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Looking for a date, and bemoaning the fact that your Saturday will be spent with hundreds of other women Racing For The Cure? Fear not. The latest sports trend turning Title IX on its ear is a rash of guys crashing women's running races. Just last week Jonathan Mederos, 25, a high school philosophy teacher, set a personal record in the Disney Princess Half Marathon -- and, moreover, took first place. "When I crossed the finish line, the announcers were silent, and I got downcast looks from the crowd," Mederos told The Wall Street Journal.
Last year, the paper reports, another male runner cleaned up at the Nike Women's Half Marathon, only to press a finger to his lips, begging for silence as he crossed the finish line, after being heckled all the way there.
Hi, what do these funny guys expect? Not that we begrudge them the right to run alongside princesses, but really, what's wrong with the man races? Or did the umpteen million marathons available to them somehow conflict with their schedules? Just asking -- we're really not going to get our knickers in a twist about this.
In fact, what we really applaud are the clever ways women are subtly discouraging dudes who like to run with the girls. It was awkward enough when one winning guy was awarded a Tiffany necklace at the finish line, from a man wearing a tuxedo. Now, at the finish of its Oct. 3 half marathon, running site Run Like a Diva has announced that its medals will be awarded by bare-chested male firefighters.
So far, two of the four men registered to run have dropped out. What's the matter, boys -- afraid of his hose?
What do you think: Should men be allowed to run in women's races wearing tutus -- or should we banish them to the likes of the Brawny Man Turkey Trot? (We don't know if that race actually exists. But it should.)
Comments:
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Wednesday 22 September
By Buddy
If women can run in men's races than men should be allowed to run in women's races.
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Wednesday 22 September
By DeusEx
How can excluding someone on the sole basis of gender not be considered sexist? Isn't that what is being encouraged here? Women and men are either equal or they're not. Which is it?
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Wednesday 22 September
By beth
It's sexist if a man competes in a women's marathon solely because he knows he can physically beat those women.
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Wednesday 22 September
By Ashley
Tiara and feather boa stops along the course? Seriously? I'm a grown ass woman not a five year old. However I would LOVE to be greeted with a shirtless firefighter after a race. Anyhow - races should be for everyone, its part of the fun.
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Friday 24 September
By Dawn
Should men be excluded from races for women? No way! If I wanna run a half marathon for testicular cancer and someone tells me I can't because it's for men, I'mma call bullshit. If a dude wants to run for whatever lady thing, go ahead. Should they be allowed to wear tutus and other things that are probably intentionally rude and mocking? Uhm, no.
Look, dudes, run with the ladies if ya wanna. Doesn't make a hill of beans to me. However, if the intention behind participating is for a good ol' giggle at the expense of the female runners, then don't expect a warm welcoming (and probably a few nut shots, depending on the ladies running with you). But, if you want to participate in a marathon for breast cancer, or maxi pads or princesses or what the hell ever, but you're doing it with good intentions, get on your mofoin' mark and get ready!
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Tuesday 15 November
By Dave Z
I'm not sure what's more sexist, the fact that men are excluded from these events or the article itself. Let's turn this around shall we. Golf. Look at the crap Michelle Wie took for playing in men's tournaments. Would women be ok if men had said (and many probably did) that she should stick to the "umteen million women's tournaments?" Just asking.
As to the article itself, I've haven't seen anything this sexist and unprofessional sounding in ages. "What do these funny guys expect?" I can answer that. In 2010 after women have died to get equal rights to do "guy" things. After women have had their own share of being berated and attacked for trying to do things guys have always done. To see them do the exact thing to guys who are trying to integrate is ironic at best, and just plain sexist at its worst.
THEN you have the audacity to attack the sexuality of the 2 "boys" who dropped out? How dare you. Take your man hating ideals back to the 20th century. Dawn should have written this article. Her comment was more fair and made more sense.
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