I was beaten to third place in a running race by a trans woman

We tell children (gently but firmly) from a young age that it's not nice to cheat at board games, or kiddy sports. Why are the rules different for adult transwomen?

They wouldn’t complain. They’d laugh at the pointless of Radcliffe trying to compete with very much faster men

In a fun run!?

Do we think any biological women would run in the gender neutral section? Not many I'm betting

Fuck that shit.

Obviously too late for this year, can the organisers include a gender neutral category for next year because it is clear that this tw isn’t going to choose to run as a man?

Though of course there would be no way of ensuring that the tw ran in that category, or challenging them if they chose not to , which of course is the real elephant in the room, there is almost nothing women can do to protect our rights and our spaces however insignificant they might seem to be, without being shouted down, called terfs, bigots,spiteful,petty, dinosaurs, witches etc etc etc. The big battles are hugely important, but the small skirmishes are also worth fighting.

Females, know your place and graciously enable male privilege without saying or doing anything that might distress a male person enjoying said privilege.

No, not living in that world.

Could you elaborate on your position?

I agree. I desperately could do with a women's only exercise group.

I used to cycle solo but I haven't kept it up. I spent some time I don't have researching women's cycling groups but they all seem to be mixed sex (by stealth).

I am hugely discouraged by stories like these and it almost puts me off exercising altogether. I really need other women to help motivate and encourage me. I did a post natal exercise class and it was fantastic the support we all had from other women - without it I know I wouldn't have exercised at all during that period of my life.

I don't understand why women aren't allowed to have anything for themselves any more, and why we're not allowed to recognise our biological differences from men - which matter, a lot.

I wouldn’t run in the context of blatant, permissive cheating. That’s the bottom line.

They wouldn’t complain. They’d laugh at the pointless of Radcliffe trying to compete with very much faster men.

37th to 3rd

it helps the trans woman

Mediocre males knowing that if they enter the womens races they stand a much better chance of winning.

Of course they do. It isn't very sporting, is it?

Accept your defeat graciously

If you don't get anywhere with complaining, then you could ask some of the top male competitors to sabotage the race and enter under women's names. They don't need to take the piss and wear wigs and lipstick, just turn up as they are, obviously male, and prove the point about how bonkers the whole males in women's race thing really is. Have a whip around amongst yourselves and give the real prize to the actual female who wins.

Says it all really. Mediocre males knowing that if they enter the womens races they stand a much better chance of winning.

Yes it matters

And then saying that anyone who says look, this is obviously and blatantly unfair, is 'trans-age exclusionary'.

Congratulations! You should have placed. It is unfair and unsporting.

I think you should complain. If you do, you will probably be the first of many.

I don't agree it is a neutral and harmless act for a male person to do it merely because it is not prevented. The female who came third in the female only race has had to see the recognition of third place given to a male under a compelled pretense of them being something other than they are in reality. This is not a neutral thing to do to female people, it is exerting personal choice and freedoms and wanted experiences at female expense and it is an act of male privilege, both to do it and to have the power to create the chilling effect on females being able to call it out for what it is and refuse to put up with it.

It is perfectly simple: TW results could easily be counted separately from female ones as a third category, or a mixed sex category can be created but lets face it will just be in effect a second male group in terms of success.

It's like you entering a race with a bunch of primary school kids because you " feel" that you are your inner child. And then celebrating when you wipe the floor with them.

Yes it is, and everyone knows this, but there's very little that you can do in these times and it will be said that it's "just a bit of fun" so don't be mean.

Yep.

I’d bet a million bucks that if Paul(a) Radcliffe self identified into the men’s fun run there would be a line of men complaining ! Socialisation is hobbling us here.

another thing to say here is that this was a mixed event, in non-contact etc sport, with presumably no changing facilities etc. so this isn't a question of forcing a TW to get out of her comfort zone in terms of e.g. being knocked around by men who haven't undergone hormone suppressant treatment etc. it's just a question of which category the TW should have her results chalked up in. v graceless of her to insist on it being the female category.

I think also that you shouldn’t make it personal but to use this race as an example. The trans runner hasn’t done anything wrong if the current rules permit it. However, emphasise how unfair it is etc , and that the rules should be tightened. Alternatively, if it is a mixed race, then don’t have male/female prizes etc.

I also agree with this

Enter the kids race next time dressed in a romper suit