectator simply watching the race, and at the end of 13 or 26 miles, you don't need to be hearing belittling or unsupportive comments.

If the race organizers really want to have women cross the finish line first, or be first on the podium, they do have several options.  Several of these races stagger the starting corrals - have the women start in the first corral or in the first few.  The men then start several minutes after the first batch(es) of women, so even if a male posts the fastest time, odds are still good that a woman crossed the finish line first.

The point was made by several posters though, about how bitter the reaction would be with men's-only or men's-oriented races.  And it's an unfortunate truth. Possible perceived prejudices can only run one way, no matter what it's referring to - sports, scholarships, anything.  It's a PR suicide to have them run the other.  But that is a societal problem; the races are simply another example of how hard it is to really achieve a level of equality which satisfies everyone.

I'm of two minds when it comes to this debate.  It's nice to have a female-only environment sometimes - can be a bit more supportive, less competition-focused.  But, if it's an open race, then the guys have every right to run too.  I guess because I'm not fast enough to make a difference if the race's predominantly women or not!  Kinda hard to be passionate about opportunities to reach the podium, when I'll be in the middle of the pack either way :)

Personally, I'd love to run some of these women's races.  The swag looks GREAT at some of them, and Mom and I have already started talking about doing the Disney Princess race one of these years (maybe the year I turn 30, Mom???)  I choose races based on loot, on scenery, on a fun race environment.  If that happens to be a women's only race, then it's a women's only race. Like I mentioned, I'm a middle of the pack runner, so the actual place doesn't make much difference to me.