I'm thinking about another 5K, the last one before switching up my training for the winter. Friends are doing The 3rd Annual Jingle Bell Run. I go and look at the site, and I come across their awards schedule:"14 & Under, 15-17, 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 & 70+; Clydesdale Open & Masters 190-210lbs., 211-225lbs.,226lbs.+;Filly 140lbs.+ Open & Masters"
First, what the heck are these awards for overwieght runners? Secondly, why isn't the divisions for "Fillys" as broken out as the "Clydesdales?"
Apparently, the horse divisions are classifications for plus-size participants, and is starting to become more common in races. However, that still doesn't answer my question. Why the difference in the weight ranges for men and women?
Before I get my feminist dander up, I email the race organizer for more information. Here's the exchange, with me in purple, and the Jingle Bell-er in red. I only edited for my own spelling, and to remove redundant award information:
Me: Good afternoon, I was looking at singing up for your 2010 Jingle Bell Run, where I saw the awards structure ...Can you explain why the "Clydesdale" division is broken up into so many divisions, yet the "Fillys" are not? I ask because it doesn't seem fair to not have the same division breakdown for both genders. So I was hoping you could shed light on that.
Response: because more big fit athletic men participate than big fit athletic women...absolutely nothing unfair about it all....
Me: Thank you for the quick response and explanation. That's pretty sad, then that more women aren't competing.
R: I can only lead em to the scale....can't pick em up and put em on it:)
Me: I was just surprised to see the 200+ range for the guys, and not for the girls. As a 200+lb female jogger, it kind of is stinky to be lumped in with the 140+ range.
R: Divisions not for joggers...they are for folks running. hard and racing...they are competitive divisions
Me: okay, that makes MUCH more sense. Thank you for taking the time to explain it, I appreciate it!
R: Keep on jogging....it will get you to racing some day...good luck
I look back on this exchange and cringe. I can't believe that I let someone talk to me like that. If that was in any other situation, I would have stood up for myself more, and argued about the sexism and EXTREME SIZEIST bias that was going on here.
But, I didn't. Why? You can see it where I call myself a "jogger." Right there, I purposefully chose that word, because I was scared if I put that I was a plus-size runner, I'd get a response that would be the equivalent of a "sure, sure you are honey," and a pat on the head. I really felt like I didn't have a leg to stand on, because even to myself, I can't believe to call myself a runner.
I thought about boycotting the race on principle. Instead, I'm going to do this race. I need to think of something witty to put on a shirt, or find as many Athena runners to join me in this race, and prove this Responser-Person wrong.
To be continued!
Wow, sounds so snobby on the other side of that conversation. They should have said come and join us and we would love to have you run.
ReplyDeleteUn-be-lievable. What a snotty response from the organizer! DO run and prove him/her wrong.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I read a quote that has stuck with me and changed my attitude towards myself (a big, slow girl): the difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry form. You ARE a runner, don't ever sell yourself short!
Snot-ass. I was going to Fucking snot-ass, but I'm trying to watch my language. I don't have any words of advice (wish I did) or anything witty to offer for you to put on your t-shirt. Just go out there and RUN girl. You are my hero. You may be a 'jogger' but you have something he doesn't have - integrity and compassion. Rather have that than that runner's attitude any-day. PS I like what Denise said too
ReplyDeleteWow, I have several issues with this race's weight categories. First off, anyone who has read even the slightest bit about weight and health knows that the Body Mass Index is the current standard of health. So instead of dividing people by weight, the race organizers should be doing a little math, taking runner's height in inches and squaring the number (i.e. multiply the number of inches by the same number of inches) dividing the weight in pounds by the second figure (height in inches squared)
ReplyDeleteand multiplying that answer by 703 to get runner's body mass index. Then again, the organizer probably can't do math at that level.
Based on frame size, a woman my age and height can range in weight:
5' 5" small frame: 117-130, medium frame: 124-138, large frame:137-155
So I hardly think that 140lbs is the mark for "large" women. And putting someone who is technically overweight (at 5'5" and 185 lbs, myself included) in the same category as someone who is in the ideal weight range, while men can divide up in a ton of different categories, is rather sexist, not to mention size-ist. What a bunch of ass clowns.
As much as race organizers try to be all-inclusive, there really is quite a bit of elitist thinking in the running world, in my opinion.
Lastly, Clydesdales and fillies? What the fuck- that's pretty condescending and just plain rude. Why don't they just go with the "Fat Fucks and Thick Bitches" category? Oh right, that wouldn't be clever enough. Maybe "Elephants and Hippos" would be better.
Ugh.
Anyway, that doesn't matter now- Congratulations on a great run Dale! :)