So between 2006-2008, I spent more time running than I have in the last few years. I am currently building up again to my 100-110 mile days so I can get back to racing competitively. During the span of my running career, which began when I was 13, I have followed many women who are currently 15-30 minutes faster than my marathon PR. After reading many of their training plans, I realize we aren't too different. Many of them run in excess of 100 miles a week, collected prize money, have children, and they also lace up their shoes one at a time like I do. One woman in particular does have something I am roughly 30 minutes off pace to claim; a World Record! Can you name her?
If you said Paula Radcliffe, you are correct. So perhaps her 100 mile week is more like 130 miles, her race checks total more like $150,000 not $5000, she has two children versus four, BUT the lacing up one shoe at a time is still exactly the SAME as yours truly! BUT I admire her and all she has accomplished and will tell you, though I have not walked much less run a mile in her shoes, I want to fight for her.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/athletics/8778319/Paula-Radcliffes-world-record-set-at-2003-London-Marathon-no-longer-valid.html
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/olympics/3864177/Paula-Radcliffe-bids-to-keep-marathon-world-record.html
After reading the above articles, I too am on board with the marathon majors! "Race directors from the events that make up the World Marathon Majors,
including Boston, London and New York, and the Association of International
Marathons, which represents more than 300 races across the world, have
warned that they will refuse to accept the IAAF decision." (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/olympics/3864177/Paula-Radcliffe-bids-to-keep-marathon-world-record.html) This decision is to only allow women to claim a World Record if done in a women's only race NOT a mixed race with men.
WHAT??? In
the probability lessons I learned in Mr. Luke's math class back in
ninth grade, the IAAF ruling this past January would seem to indicate that women have far less
of a probability of setting WR than men, due to the fact that most road
races are mixed! So to me this means that now ALL road racing events, when a woman could potentially set a World Record, would need to have a separate start for women. This ends up being extra work for racing organizers of all race sizes.
So if Paula can run with the men setting a blistering pace of 2:15 end time result, she can't keep her World Record but can have the "World Best" title instead according to the IAAF. Clearly she has
the ability to race that pace if her body can run that fast! Even with a mountain lion chasing her, if she can not keep a 2:15 pace, she won't run a 2:15 marathon and inevitably be taken down.
I would think with this ruling, the use of pacers
for major events needs to be eliminated. "Rabbits", as they call them in the track
races, would no longer be permitted to participate and this will cause such a mess in going back now to determine WR etc. Come on IAAF... I hope you do the right thing and
reinstate Paula's 2:15 WR for the marathon, she ran it and quite frankly DESERVES every
bit of each nanosecond even IF she was able to keep pace with two men!
She is planning to meet in Monaco soon for talks to plead her case. GO PAULA! My
opinion is of the point; regardless of gender, if capable of running a
particular pace during a race, does it matter who you are running with
or against or rather who/what may be chasing you? Seriously IAAF...curious as to how you'd feel if your World Record especially in the marathon that you worked so hard for was taken away and replaced with "World Best"? Is it me or is that still almost saying the same thing? World Best/World Record...potato/potato?
I have to go for a run to hammer out my disgust for this ruling and the length of time its taking them to allow this to go on!
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