She Races Ultra Trail Races excludes transwomen...

[HowToMoveOnNow]

... and is getting huge backlash on Instagram about it. 🙄 How refreshing though to see a woman-only race actually put out a statement like this though.

Unfortunately I'm already running another ultramarathon a couple of weeks before this, but I'm definitely going to volunteer to marshall if I can: www.sheracestrailseries.com/news/transgender-women-and-the-sheraces-trail-series?fbclid=PAY2xjawHSmBlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpqSLI3UDiMQ-X-TQpZrrthESOIS47KZwrwHxp9U9765Nko4aq99TYw_zhg_aem__teyn-M34TeQy5zd1RtNEA

Why not say those 'born female' can attend

Nobody is assigned anything at birth. We are male, female or intersected in a very small number of cases.

Because that leaves the door open for people like India Willoughby to enter on the basis that their sodding gender identity has always been female.

My understanding @Rosbeet is there is no intersex any more. Every person is only either male or female. Male meaning XY and small gamete. Female meaning XX and large gamete's. Some people are born with DSDs which mean they are observed incorrectly at birth especially in developing countries. So saying 'born female' incorrectly places eg Caster and Khelif in the female section rather than male where they should be.
I guess we could go to 'XX' or 'XY' categories but that seems somewhat dehumanising.

Heh there @Run2468.. I hope that you have received a few more supportive comments. You don't need to explain yourself or say how you are going to 'police' the event, it is sufficient to say, that this is for women. You have already provided plenty of evidence that women want this type of event, you don't need to do any more. There is also plenty of evidence of bad faith, but you do not need to point this out. I do suspect there has been a pile on - well, hopefully the flood of support that you have received will be enough to counteract it. There is room for both - inclusive events where all people are welcome, in whatever way they present or identify and events for women.

This nonsense will continue as long as we pussyfoot around, playing with the English language to appease the trans idealogs and the linguistically and intellectually challenged who support them.

Can we please stop caring whether we are called bigots or transphobes and stand up for what we believe in.

Thank you all so much!!! Some much needed sensibility into the discussion. Hopefully some of you will join next year!

Women rarely beat men, even in ultras. Yes there are honourable exceptions, but they are rare. And the further back in the pack you get the more female it is.

(Source: I’m a slow female ultra runner.)

I applaud Ourea for the clarity of their stance. Whilst I am happy in mixed race races, I know some women who are frightened at the thought of racing through the night on open trails. Anything that reduces that barrier is a positive thing.

You’re right - I should have said ‘can beat men’

But I think a women only race is likely to be less safe - because the men’s ultra running community is a protective factor in isolated places at night.

Yes there might be some scum amongst them, but I’ve not come across that. And I’d feel safer Out There if there was a chance that a male runner was nearby, rather than local weirdos knowing there would be a stream of women going past on an unmarshalled course

Run2468, I applaud you and your team for the stance you're taking and the reasons behind it, but I do agree with PPs that some of the language you've used to soften your statement and to appease your critics also serves to make your message less clear.

For example, in the two sentences:

"I am open-minded to the suggestion that this 12% statistic represents an underlying transphobic attitude, which is unacceptable. However, asserting a right to a female-only space is not in itself transphobic and is legally protected."

the first sentence appears to undermine the second. When you say you're "open-minded to the suggestion", this implies that you think this might be the case - but if it's not inherently transphobic to want to compete against just other women, then why would you countenance the notion that this 12% might just be transphobic?

The rest of your statement suggests that you suppose that these 12% of women simply want a female-only experience, which is understandable and completely justified, as evidenced by the fact you're providing it to them, and by the fact UKA advises the same.

There was no reason to agree that they might just be transphobic, and I don't think that line was helpful in any way.

Other than that, though, well done for upholding women's rights and for standing your ground!

But he wasn't born female?

Facts don’t matter. IW claims he has a cervix, for example.

But I’ve seen many trans people say things like “I was born female, it’s just my body developed a penis by mistake” and other such falsities.

He doesn't have a cervix either but that doesn't stop him from claiming otherwise.

Yes I think I would have said that we don't need to speculate on the reasons why some women want single sex sporting events.

As Sall Grover said, "because we want them" is a good enough reason.

Yes, exactly - since there are numerous legitimate reasons a woman might want a single-sex space, there was absolutely no reason to entertain the notion that the 12% might have nefarious reasons.

I've been a bit obsessed with the 'likes' today 😂😂😂 likes on the good guys posts have just about overtaken the baddies 💪

If these men were in any way, shape or form women, they would appreciate the physical female experience is entirely different to a male one. But instead they come across as entitled privileged grabby men. I was so supportive of trans women 10 years ago. That support has been completely consumed since then. I no longer believe a word of it, and hope all male born people are more excluded from female sports, spaces and opportunities than ever before.

I haven't run for eons but plan to enter to show my support. Looking forward to it!

(I also can't say anything on Instagram for Reasons, but am hopefully supporting where it helps).

I think you should make it clear that like most sport events, there won't be explicit policing. Because who in their right mind would enter an event they are explicitly not qualified for?

Since apparently according to the Instagram replies, every single female ultra runner is routinely mistaken for a man in all circumstances they should be reassured that it will be left to personal honour as to the eligibility of entrants.

It's quite obvious he is either insane or being provocative

I'd love to be involved but I literally can't run 10 steps!

I hope the race series is a massive success.

I'm not bothered by women only events myself, but i might marshal or something.

I think it's a great idea and I'm really pleased that people with the stature of Sophie and Shane in the ultra running world are being so clear and honest that yes women do deserve their own races and that means the actual born XX kind.

The backlash is inevitable, but if they hold the line I think there's more support out there than it looks like on Instagram.

PermanentTemporary · Yesterday 22:25

Because who in their right mind would enter an event they are explicitly not qualified for?

Hmm. chin scratch...

Amoral, cheating shitbags?

Well done Sheraces and @Run2468. Sorry the TRAs have found you on instagram. Afraid I'm not on there but am sending good vibes and please be assured you are with the sane majority. It really is just the lunatic fringe lashing out.

While DSD is the medically preferred term many individuals with these conditions still prefer the term intersex (the largest charity supporting individuals in the U.K. actually has the word in its name). Moreover while most individuals with a DSD do have a normal XX or XY karotype and the DSD is primarily a problem of gene expression, there are DSDs where individuals have a karotype other than XX or XY. (eg XXY, XO, and XX/XY mosaic).

Generally the problematic athletes are those with a ‘mild’ DSD caused by faulty gene expression (eg PAIS) and an otherwise normal male 46,XY karotype. Unsurprisingly those with more severe DSDs do not become athletes as they often have severe disabilities.