Jock Semple relented over the years, implementing the admission of women into the race in later years, but wow this sure is a high water mark of shit sportsmanship. What a jerk.
@frogger I guess you're trolling? Is there some problem with men's access to or comfort at running events that I haven't heard about?
Even when men show up at the women-only events, you never — ever — see race directors running out onto the course, grabbing at runners, being jerks, and generally being a safety hazard.
You do occasionally see men at women-only events here because they know they can win with times that wouldn't even have been top 5 in a mixed race. More great sportsmanship!
(Incidentally, to be perfectly clear: women were *forbidden* to run the Boston Marathon until 1972. Men are *not* forbidden to run women's races, not least because the organizations don't want the legal hassle, but it leaves a bad taste in people's mouths when they show up planning to win or because it's a "target-rich environment" for meeting women — both of which are motivations men at such races have said they had. There are also men who sign up with their wives or girlfriends and just have a good time at events that are meant to be a welcoming environment for women, and no one has a problem with that.
Long story short: You're free to run if you want, and people are free to call you a jerk if that's how you behave.)
Well, that's exactly what makes it so annoying when these guys scope out a women's race looking for a top place — it's just such a naked play for position. Competitive women want to run qualifying races for whatever their goals are — they don't care if they're running with men, because they know they're going to get scored separately anyway. Women-only events tend to be about camaraderie rather than competition, so it's just unwelcome — a bad pun disturbing a rhyme, in the immortal words of B Kliban.
Even when men show up at the women-only events, you never — ever — see race directors running out onto the course, grabbing at runners, being jerks, and generally being a safety hazard.
You do occasionally see men at women-only events here because they know they can win with times that wouldn't even have been top 5 in a mixed race. More great sportsmanship!
Long story short: You're free to run if you want, and people are free to call you a jerk if that's how you behave.)
Well, that's exactly what makes it so annoying when these guys scope out a women's race looking for a top place — it's just such a naked play for position. Competitive women want to run qualifying races for whatever their goals are — they don't care if they're running with men, because they know they're going to get scored separately anyway. Women-only events tend to be about camaraderie rather than competition, so it's just unwelcome — a bad pun disturbing a rhyme, in the immortal words of B Kliban.