One of the most prestigious foot races in the world, the Boston Marathon, will allow athletes to compete next year without disclosing what gender they are.
Normally, there is a men’s and women’s division. Race organizers announced on Monday, the day that registrations opened for the event, that there will be a non-binary choice on the application for the April 17 race. The London Marathon quickly followed suit.
The organization has not published its guidelines in full for how nonbinary runners will be ranked, nor has it established anything firm for transgender runners — those women or men who have undergone surgery and chemical treatments to live as and be understood as someone from the opposite gender.
Runners hoping to compete in the annual race are required to meet strict qualifying times. The BAA said that because it does not yet have enough data to establish nonbinary qualifying times, it will use standards applied to their biological division. This does not necessarily mean women will be stripped of their medals if non-binary runners win, but the organization hasn’t fully explained what it means by using the women’s division standards. Will non-binary runners have their own category? The Boston Athletic Association has not explained it.
To be considered a non-binary competitor, a runner will have needed to compete a qualifying marathon as a non-binary participant between Sept. 1 2021 and Sept. 16 2022. For 2023, athletes must make their respective men’s and women’s division qualifying times, which will apply to their actual biological gender at birth.
“As we prepare for future races, participants can expect nonbinary times to be updated accordingly,” the BAA said in a statement. “While we do not currently have qualifying standards for non-binary athletes, we are working on ways non-binary participants are accepted into the event.”
The registration for the 127th running of the marathon ends Friday, Sept. 16. The 2023 race will have a field of 30,000 participants, all of whom must have met the race qualifying standards that can be found here. For this year’s 2022 marathon, some 38 Alaskans were qualified to run in the April race.
Runners, in addition to having to done well in qualifying races, also must follow the organization’s Covid protocols that include potentially having to show proof of vaccination, and wearing a face mask in designated areas. The organization says its protocols are subject to change.
Registration should be required as “Lola”
……………………………………………………………
The Kinks Lyrics
“Lola”
I met her in a club down in old Soho
Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like cherry-cola [LP version – Coca-Cola:]
C O L A cola
She walked up to me and she asked me to dance
I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she said Lola
L O L A Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Well I’m not the world’s most physical guy
But when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine
Oh my Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Well I’m not dumb but I can’t understand
Why she walked like a woman and talked like a man
Oh my Lola la-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Well we drank champagne and danced all night
Under electric candlelight
She picked me up and sat me on her knee
And said little boy won’t you come home with me
Well I’m not the world’s most passionate guy
But when I looked in her eyes well I almost fell for my Lola
La-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Lola la-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola
I pushed her away
I walked to the door
I fell to the floor
I got down on my knees
Then I looked at her and she at me
Well that’s the way that I want it to stay
And I always want it to be that way for my Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
Girls will be boys and boys will be girls
It’s a mixed up muddled up shook up world except for Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
Well I left home just a week before
And I’d never ever kissed a woman before
But Lola smiled and took me by the hand
And said dear boy I’m gonna make you a man
Well I’m not the world’s most masculine man
But I know what I am and I’m glad I’m a man
And so is Lola
La-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Lola la-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Our society is getting sicker and sicker. And the sick expect myself and others to make them well after they recognize their sickness. We are talking “mentally sick,” people. This is real.
Yeah and who do you think is putting pressure on whoever runs the marathon to allow this?? LGBTQ! Apparently there must be one hell of a payoff for ones allowing this. It makes zero sense otherwise. I’ve heard Obama is behind alot of this push as well.
Follow the money… As far as the Boston Marathon? Big snooze fest anyway
So … a male division, a female division, and a “none of the above” division? Will they hand out awards in that category?
Talk about “science deniers.”
“Non-binary” is just another way of saying, “look at me.”
Jock strap only division and women’s. None other required.
So we know now how to identify you in the race?
Yeah I’d be the one with the jockstrap.
For everyone who has ever trained for a race, a season of races or a lifetime career of racing – this is unsettling. They stole the safety of our libraries and books. Then our arts and humanities events. Then our public school bathrooms. Now the sports too?! Nothing is safe from this hogwash. A few months ago I attempted to volunteer as a coach for Girls On the Run to boost our area with other experienced, conservative coaches for running. When I received an email back from the director with her preferred personal pronouns, it was a slap in the face for all the other women who volunteer their time and expertise and a red flag not to get involved. No interest in supporting a girls based group if the director “herself” has to publicly identify her pronouns and make a point to bring it up. It’s weird. It’s inappropriate. “Girls on the run” implies it’s for girls only. Much like how the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts SHOULD operate. Most runners are conservative and family oriented. They aren’t taking out just individual runners by doing this but entire families who put their health first.
Take away our rights…Get them fat… the grooming and reshaping of normal families is happening right in front of your eyes and nobody is doing a single thing about it.
If you are a “true” female you have no chance of winning. It will be a male claiming to be a woman, just like the swimmer. Another American tradition being dismantled.
Now I wouldn’t say that. Those East Germans were women at one time before they took the shots, and they used to win against other women although they did have a 5:00 shadow.
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