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and she's off....on a rant that is

  • 27-01-2009 02:44PM
    #1
    hunnymonster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,365 ✭✭✭


    Why are cross country races for women shorter than for men? I know we're slower but it's not like we're going to be keeping officials out past bedtime over a 5 mile or 10km course. It's been a long time since anyone, dared suggest we couldn't run marathons......


Comments

  • #2
    shels4ever
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭shels4ever


    hunnymonster wrote: »
    Why are cross country races for women shorter than for men? I know we're slower but it's not like we're going to be keeping officials out past bedtime over a 5 mile or 10km course. It's been a long time since anyone, dared suggest we couldn't run marathons......

    At a guess i'd say its to try and increase the number in the womes race, the shorter race seems to encourage more people that would be at the back end of the field. I know there have been a few women running in the mens races the past few week..


  • #3
    myflipflops
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,817 ✭✭✭myflipflops


    Yep, it's to encouage participation hence the anomaly of the Intermediate girls race in the schools cross country being longer than the senior race.


  • #4
    Funkyzeit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,035 ✭✭✭Funkyzeit


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS37SNYjg8w


    http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=LS37SNYjg8w

    ;)


  • #5
    TheRoadRunner
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,983 ✭✭✭TheRoadRunner


    yes I would go along with the participation thing also although for competitive senior races such as euro/world cross maybe there should be a standard distance.

    The girls cross country in the schools is the best and funniest example in my opinion where the intermediate girls race is longer then the senior girls race :eek:. They felt the need to reduce the distance of the senior girls just to increase participation. I don't know if this is still the case and I'm open to correction


  • #6
    Hard Worker
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,170 ✭✭✭Hard Worker


    hunnymonster wrote: »
    Why are cross country races for women shorter than for men? I know we're slower but it's not like we're going to be keeping officials out past bedtime over a 5 mile or 10km course. It's been a long time since anyone, dared suggest we couldn't run marathons......

    This has always been the way, so I don't think it has anything to do with trying to entice greater numbers. I think it has more to do with the old mindset about women not being capable ( as in shouldn't be running marathons ) and it has stayed that way since.
    I know from coaching that the vast majority of women / girls much prefer the shorter distances. Perhaps it's different in other clubs.


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  • #7
    messed_up
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 223 ✭✭messed_up


    As a newbie to cross country this year, I was a little surprised at the extent of the differences between the men's and women's races. Most of the BHAA women's races appear to be half the men's distance.

    IMRA races don't appear to make any adjustments to their courses for the ladies and by all accounts participation in their events continues to grow from both sexes.


  • #8
    thirtyfoot
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,912 ✭✭✭thirtyfoot


    messed_up wrote: »
    IMRA races don't appear to make any adjustments to their courses for the ladies and by all accounts participation in their events continues to grow from both sexes.

    I would imagine most people running IMRA are doing it because they are dedicated and really want to do it.

    Many schoolgirls (and schoolboys) doing cross-country have to be dragged kicking and screaming as the drop-out rate at that age is huge so it might make sense to limit the reasons why they may not participate in an event.

    Its a case of everything in our sports of running - do we stick and leave them as is, ie, punishing, old school cross courses with no showers, 8 hour days at a track or do we try something different to encourage more people and kids into the sports like shorter and easier cross courses, snappy 4 hour track programs or the IMRA schools in the Phoenix Park. Things have to be tried and usually when they are there is resistance. Its a case of finding a balance.

    Its funny how successfull our woman are in running sports in Ireland (Sonia, Derval, Mary Cullen) and yet there is a shortage of women competing at older ages. If shorter cross courses means more women stick at the sport then thats good.

    Senior is probably a different matter though, no reason why they would be different.


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