NYRR question... Shaker-like separation of the sexes

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NYRR question... Shaker-like separation of the sexes

Bricks
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
Chicago
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 222

NYRR question... Shaker-like separation of the sexes Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 2:15 pm

this is probably for mfox, but if anyone's done a similar race.... i've got that race this weekend in central park. i noticed they separate the men and the women under two different start times 8 and 9.... i don't care much either way, but i was wondering why. is this to simply limit crowding? or is it to make it more competative or less competative? is it unique to this race or do they have this format for all their races? i've got a buddy runnning his first ever race this weekend and he is of course worried about finishing last becasue it sounds more like a 'race' than a 'run' with the seperate fields. is this a legit concern or is this like any other local 5k where there'll be lots of walkers and inexperienced runners out there?

Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157

Re: NYRR question... Shaker-like separation of the sexes Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 5:49 pm

That's odd... I've never heard of a 5K that does that. Even in the marathons do have separate women's starts, it's only for the elite women.

ginger

Cambridge, MA
Joined: 08 Dec 2004
Posts: 46

Re: NYRR question... Shaker-like separation of the sexes Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 1:44 pm

Maybe it's a narrow race course? All of the PAUSATF cross-country races have separate men's open, men's masters and women's races, I think b/c xc race courses can't accommodate too many racers at once. Also Zippy's 5K in GG Park in SF has a separate men's and women's race, although that's a pretty wide race course so I'm not sure why. http://www.pausatf.org/data/2004/XCschedule2004.html http://www.zippy5krun.org/

mfox

South Orange, New Jersey
Joined: 19 Dec 2004
Posts: 367

Re: NYRR question... Shaker-like separation of the sexes Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:06 pm

Good question, I've been wondering myself. This isn't common. I've been a member of the NYRR club since '99 and in the past two years I seem to notice events that are geared more towards one gender or another; there's the More Marathon and Half Marathon for women over 40 only, the Colon Cancer 1/2 Marathon for men only, Mother's Day 1/2 Marathon for women only, and New York Mini 10K for women only. It's certainly not because of the course. The road around Central Park is two lanes wide with a wide recreation lane on one side; so it's more like a three lane road, and races are always held when the park is closed to traffic. Though the race marshals try to keep everyone in the recreation lane they usually allow the crowd to fan out across the entire road after the start. They really only enforce the recreation lane policy as the racers begin to thin out and there is plenty of room on the recreation lane. Any time there is a concern over the size of the race the NYRR club will limit the number of registrations; and this is usually only when it's a short out and back race (i.e. 5K) that needs the entire width of the road way to accomidate two way foot traffic. The positive side of the two separate races is that you'll be able to relax after the men's race and watch the women race...there's nothing wrong with that. Bricks, tell your friend not to worry. All NYRRC races are fun runs within a race. The elite runners run their race up front while the rest of us plod along. There will be plenty of joggers and walkers bringing up the rear. If my foot feels up to it I'll be there this Saturday ( I'm still recovering from plantar fasciitis) and I'll probably be one of the one's bringing up the rear;. If the weather is nice, this should be a fun event.

Bricks
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
Chicago
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 222

Re: NYRR question... Shaker-like separation of the sexes Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 8:35 am

mfox wrote:
The positive side of the two separate races is that you'll be able to relax after the men's race and watch the women race...there's nothing wrong with that.

VERY GOOD POINT. Seriously though, there is always one thing I hate about races that I run in. That's that I don't get to watch them, especially Marathons. I love the atmosphere. Of course I'll trade missing out on getting to sit back and cheer for the 'i wish i was out there running' feeling every time.

I've never done a gender seperated race so I'm looking forward to something a little different. I am glad the boys get to go first. I'd have major ants in my pants if I had to watch first.

The women over 40 only, wow, that is getting specific, and for those distances, must be a small field.

It sounds like NYRR runs a pretty tight ship and I'm anxious to run in Central Park again. Last time I was there in a race, I didn't exactly take it all in. Those last few miles were a blur. There were no orange shower curtains everywhere in November either.

Much appreciated MFOX, for all the input! I'm looking forward to the weekend. Good luck with the PF, I've heard that's one of the most frustrating injuries out there. Not to sway you into running injured, but would a four mile jog notch off one of those qualifying races for the marathon and save you from doing a 1/2 or something down the road? I don't know how many of those races they have...

My friend was very pleased to hear that.

Thanks agian,

Bricks

mfox

South Orange, New Jersey
Joined: 19 Dec 2004
Posts: 367

Re: NYRR question... Shaker-like separation of the sexes Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 9:07 pm

Normally I woudln't waste my time "jogging" a race but the fact that it qualifies as one of the nine races I need to complete for guarenteed entry in the 2007 NYC Marathon makes it worth it (my guarenteed entry in the 2006 marathon has already been satisfied from races in 2004). This will be my second qualifier this year. I just ran (jogged) the "NYC2012 Run for the Olympics Bid" (5K) on Tuesday night and that notched my first qualifier. Special race events like that are always fun and interesting. This race was one of many special events going on around New York this week as part of the campaign to convince the International Olympic Committe to select New York City for the 2012 summer olympic games. All the local press were there (NBC, ABC, FOX, etc), as well as the New York Police Department band. A few champion runners of note were on hand to make opening remarks just before the start (9-time NYC Women's Marathon winner Grete Weitz, 2004 Olympic men's 1500 meter silver medalist Bernard Lagat, and 1984 Olympic men's 1500 meter gold medalist Eamonn Coghlan). Special NYC2012 Olympic Bid flags were handed out to everyone to wave before, during, and after the race. The start line was within the shadows of the Plaza Hotel where the International Olympic Committee is staying this week. So it is hoped that the large turn-out and all the hoopla impressed the IOC. The 1700+ runners who turned out to run the 7:30PM race certainly generating a lot of excitement. There was a lot of cheering and flag waving going on as the runners followed a out and back 5K course. The course ran along a portion of roadway that included The Gates art display. I happend to pass the artists Jeanne-Claude and Christo while I was walking through the park before the race. They seemed to be out together for a leisurely evening stroll. I wanted to kick myself for not stopping to commend them on The Gates but I quickly realized I'm not all that impressed by The Gates. It's not so much how it looks (that's fine) but that they spent over $21 million (of their own money) to do this. I think they could have made a much better impact on the art world if they had used that money to fund art programs for schools that have had their art programs cut from their budget. Oh...but I digress. The Gates did indeed add an element of excitement to the race. It certainly attracted a lot of tourists who cheered us on.

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