Ladies: You just got 5 minutes slower.

[Bateluer]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/22/s...ds-only-women-only-races-will-count.html?_r=2

Most. Retarded. Decision.

The world governing body for track and field decided in late August that records in women’s road racing will count only if they are set in women’s-only events, to nullify the benefits of pacesetting by faster male runners, a dynamic that can exist in some marathons, half-marathons and 10-kilometer races where men and women are in the same field.

Her 2:15:25 is now considered merely a “world best.”

So the time is a world best, but the world best is no longer the world record.

Got that?

Not only is this idiotic, its damned insulting to every female and male runner, and a straight slap in the face to Paula Radcliffe.

If you run a certified distance in a time that's been accurately measured, thats the time. Does not matter if you run it along side men, women, a damn chase bicycle. It was still your legs that powered the run. Not the pacer.

2:15:25 is the world record for a woman marathoner, as far as I'm concerned.

Edit - I also want to say that this cheapens the title of World Record Holder. I've never been a fan of celebrating mediocrity.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Are you serious? This is ridiculous. You simply can't run two segregated heats of a marathon. It's costly, time consuming, and totally unnecessary. Clearly, the pacing of male competition is very great - only 2min difference between her fastest time (in mixed race) and third fastest time (in female only race) *rolls eyes*. What they're setting has no basis in the results and the logic is flawed. I can't stand the IAAF sometimes.

 

[Exodist]

This is one of those Picard /facepalm moments..

EDIT:
I cant be the only person that has blown past a pace setter before..

 

[bfdd]

lols @ the blatant sexism going on.

 

[Bateluer]

Bump. This needs more attention.

 

[Terzo]

I don't think you'll get much discussion on this, as I bet most people consider this pretty stupid. I certainly do and I have about zero knowledge and interest in competitive running.

 

[Kadarin]

Yep, sounds stupid.

 

[sandorski]

Fail

 

[TechBoyJK]

major fail

 

[khon]

That's flat out ridiculous.

What does it matter if the pacers are male or female ? Either the rule should be that pacers are allowed, or the rule should be that you have to run solo (obviously not practically possible).

 

[rcpratt]

Not a runner, but this makes nearly zero sense.

 

[GotIssues]

I would think trying to stick with overly fast pacesetters is a bad thing for something like a marathon - you could easily burn yourself out early. It doesn't give them more energy or propel their legs faster or shorten the race. The physical feat is the same.

So unless there is rickshaw attached to the pacesetter that the females could take advantage of, I don't see how having a pacesetter is a huge advantage.