Forums > Racing > A guy won the Eugene Women's Half Marathon
...in 1:14:39, by one second.
I just think that's a little tacky.
So here's to Benjamin Hobbs, who got to break the tape at this inaugural event. Whose performance was just one second better than Jennifer Houck's world-class effort. That's a 5:42 pace.
I see a stellar future for you, Benjamin Hobbs -- grabbing pop flies out of kids' gloves at MLB games, pushing aside old ladies to get the last seat on the bus, and stealing someone's Dove bar from the freezer in the office lunchroom.
Great going, man.
I was going to rant about the lack of coverage in my hometown newspaper (1600 runners, Eugene's 3rd biggest race, a super performance by Houck and no mention in the paper at all?), but then, meh, who cares; a guy won anyway.
At first I thought this was going to be a transgender story then I looked up the race to see "and gentlemen if they wish."
I don't get it. This guy clearly doesn't know how to enjoy the better things in life and is also no gentleman.
Yes, that's it! When I heard that a guy came in with the first female, I assumed she had a pacer -- I did see several guys pacing their gals, which is sweet. But he came in a second ahead of her?
Nope, not a gentleman at all.
Not to interrupt a rant with a head of steam, but ... there was a men's half-marathon companion event. Run on the same course, at the same time. Fifty men in it. Hobbs won the men's event.
Tomorrow never comes. Eventually never happens. Today. Now. Shut up and start.
Player
There you go letting facts get in the way.
http://onlineraceresults.com/race/view_race.php?race_id=15617#racetop
I suppose it might have been worse if he slowed at the end and did a little "ladies first" wave with his arms. If you're going to run I say run hard. I'll assume it was just possible the two pushed each other and the guy just had a little bit more speed left at the end. Now, maybe he was a jerk. I have no idea.
In an infinite universe, the one thing sentient life cannot afford to have is a sense of proportion
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What I wonder is, if it's called the "Eugene Women's Half Marathon," why do they have a men's division in the first place? Doesn't it somewhat defeat the purpose? We've got women only races (even one in my own little town) around here and, as far as I can tell, men aren't invited. Well, except this one which has a spot for "one lucky guy" and also run's a "significant other" 5K.
(I do think it's cool to allow significant other's as pacers. Why not?)
Hoodoo Guru
I bet that "women's" races allow men so that they don't have to deal with lawsuits by men who feel discriminated against. LIke the guy who sued Hooter's to be a waiter.
"Reverse discrimination!"
/
The tangents are moot. Set the bar low. Crawl under it.
Yeah, I tied Dobblebock.
We've got women only races (even one in my own little town) around here and, as far as I can tell, men aren't invited. Well, except this one which has a spot for "one lucky guy" and also run's a "significant other" 5K.
I ran that HM in 2008 - it was my first, and such fun! The "one lucky guy" looked like he enjoyed himself! The fitted purple tech shirt I got was the best one I have.
OK, well, I might have to take back all those nasty things I said about the guy. My son, who saw the finish, said it looked like the two were running together. alright.
Heckuva performance by the two, then. (Still ticked off at the newspaper, though.)
With all due respect, CliveF, it really wasn't a men's event. Take a look at all the gaggy pink stuff on the website. 1555 women and 50 men finished.
My guess is that they had the men's division to earn some entry fees from the guys who were going to run and pace their gals anyway (banditing if they must).
Clive is a lawyer, just likes a good argument
my newest pet
It still stinks to me. I think he was worried about that guy 2 seconds behind him. Why not let up and let the lead woman cross 1/2 second before him. Why can't these speed demons go race a different event? I don't get it.
"During a marathon, I run about two-thirds of the time. That's plenty." - Margaret Davis, 85 Ed Whitlock regarding his 2:54:48 marathon at age 73, "That was a good day. It was never a struggle."
What does Tunis make?
So if you run the men's half marathon division of this (bizarre sounding) race, you're supposed to be considerate and chivalrous and slow down at the line if there is a female near you -- is that what we're learning here?
I've never been entirely sure what was the difference between normal (open to everyone) races, and "women's" races; now I guess I know. In a women's race, it's bad form to try to kick at the end. Or is it only bad form for men to push at the end? Is it socially acceptable for women to pass people at the end, or is that mean-spirited, and frowned upon?
It's a 5k. It hurt like hell...then I tried to pick it up. The end.
I am a PIG
I dislike getting chicked if I can help it
I would likely dive accross the finsih line to beat the 1st place women
That is all.
...in 1:14:39, by one second. I just think that's a little tacky. So here's to Benjamin Hobbs, who got to break the tape at this inaugural event. Whose performance was just one second better than Jennifer Houck's world-class effort. That's a 5:42 pace. I see a stellar future for you, Benjamin Hobbs -- grabbing pop flies out of kids' gloves at MLB games, pushing aside old ladies to get the last seat on the bus, and stealing someone's Dove bar from the freezer in the office lunchroom. Great going, man. I was going to rant about the lack of coverage in my hometown newspaper (1600 runners, Eugene's 3rd biggest race, a super performance by Houck and no mention in the paper at all?), but then, meh, who cares; a guy won anyway.
http://a-big-horse.blogspot.com/
2012 Goals ~ Mar < 3:00 2:56:07, 1/2M < 1:25, 50k < 5 hours 3:44:20, 24 hour > 145 miles
Giddyup.
According to ultrarunning magazine, I was the men's 50k winner and current course recordholder at race in June. I have to say "men's winner" though because I got beaten by a gal.
Let it be known that I was chivalrous.
As for this event, they had a men's division. If they didn't want men there, they shouldn't have had a men's division. Given that they did, I don't quite get the "tacky" comments that a guy won. Again: some people enter races to win. Don't want a guy to perhaps do that? Don't let them in.
Maybe the gal should have run 1 second faster.
Ultima tastes like failure.
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