What is the point of Women's Only Tri's?

Lara, please allow me to play the devil's advocate for a moment.  What in the world is treatening about doing a triathlon with men?  It is an individual sport and is scored based upon gender and age group.  Not trying to pick a fight here, just trying to understand.

Well, women just rock, that's all there is to it!   

My husband gets pissed at the idea too.  he says he's going to start a tri series called "Manskin"

I actually went to the Danskin website to see if I could sign up as a swim buddy.  I read about madcow doing that a while back and I think that's a very cool thing to do...

nope - seems they only want women to volunteer as well.

That, Cathy, goes without saying...which is why a "Manskin" would have no staying power (pun intended).  I'm not against the idea of a women's only tri, I just can't understand why they are so popular. 

Danskin is the one race where uber beginners can feel comfortable and not threatened on the swim and bike.  If you've seen one, you understand. 

Reebok IMHO is more competetive than the Danskin and puts on a better show.  My hubby and kids are volunteering this Sunday while I race.  They're excited- well, prepubuscent preteenagers, what do ya expect? 

There was even a Gay "Triathlon" (qu0te marks theirs) this past June at Disney during GayDays at Disney/Orlando area.  You could've entered that, it was opened to straight folks too.  I'm sure there were more males than females in that one.   I have no idea what their three events were

Don't forget Little League, girls are in that one too even though softball is mostly fast pitch these days, and peewee football.  I don't agree with. 

**sigh***  no clue.  Marketing.  I think Oprah may have a hand under the table in this one

I like alot of what Possum said. I think some women (i.e. beginner female who might never have competed in sports) are simply intimidated by having hyper-competitive men (or at least they look the part) crawling over an event which is pretty intense in its own right. It's a kinder, gentler tri for the softer, fairer sex.

Personally, I signed up for Reebok because a) the chicks at my swim pool said it was oodles of fun and b) it was the next one on the Tampa Bay calendar after my first tri in May.

As for the co-ed tris, I grew up on a pool deck surrounded by the ideal male swimmer's bodies. Me likey all those hard bodies with their game faces on.

Reebok accepts male volunteers, btw.

It IS great for first time tri'ers who would otherwise NEVER do a tri!  Think of it as a great way to introduce a whole bunch of women to the tri world, or even just exercise!  For example, I had a 55 y/o overweight patient who decided to a Danskin race.......she had never been athletic, rarely worked out, never thought she could do a thing like a tri.....and she DID!  It's a VERY supportive, non-competitive environment.

These races are a GREAT thing to encourage women to meet the goal of finishing a tri, and feeling a huge sense of accomplishment. 

Many newbies feel uncomfortable for their first tri, right?   When women hear about how supportive Danskin and Reebok races are, they feel more at ease with the possibility of doing one.  Many of these people would never do a tri otherwise!  it's actually really cool

As someone who had come in DFL and very close to DFL in another Tri...I would have loved to do my first Tri in a more supportive environment. I honestly did not have fun at my first Tri...I was to afraid. Danskin...gets many women who walk the run, ride slowly on a comfort bike, but are proud non-the-less that they did a triathlon. At most Tris even those catering to beginners, people are competitive against each other....and themselves. Danskin strives to enjoy the journey and the challenge it to have a 30, 40, 50 or 60 year old women do something that they would never dream they could do. Motivated...imagine your Mom (not to pick on her but as an example) doing a Tri...would she want to be out there on the course with you and others whizzing by her...on the swim (or over her), on the bike...my guess she wouldn't see many people on the run.

Part of the reason I was so happy with how I did on the Tri on Saturday, was I beat lots of men for a change on my bike split which was less than 50 seconds off the middle person's time. But I really compared myself to the other women to feel good about how I did...hey we are more equal in potential abilities than I am against a man.

I also think a women's only event, is a gentler way to introduce women into a new sport. Remember what Max wrote about women Triathletes a week or so ago...we are kinder and more supportive at races to each other. How many many men do you know that will say during the swim...hey let's do this together...we can do it or sorry when they bump you in the swim? I hear it over and over in reading race reports written by women about other women. Men never talk to me at Tris, one practice Tri was an exception, women are always saying something positive.