Where can trans and non-binary folx race?
October 27, 2021 4:51 PM Subscribe
Where can one race in a third gender division?
Specifically, I was thinking of road running, but trail running and cycling are of interest as well.
Where can one race in a third gender division?
Specifically, I was thinking of road running, but trail running and cycling are of interest as well.
Aside from a handful of races here in NYC, the Boombox mile in CT, and one bike race in Idaho, I'm not seeing options.
I gather this issue is decided by the race director. I am sure I don't know what goes into that decision. Insight there is welcome.
Those that offer the option have only just recently added it.
The race registration companies are opening up the option.
Where can one race in a third gender division?
Specifically, I was thinking of road running, but trail running and cycling are of interest as well.
Aside from a handful of races here in NYC, the Boombox mile in CT, and one bike race in Idaho, I'm not seeing options.
I gather this issue is decided by the race director. I am sure I don't know what goes into that decision. Insight there is welcome.
Those that offer the option have only just recently added it.
The race registration companies are opening up the option.
NYCRuns in NYC has a 3rd gender category (you can register as non-binary and be scored in a third category). Not sure if this is what you are referring to be 'a handful of races' but they offer several races a month year-round.
posted by matcha action at 6:13 PM on October 27, 2021
posted by matcha action at 6:13 PM on October 27, 2021
So this literally just happened, but I notice this local race had very clear language around options for trans and nonbinary racers.
https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/FortBragg/NoyoHeadlandsRace
posted by feckless at 8:05 PM on October 27, 2021
https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/FortBragg/NoyoHeadlandsRace
posted by feckless at 8:05 PM on October 27, 2021
San Francisco's Frontrunners had a third category available on their Pride 5k/10k registration this year.
posted by soleiluna at 11:15 PM on October 27, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by soleiluna at 11:15 PM on October 27, 2021 [1 favorite]
As far as I can tell, bikepacking races never have gender (or other) divisions. Also, randonneuring isn't competitive, but might scratch the same itch, and also doesn't have divisions (although most of the terminology is French and has pretty hard-coded gender assignments in it).
posted by adamrice at 7:23 AM on October 28, 2021
posted by adamrice at 7:23 AM on October 28, 2021
I just signed up for a race that had a third option here in Northampton, MA but it was made clear that this was an un-ranked bucket, rather than a separate ranked division.
posted by Shellybeans at 8:12 AM on October 28, 2021
posted by Shellybeans at 8:12 AM on October 28, 2021
The 2021 Unbound had non-binary divisions in most of the different races - the XL, the 200, and the 100 at least. The results appear to only show a result in the 100, but I think that's because there was only 1 entrant among the different races - so they're just not displaying the divisions without finishers. They also called it "open," while the trophies definitely say "non-binary."
The inaugural Big Sugar and Little Sugar had non-binary divisions as well.
These are both Lifetime races, so I would expect similar options in basically all Lifetime events going forward, at least in the US.
posted by god hates math at 8:37 AM on October 28, 2021
The inaugural Big Sugar and Little Sugar had non-binary divisions as well.
These are both Lifetime races, so I would expect similar options in basically all Lifetime events going forward, at least in the US.
posted by god hates math at 8:37 AM on October 28, 2021
Scotland! The athletics governing body introduced this for races back in 2017/18 and AFAIK were among the first in the world to do so.
It's not enforced on race directors, but enabled. I can tell you how it works here, which may or may not be similar to the US: Most races are licensed by Scottish Athletics ie. the race director applies for a licence from the governing body. A licensed event has to meet certain standards for distance measuring, officiating, risk assessment etc., and in exchange gets insurance, advice on event organising and scheduling, their results are admissible into Power of 10 and can be counted as a new record if applicable etc. That's fairly tightly regulated, according to the UK Athletics official rulebook (UKA sets the rules for all the home countries, Scotland, England, Wales and NI, also taking into account World Athletics rulebook). Traditionally the rulebook prescribed two gender categories, but in Scotland, a way around that was found to allow the inclusion of a third gender category. I'm not sure if the rest of the UK has followed suit yet, they were certainly talking about it.
So, now Scottish championship events (organised by SA) have a third gender category option for entries, and all race organisers now have the option to do the same at their own licensed events. What I'm not sure is the best way to find out which races have actually introduced a third gender category.
Some that I do know: If you want mass participation, the Great Scottish Run was one of the first big events to introduce a third gender category - albeit without rankings or prizes in the third category, at least initially. I don't know if the other events organised by Great Run have a third category, but would be worth checking. (Great Run organise heaps of races, but that also means they're tied to a behemoth of a booking system which may have slowed down any change over. The Great Scottish Run was originally an independent race that got taken over by GR so I think may have its own booking system which probably made the switch easier). Jedburgh Running Festival were among the first pushing to be allowed to do it and asking Scottish Athletics for the change to be made, so they definitely do. It's not been on for a while due to Covid but hopefully will be back. And any events organised by the Frontrunners in Scotland certainly will do - Glasgow Frontrunners and Edinburgh Frontrunners both organise events, particularly around Pride in June. There are Frontrunners groups in Dundee and Aberdeen also, but I think they're smaller and probably not organising events.
posted by muppet at 1:14 PM on October 28, 2021
It's not enforced on race directors, but enabled. I can tell you how it works here, which may or may not be similar to the US: Most races are licensed by Scottish Athletics ie. the race director applies for a licence from the governing body. A licensed event has to meet certain standards for distance measuring, officiating, risk assessment etc., and in exchange gets insurance, advice on event organising and scheduling, their results are admissible into Power of 10 and can be counted as a new record if applicable etc. That's fairly tightly regulated, according to the UK Athletics official rulebook (UKA sets the rules for all the home countries, Scotland, England, Wales and NI, also taking into account World Athletics rulebook). Traditionally the rulebook prescribed two gender categories, but in Scotland, a way around that was found to allow the inclusion of a third gender category. I'm not sure if the rest of the UK has followed suit yet, they were certainly talking about it.
So, now Scottish championship events (organised by SA) have a third gender category option for entries, and all race organisers now have the option to do the same at their own licensed events. What I'm not sure is the best way to find out which races have actually introduced a third gender category.
Some that I do know: If you want mass participation, the Great Scottish Run was one of the first big events to introduce a third gender category - albeit without rankings or prizes in the third category, at least initially. I don't know if the other events organised by Great Run have a third category, but would be worth checking. (Great Run organise heaps of races, but that also means they're tied to a behemoth of a booking system which may have slowed down any change over. The Great Scottish Run was originally an independent race that got taken over by GR so I think may have its own booking system which probably made the switch easier). Jedburgh Running Festival were among the first pushing to be allowed to do it and asking Scottish Athletics for the change to be made, so they definitely do. It's not been on for a while due to Covid but hopefully will be back. And any events organised by the Frontrunners in Scotland certainly will do - Glasgow Frontrunners and Edinburgh Frontrunners both organise events, particularly around Pride in June. There are Frontrunners groups in Dundee and Aberdeen also, but I think they're smaller and probably not organising events.
posted by muppet at 1:14 PM on October 28, 2021
I just noticed that this tiny race in my town has a nonbinary division. https://www.rpcvmadison.org/cpages/freeze-for-food
posted by juliapangolin at 5:24 PM on October 28, 2021
posted by juliapangolin at 5:24 PM on October 28, 2021
Team Sparkle's races in the greater Kansas City area welcome and recognize runners of all genders and have detailed divisional info available on their policies page.
posted by eelgrassman at 6:07 PM on October 28, 2021
posted by eelgrassman at 6:07 PM on October 28, 2021
« Older Got a random message from a former friend, don't... | To adopt a child or not to adopt? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by kickingtheground at 5:30 PM on October 27, 2021 [3 favorites]