Please, gentlemen. Don't be THAT GUY.
- SD
Interlopers Run Amok: Guys Crash Road Races for Women
They Come in First, Are Dissed at Finish; For Meeting Fit Females, 'It's Hard to Beat'
Jonathan Mederos set a personal record in Disney's Princess Half Marathon last year, winning first place with a time of 1:16:17.
The reception he got was far from his personal best, though. "When I crossed the finish line, the announcers were silent, and I got downcast looks from the crowd," says Mr. Mederos, a 25-year-old high-school philosophy teacher in Miami.
That's what a guy gets for winning a women's race. As Rick Cordes took last year's Nike Women's Half Marathon, he slunk across the finish line, with a finger pressed to his lips, beseeching silence after having been heckled throughout the race.
"Maybe I shouldn't have been so competitive in a race that I would have been slaughtered in if it were an all-men's field," says Mr. Cordes, a 48-year-old California real-estate broker, in an email. He was one of nearly 700 men among more than 12,700 women in the Nike Half Marathon.
[cut]
Men can register for these races, as footnotes on the event websites note. Technically allowing guys to run avoids legal spats, pleases charity sponsors whose fund-raisers are often male and engenders a magnanimous spirit. But these races tolerate rather than welcome male participants.
[cut]
We suggest men only do the race in support of a woman or charity," says the website of this week's Nashville Women's Half Marathon. "If he is looking to win a race, get an award or [set a personal record], we would be happy to suggest some other events in the local area that would be better suited for those goals."
[cut]
While male participation in the Nike Half Marathon has risen steadily over the years, the number of men running Disney's Princess Half Marathon jumped to 423 this year from 196 in the debut. Men remained vastly outnumbered, with nearly 11,000 women running this year.
[cut]
Other men see a target-rich environment. "If you want to meet fit young women, it's hard to beat," says Maj. Christopher Sopko, a 31-year-old pilot in the Ohio Air National Guard.
Although men are loath to admit it, one appeal women's races have for them is the shot at a better finish. Men who ran in the middle of a pack of guys can finish near the top of a field teeming with women.
[cut]
To see the full story, go here.
Golly, what a coincidence - 138 men, all of whom have the same initials: A.H.
ReplyDeleteReally interesting and thanks for the post. WSJ has posted a good number of running-related articles lately. Well done.
ReplyDeleteI had long wondered about the legality of all female races but have finally had my suspicions confirmed.
I see those brave men as pioneers in civil rights. Years from now, our (male) children will be able to enter these races thanks to the work of those men today who refuse to bow to the pressure of bigoted women.
ReplyDeleteThat's lame and rude. I'd boo them too.
ReplyDeleteAs for legality, laws against participant restrictions would be (or are) dumb. You should be able to restrict your race to whoever you want.
People said things to Rosa Parks too. It's amazing the venom people spew when they feel the crowd is with them. It is my dream that, one day, young men and boys everywhere will be judged not for the size of their muscles, but for the size of their hearts.
ReplyDeleteI majored in being pathetic in college, so let me tell you, these guys are pathetic. man oh man.
ReplyDeleteCopying and pasting an entire copyrighted article from another web site on your blog?
ReplyDeletePlease, Scott, don't be THAT GUY.
Hey, look everyone! A snarky comment from an anonymous person!
ReplyDeleteGosh, that never happens. ;-)
SD
Our nation was founded on concepts of equality in the face of royal privelege and if a few Princesses must lose to a common school teacher in order for us to ensure that discrimination is not tolerated, then so be it. We all know there is an easy solution for this: seperate mens and womens race awards categories, which option every sane race director makes use of.
ReplyDeleteI will be pacing at the Nike Women's Marathon this month. I believe there are a few hundred registered men and 20,000 or so women. I think it would make for a great interview to speak with a few of these men, especially ones that are trying to win outright all-women's races. They obviously are not there to "meet fit women". Volunteering or cheering from the sidelines would seemingly be a more effective way to attract positive attention from women- not beating them and then cheering about it. If these men are truly just looking to win races, why stop at women's races? Kids races would also be easy picking...they can meet athletic Mom's and win the race all at once.
ReplyDeleteHi Scott,
ReplyDeleteAlso have noted what 'Matty B' said about the WSJ having some interesting running related articles lately (including SF Marathon, continuing increase in trail races/runs--might they have a new "runner on board?" :) I don't have your email, so also will say here that it was nice to finally meet you at ZR today. Continues to amaze me how "small" this world can be...as I had hoped to run into you sometime but didn't expect it to happen away from a race. I am a believer that "things" happen for a reason, so let's keep in touch. Have a great and FUN Ironman adventure! :) Best, Ann (trailturtle at g you know what)
What would happen if you had an all male race? Sponsors would back out, crowds would not come out, lawsuits would ensue. If a woman were to run in such a race, she would be cheered as "brave" and "pioneering."
ReplyDeleteEven in races that allow all participants, you hear people in the crowd yelling to female runners whom they do not know, "You go, girl!" No one in the crowd cheers for a male runner simply because he is male. We haven't solved sexism (or racism), we've just replaced it with a different sexism (and racism).