Road race etiquette

I'd suggest trying to run really close. Then if she gives you a wink move in.

I clicked on this thinking it was going to be another story about how some guys in vibrams tried to squeeze into the front line of another race.

go with your gut wrote:

I'd suggest trying to run really close. Then if she gives you a wink move in.

+1

I would say it's perfectly fine to run with them. I am a female and at times have found myself near the front of the race near some guys and appreciated the competition when I would actually get one that would run with me and race together versus the guy who would try to sprint ahead to avoid getting passed by a girl only to die half a mile later and get passed.

Run behind them. Let them do all the work pushing wind then sprint fast the last 400 to overtake them with your muscular man legs.

I think you treat them like any other runner, even if they get to start in front of you because they're elites. If it means having to navigate around them at the start of the race, then do what you got to do. It's no different than any other person who might be slower lining up ahead of you in a race. As far as racing them or pacing behind them, do what you got to do. Just don't be the guy doing it just to get in a picture.

I always wondered the same thing. I plan on going out with top women at my next marathon. Should you be courteous and switch off leading or take advantage of the group and let them do all of the work?

hobbyjogger but no vibrams wrote:

I clicked on this thinking it was going to be another story about how some guys in vibrams tried to squeeze into the front line of another race.

Me too, what a huge disappointment.

Runner Girl wrote:

I would say it's perfectly fine to run with them. I am a female and at times have found myself near the front of the race near some guys and appreciated the competition when I would actually get one that would run with me and race together versus the guy who would try to sprint ahead to avoid getting passed by a girl only to die half a mile later and get passed.

Thanks, this is helpful. I didn't know if it was awkward or what. I'm mostly running for time in this race so if I find myself near a couple elite females I would love to pack it up with them. I think it would be really cool to race with world class runners, but I also want to be respectful and not interfere in the woman's race.

Worst I've seen was in a small local race as the top woman was finishing a guy put on a big kick and passed her just before the line and broke the tape they had pulled out for her. I've got no problem kicking at the end of the race but don't break the tape meant for the top woman.

What you are describing is not a problem.There's been a great deal of discussion over the past few years in regards to assistance and pacing.Technically she is not in the same race as you (men's and women's divisions). You can hand another male runner water and even communicate with him but you can't with a female runner.You never know when you might come across a road race with an overly zealous Referee who may not truly understand the rules of road racing.Again, what you are describing is ok...

D plane wrote:

Graduated last spring - new to road racing.

What is the proper etiquette for men racing near elite females? I'm running the baa half and I'm hoping to be around 1:10 which would put me near the elite females. I've only done high school and college races. Anybody been in this situation before?

Can somebody please answer this?

Why do guys in the southwest put red/blue scarfs

around the necks of a Labrador retriever?

Only done high school and college races? So this will be your first half. OK. Focus Then on running your own unique pace. Kim Smith will be well ahead of you. Do not try to stay with her. Good luck.

I actually ran with some professional women in a road race in the past year. I usually allowed them the inside on sharp turns and even moved over to allow her to run on the crest of the road. Always gave them preference considering they were running for money and I am not nearly that good. I was definately hit on once until my wife and kids came over.

ex-coach wrote:

... I was definately hit on once until my wife and kids came over.

Sure you were. Keep thinking that.

As long as you aren't a DB about it, I think it would be beneficial for everyone.

A couple of years ago at the New Bedford HM I ended up running with Kim Smith for most of the race. Actually it was a group of guys from my club team and she worked her way up to tag on with us. Worked out really well for everyone. Also, having the women's lead vehicle in front of us with a clock the whole time was really cool.

I felt like a loser for kicking her down at the end but then found out she was just doing a hard workout so she didn't really kick at all. that made me feel even more like a goober.I ended up running a PR by tagging along with Kim who was just getting in a good workout!

Franklin Park wrote:

Only done high school and college races? So this will be your first half. OK. Focus Then on running your own unique pace. Kim Smith will be well ahead of you. Do not try to stay with her. Good luck.

Thanks. My goal is not to run with the women's leaders, it's not to stick on the first place women and out kick her in a blaze of glory - my goal is to run a solid race and establish a baseline time for the half. Based on my college races and summer training my coach and I think a 1:10 is reasonable. Looking at the results from last year a 1:10 will put me near a few of the female elite runners. So running my own unique pace will probably put me near some of these elite women.

I like to have an idea of what to expect when I race. In college I studied my opponents and developed strategies around that. This upcoming half marathon is a unique situation for me since there is essentially two races in one, as another posted said.

I understand I am not in the women's race and my goals have nothing to do with where I place in regards to the elite women.

It's just that I'm going to be running the same race, at the same time on the same course as them. I'm very competitive and didn't want to do anything that is considered bad form since obviously for these women there is a lot of money and bragging rights on the line. I will most likely not be in the money so I'm mostly going for time, but I'm sure the competitive juices will take over.

It sounds like the consensus is that as long as I'm not a complete douche about it there is a mutual benefit and most women would be fine with me sharing some of the work (again not my goal but I need to be prepared of that's how it plays out)

I'd love to hear more stories on people who have been in this situation before.

^^^ posted from a different comp than last night hence the switch in user name

Nice thread.

I am at just the level that I’m often with the elite women in races around my city. Basically I just try to run my race as if they were any other runners and not the leaders of the women’s race. As someone mentioned above, the extra crowd excitement, lead vehicles and rolling clock are pretty cool to have around (if a bit unnerving when you’re not used to it).

The REAL benefit of being with elite women is that they are (generally) going to be pacing themselves appropriately. Say you go through the first km of a race in 3:15. There are probably men beside you who are went out too fast and going to finish in 35 or something, but a woman going out at that pace in most races is probably someone who knows what she’s doing and is actually dialed in to run that pace.

The only problem I’ve had is hitting the final straight with leading or top-three women. I feel like a massive idiot kicking hard against a woman, especially knowing that the average woman with the same 10k speed as me is probably not going to kick as fast. But then I feel like a massive idiot just cruising it in. Oh, well.