Radcliffe's London marathon time of 2:17:42 from 2005 is now classed as the world record. She questioned the change in criteria and the way it has been retrospectively applied. "I think it is a decision that is going to be hard to fully enforce. Look at how many national and area records are set in mixed races. I also think it is a little unfair. If they were going to make that rule, it should have been so from the beginning, when world records came in on the roads. Now it is messy."
"In my two mixed races it was not my decision to have male runners with me, but that of the race organisers, and in each case I very consciously ran alongside them rather than ever behind. Indeed, in London, I was actively racing the two guys. Furthermore, I fully believe that I would have run pretty much the same time that day alone. However, rules are rules and I can't stress about things that are out of my control."
The World Marathon Majors (WMM) and the Association of International Marathons (AIMS) made a statement following the decision, saying they did not believe the changes represent what is required by the sport of road-running. "AIMS and WMM will continue to acknowledge both types of performances as world records and will discuss this matter further with the IAAF."
So basically, it is a mess. Is it fair that men can set records in mixed races and use pacers but women have to wait for 'women only' events? Is it fair to change the rules eight rules after the record was set? Comments...??
i think the most unfair aspect of this is that there are very few female only races available so this decision seems a bit harsh
ReplyDeleteAs a female runner, I think that is a joke. Do they think that the male runners 'helped' Paula Radcliffe get the world record, like pace makers or something?
ReplyDeleteSounds ridiculous and it smacks of double standards, in my opinion.
What a marketing ploy if ever there was one! Interest in the World Record will now be rekindled among the athletes who will all think now I have a chanc to break that. I feel disgusted fro Radcliffe. It's hard to be loyal to decisions like these. Ludicrous!!
ReplyDeleteThe point has already been made elsewhere by someone else.....
ReplyDeleteFor balance, men's records should now only be set in men only races!
I can see the 'logic' behind the thinking, but, imho, you can't have one rule for one sex and a different one of the other sex.
I think it's a shocking decision. She achieved the record under correct guidelines and to now retrospectively remove it is wrong. She earned the record and should hold onto it. As for now having to wait for all female races...another joke. No matter who runs beside you or against you, you still need to do the hard work.Typical bureaucracy.
ReplyDeleteIf i ran besides Paula would that give me an unfair advantage?
ReplyDeleteNO- i can only run what i can run...a joke, her record is too far ahead of everyone else, so they need to change the rules to keep everyone else interested
daft!!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely crazy decision.....
ReplyDeleteDaft indeed.... if she had female pace makers would that be ok.... as per Haile in Berlin...
ReplyDeleteDoes it also mean that junior records now have to be scrapped when ran in senior races even if they are men only races because they might have been paced by a better standard of runner.... crazy.
I think Paula herself summed it up best by saying that the fact the decision is retrospective is ridiclious.
ReplyDeleteDoes this also brings up the question that alot of the major city marathons are now going to have to change their set up. As it stands with this new decision what incentive do the women have to go out really hard at one of these events when the time isnt going to really count? and as a knock are championship races going to be come alot more competative now aswell? Championship races are now going to be some of the few oppurtunites women will have to break world records
Totally incomprehensible.
ReplyDeleteI would assume that 99.9% of people who have ran any distance from a 1k park run to a 100 mile ultra marathon are mistified by this decision.
How any individual could table such an idea is worrying if these individuals are key individuals in global athlethics.