It is ridiculous. Every single one of the drama-soaked quotes is so easily demolished now.
It's arguable that it's a bit unfair to focus on ParkRun. But they do seem to have a bit of a cake-and-eat-it attitude with this. "We're not competitive, it's a community thing oh and here are times by various groups only one of the groups is a bit of a mishmash but don't worry it's fine".
Women are very wise to this now. We see this stuff for what it is: any - ANY - route by which to claim this is normal, been going on years and women don't care. It's a mirror argument of prisons and toilets. It's got to be from a playbook.
Mixed sex competition isn't the norm, has not been going on years and we do care.