What is the point of Women's Only Tri's? (Page 9)

Great post Mr. Eff.

I have a pink (but still mostly brown) running skirt. I figure I shouldn't care what I look like while I run.

Holy Crap. Let's just cool it, people. My eyes can't even focus. I'm dizzy... I like pink... I've done Women Only events... I like to ogle men in cycling shorts... I don't care who rescues me from a burning building... Dragged out the door or thrown over a shoulder, take your pick, just please don't drop me or let me burn. I have nothing against Jewish people and what Hitler & the Nazi's did is just plain wrong and disgusting. I've got nothing against lesbians... two of my best friends were lesbians... not with each other, (one from College and one from work...) and I never thought of setting them up... hmmmmm.

Anyway, I digress. Let's get back to training, people! Where are you on your July goals?

Whizzzzzzzzzzzz

I just completed "My First Tri" this past weekend.  It's a triathlon designed for first timers, hence the name. Their brochure says that the participant ratio is Men 38% and Women 62%.  They also have a "My Next Tri".  During the race, I saw both types; competitive racers and those who just seemed to be having fun (including me). 

Did someone say pink camisole?

 Geeze Louise Happy. Nothing like jumping in while the topic is over hot & heavy.

Wow Karl you've started a hot one here.

How did we disenigrate into name-calling and very rude behavior. Wow. What gives? This is not all that serious folks. I understand people who are offended by certain words - trust me I know all about that being black - and what they stand for.

But I also know that I just did a story about a child that eats once a day because his family can't afford to eat and he's dying of AIDS to boot through no fault of his own. I'm sure he doesn't mind what he's called he just wants food! That's reality not some political platform shoved over moveon.org or rushlimbaugh.com

It amazes me what gets people riled up. That they get upset over words, name-calling, etc., but when they see a starving child in front of their face - in their neighborhood etc., they aren't even fazed. They move on to buy that next LCD screen or new BMW all the while cursing about how someone offended them with their words. Not that I know of anyone on this thread that does that but I see it all the time in people I know.

As a writer I know that words are powerful. And it makes me cringe that we've diluted the potency of one of the worse massacre's in human history to a punchiline, a catch-phrase or a joke. It's not right and we shouldn't ignore the fact that femi-nazi, soup-nazi, Gestapo etc., lessen the impact of history.

And anyone who thinks the USA got involved in WWII because of our moral high ground is just plain ignorant - ignorant of history, ignorant of facts and ignorant of context. Let's not get me started on that.

So there's been a fair amount of hyperbole and ignorance running around this thread and I won't attempt to correct them all. But I will say that men's only and women's only tris, while an interesting topic, is not worth all the energy we're displaying here.

I suggest you guys stop reading and go out and help a young kid struggling with school, or make sure an elderly lady eats today or take care of someone else's needs because it's acts like those that can help prevent a repeat of what Hitler, Stalin did.

And as far men and women go - I like that men are different. I like that I'm different from them. I also like that we can agree to disagree without foaming at the mouth and taking sides.

I don't label myself a feminist because I'm not for feminism. I'm for the human race and for all women and men to have the equal opportunity to succeed at whatever their hearts desire. Thank God I live in a country that allows me this chance. Because I know of lots of countries that don't. But I'm not stupid either. I know that men like to do business with men.They like to spend their money with men. That there's a good ole boys club where men trust men more. I know that being a woman in a male-dominated field makes many men uncomfortable.

I don't compete with men. I roll over them. I steam roll anyone who gets in the way of what I want. Men, women, I don't care.

I am an equal-opportunity ball breaker and I don't care who you are. If you are in between me and what I want watch out. I wish I could treat men differerntly. My goal is to learn to love them the way that God intended. But I've been so screwed up by years of lectures and talk about competing with them and going after what I want that I see men as obstacles that I need to pummel. I don't like feeling this way. I don't like looking at them this way. I don't like feeling so intimidated by them that I run to women-only events to feel nutured and care for. I don't like the separation. I want the harmony. Where is the harmony? Can we achieve that? Is that possible?

Sorry about the rant but this is an issue that cuts deep. I like men. I hate that I have to choose sides against them when it comes to my career, sports, friends etc. I don't like that feeling. How can I change it?

good lord.  lets keep this somewhat on-topic and if the tenants of national-socialism, feminism and affirmative action need to be continued, you know where to do it.

this is a great thread and i dont think anyone has stepped out of line from the context of reasonable civil discourse - and to this i thank you...but this is getting a little out-of-control.

Ovetta, thanks for contributing (just so we're clear, pink is not visual hyperbole. just saying.)

stupidnickname, I think you're kinda smart.

I don't know why I didn't think of this story before but here goes. My very good friend, Carlos, ran in the Boston Marathon with his brother back in the 60s. I believe there were only about 700 runners. He watched an illegally registered female dash into the race from her hiding place in the bushes and actually witnessed her boyfriend block the race officials who tried to forcibly remove her from running the Boston Marathon. Women were not allowed to run the Boston Marathon! She was subsequently DQ'd.

My how times have changed! I think it's so cool that Carlos witnessed this historic event and I think it's so cool that people have long since forgotten about those days - because they are, by and large, a thing of the past. So what if women want to tri together? So what if men want to burn things in the desert (I don't ask)? Ain't it nice we are learning - not there yet - to accept each other. Poco a poco.

Happy, I knew you were good people. How can you be Happy and not like pink? Inconceivable.

You know lynda, you have just summed up my exact feeling about women's only triathlons in one short, succint analogy. 

Thank you.

As far as pink, not really into it, but what's interesting is that I hate girly regular clothes but I LOVE girly workout gear - Flowers on my stuff?  Bring it on!

My favorite pair of running socks has Blue flowers with the words Flower Power! on them.  Still looking for a bike helmet with flowers.  I saw one in Triathlete Magazine with lipstick kisses all over it (I would have even put up with the pink) but, it was just an ad for that brand, not reality.

madcow - 2005-07-12 5:07 PM I have no problem with Lesbians...some of my best friends are actors

You know, deep down I think I may be a lesbian trapped in a man's body!  lol

dibujob - 2005-07-12 7:22 PM

madcow - 2005-07-12 5:07 PM I have no problem with Lesbians...some of my best friends are actors

You know, deep down I think I may be a lesbian trapped in a man's body!  lol

Here ya go.... http://www.danskin.com/ 

We'll be looking for the race report. 

lol.  I'd rather be a body marker, as long as my wife doesn't find out. Then I'd be a dead lesbian trapped in a man's body!

d'oh.  double post.  I wish we had a delete feature on here.  Or if we do, someone please tell me how to use it!

You can't? Wow! Yeah I know that and I'm really not a steam roller I just play one on tv. It's just that I've been conidtioned to play hardball and I tend to go there first instead of being benevolent and merciful as my Christianity demands of me. I don't like that. I don't like my first instinct being to be self-protecting, survival you know.

By the way you're right - Although I would say I feel more like Catcher in the Rye and Judy Bloom. But most times I feel like Native Son! Ok end of hijacked thread.