to wonder why boys can't run the race for life?

[ParadiseChick]

Trying to register, my 11year old nephew fancied it, but no space on the online form for anything other than ms, miss, Mrs, Dr, rev or prof in the title space. Is it women only?

I suspect charities do women only because it raises more money. That is their aim. If making it women only raises more money, then I support this.

I just came across this post and have read it and the comments below it with interest. It never ceases to amaze me how little Cancer Research UK know about (or acknowledge?) the Race for Life's beginnings, which are where the women only principle began.

As the person who came up with the idea for the Race for Life and launched it in 1994, here is the background as explanation.

In 1993 my father was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer which, sadly, took his life. Determined to stage some kind of memorial event, I started researching what was available and where there may be any gaps in the 'market'.

I decided that a mass participation event at multiple venues was the best way to maximise fundraising and, as a runner, began looking into running events.

I discovered that at the time only 13% of runners in road running events (usually 10k or longer at the time) were female and so started asking women why? The answers I got suggested that generally women (a) disliked the 'testosterone filled' atmosphere at races and wanted something less, or non, competitive and - especially for non-runners and beginners - (b) wanted a shorter, more achievable distance.

At that time, 5k was a very rarely run distance outside of track athletics but all of the above combined with other research I undertook led me to believe that the answer was a non-competitive, women only 5k series. This serviced an unfilled gap in the 'running market' and offered an opportunity for a different, new fundraising event.

I approached what was then the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and in 1994 the first Race for Life was staged at Battersea Park.

Not the memorial event I had originally envisaged for my father but one I feel he would be proud to be the reason behind.

I hope that answers the question as to why the event started as a women only event. As I am no longer involved, I cannot answer why it has remained so while running (both for fun and racing) has changed so much in the intervening 23 years.

That's interesting jimcowan ,and thanks for posting, and a million thanks for your effort and achievement.
To those who consider the RFL discriminatory, the law specifically allows sporting events and certain charity events to be single sex.

Yep women only which is why I refuse to sponsor anyone doing it or donate to cancer research.

Ha ha Cantbelieve . Love your idea.
Please suggest it to cancer uk -you never know!

Thanks jimcowan for the update and your amazing efforts. So important to keep this event women-only.

Can’t believe people wouldn’t donate to cancer research because their feelz are hurt because the menz can’t join in 🙄

It's discriminatory. I have a very close friend who's wife died of ovarian cancer, she left money in her will to Cancer Research and planned to do the race for life before she died. When he approached them to run it in her memory he was told he wasn't welcome.

OMG my poor eyes. 'Feelz' and 'menz' really

Thanks for the update jimcowan, it's really interesting to read

There's a guy called John something who has been campaigning about this for years.

I do find CRUK's reasons a bit suspect. The idea that men are just looking at the female participants' bums is a bit over the top and in any event, surely they can ogle when they're spectating? In fact, surely they can ogle more if they are not knackered running?

I also think RFL has had its day. parkrun has taken over as providing a non-threatening, inclusive way for people to get into exercise. It still raises money but nothing like the amounts it raised in the past, but that said, it may well be that the women who would have done RFL now do a 10k or other event, but still raise money for CRUK so they may not be losing out overall. There are far fewer RFL events than there used to be though.

That said, if you are a decent runner, it is nice to run a race that you can actually win. In most races (not all, but most) a man will win. So the first lady may come eg 10th overall and they don't get quite the same recognition as the first man did. In fact, there was a race in London a couple of years ago that I was following on Twitter and they tweeted the names of the first three finishers. They were all men. I asked them to tweet the first three female finishers and they ignored

me. So there certainly is scope for competitive female-only events. RFL isn't supposed to be competitive though, the courses aren't officially measured and they don't offer chip timing.

To be honest, if people feel annoyed, they can always do another event and raise money for another charity.

PS the RFL events are for cancer generally, not just breast cancer.

And there are some men-only races, I think one has been organised in Newbury and there is one on Jersey, too.

I think it's v positive to have a non threatening female only race. In the context of our society there's no comparison between all women and all men races.

But I think it's appropriate to allow young boys. I can see why you have to phone up so that they can make sure they really are under 12.

Why is it women only?

www.facebook.com/notes/cancer-research-uk-race-for-life/why-is-race-for-life-a-women-only-event/10151166317152003/

So every man (including 13 year old boys) are a threat and no woman is competitive?

Well bugger me!

I can see the point. I've run in very male races (where there have been literally under 10% women), and the atmosphere is very, very different. It's much more intimidating and competitive for those who have never run before, or who simply aren't very fast, which is why hardly any women were entering.

The cultures of different kinds of races are very different. I think it's good that there is some space for women-only events that aren't all about scoring the fastest time or doing the most brutal climb. It's not like there aren't loads of other things men can enter if they want to raise money in a fun atmosphere.

Yes why not open it to men.
Then watch as thousands of women drop out/decide not to run.
As long as no men have injured feelings.

Don't worry. Men benefit from the money raised.

How many women-only events are there? How many "mixed" events are de-facto men-only or majority-male because women don't enjoy the atmosphere?

Nobody is stopping anybody from fundraising, joining another, mixed race, or running where they like.

But god forbid women are ever, ever allowed something that men are asked to refrain from.

So guilty you're ok with fact that CRUK thinks your husband/partner/dad/son is threatening or intimidating to women?

This is what they say happened when they planned a men's event:

We have trialed 5k events for men in the past. Run for Moore in aid of the Bobby Moore Fund was a 5k series of events for men which in 2009 we took the difficult decision to cancel. Unfortunately there was insufficient interest from men to take part and to return their sponsorship money, making it difficult to justify investing in it any further.

I won't do R4L anymore but it was innovative because it was one of the first fundraising runs to appeal to non runners.
They made it possible for any woman to participate.
They did that by making women feel comfortable.

Which is why it is so incredibly sucessful

Race for Life gets girls and women taking part who probably would not take part in a mixed event. Shout sex discrimination all you like, but maybe actually think about why this is needed in the first place.

It's not only that it's the fact that they think
that women aren't competitive. How insulting!

skaross - my DH is extremely intimidating. His half marathon time is 1.15 and he approaches races with a grim competitiveness to race against his PB that would be completely at odds with the whole ethos of Race for Life.

Good job this thread got bumped as it got a comment from the guy who set the whole thing up!

Of course some women are competitive. They will already be running in other races.

Race for Life isn't really about winning, btw, and I don't think anyone would feel particularly "proud" of that award. It's about something much more important - getting out and starting to exercise, camaraderie, a non-intimidating atmosphere. There are loads of more competitive races with a whole load more glory in which women are welcome to participate if they want to race against the boys, and crush a few male egos along the way. Most have winners by gender and age, rather than just P1, P2, P3.

ERM not a single link works! so we are none the wiser Oh Google experts

I think they should do a golf one, for testicular cancer. 'Balls to cancer'

I have strong feeling about Cancer fundraising and I am going to STFU about my opinions, as it might end up prolonging my life one day. and if I get a nice little drug that gives me another few years, will I be slagging off the Pink Badges? no. of course I wont be