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Where do women’s races fit in the running community?

princess blingWhat message do women-only road races send about female running culture? Some of the most common arguments in favour of women-only races are that there is a different atmosphere than regular races, one that is more welcoming to beginner races and focused on the inclusion of all levels of runners. When Canadian Running interviewed Stacy Chestnutt, the race organizer of the Sole Sisters 5K (the largest women’s 5K in Canada) she said that “twenty five per cent of the field are walkers or first time runners, so they are just getting from water stop to water stop. Inclusive and welcoming is the vibe that we’re going for. We have a hug station and chocolate station—they are events within the race and that’s part of what makes it so special.”

Not all women-only races are ‘feel good, no pressure’ races though. The oldest women’s race in the world, the Oakley New York Mini 10K, features a fast elite field every year. What’s striking about the name is the that this 10K is somehow mini. 10K is 10K, no matter what, so why the inclusion of mini?

Oakley New York Mini 10KThe race’s original sponsor was Johnson Wax, who proposed a marathon for only women. It was decided that a shorter race would be more popular, so the Crazylegs Mini-Marathon was first run in 1972. Crazylegs was the name of the shaving gel that Johnson Wax (now known as S.C Johnson & Son) was promoting through the race. Due to this, the mini element of the race’s name became associated with the miniskirt fashion statement gaining popularity at the time.

These races also offer the opportunity for a female to cross the finish line first, something that virtually never occurs in regular road races. While most road races now offer equal prize money for male and female winners, there still tends to be more opportunity for men to profit from competition. Just this past summer, the Harry Jerome Track Classic offered a $10,000 prize for the winner of the mile race if they ran under 3:56 minutes. This was a special prize in honour of the 60th anniversary of Roger Bannister’s breaking of the four-minute mile. Why bring this up? There was no female equivalent and sub-4:00 is not a time that any woman has yet run.

firemenWomen-only races also send some mixed signals about female stereotypes. The Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco is one of the most popular women’s races in the world. Instead of medals, finishers are awarded Tiffany necklaces at the finish line. These “medals” are handed to each finisher by a tuxedo-clad firefighter. The Canadian race, the Victoria Goddess Run, also has necklaces for awards, as well as a Robe Run, a race completed in a bathrobe. The Disney Princess Half-Marathon encourages runners to dress up as their favourite Disney Princess character. What are each of these races saying about the concept of what a woman likes? What would people think if  a men-only race in which bikini-clad exotic dancers handed out a bottle opener for a medal at the finish line, but how is that different?

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