Men win Blackpool marathon wearing women’s numbers

[JaniceBattersby]

I guess there’s more to this than meets the eye.

But I suppose if we allow self-ID then this is the future. Except the result will have to stand www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/blackpool-marathon-marred-because-some-leading-ladies-are-really-men-1-9131620

And is already happening where policies and/or the law allow those born male to compete against those born female. Eg here:

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/outrage-transgender-prisoner-living-woman-12022675

Or here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3216705-Australia-protesting-Laurel-Hubbard

I wonder if there is something more going on? I am not one for conspiracy theories honest, but..

Vassos Alexander, sports correspondent, Chris Evans show regular and keen runner was perplexed this week. He said on air that he wanted to ask the London Marathon organisers what had happened... as he ran the marathon as a woman! He didn't register as a woman, or as Greek. He registered as he usually does, as a British male.

But his number was for a female, Greek runner! They laughed about it messing up both his stats and those of the marathon.

How was self-ID wedged into this?

That did seem a push.

Using other people's race numbers is quite common, I am a member of a running club, there are always entry cards being offered when the original runner has to drop out. Lots of other fully trained, ready to go runners take them up.

But I was amused by poor old Vassos and his sudden change of sex and nationality and wondered if the booking systems had recently been outsourced to a less careful / literate company.

This happens a lot in races. I know people who have done it. For a marathon, most likely someone signed up, didn't do enough training or got injured and gave the number to someone else.

You can legitimately transfer your place or if it's a last minute drop out, just give them the number.

If you get caught you'll get disqualified and banned from future races. Every runner who has competed before knows this. What you don't do is draw attention to yourself by 'winning' women's race.

Most likely the organizers scrutinized the race results as a result of this idiot 'winning' the race and found lots more people out.

Here also www.instagram.com/p/BRYwCInFJ-w/