Paula Radcliffe outraged by Boston Marathon transgender policy
You've probably heard about the Boston Marathon many times if your a runner. It's one of the most prestigious marathon in world. Next week, 30,000 runners will be put to the test at the world's oldest marathon. The qualifying standard for men ranging from 18-34 is 3 hours and 5 minutes or faster. The women's time for the same age group is 3 hours and 35 minutes or faster. Nearly 30 minutes slower than the men's standard. But in 2018, the Boston Athletic Association allowed transgender runners to compete in the gender they expressed as. This sparked a hot topic amongst runners on platforms such as Letsrun.com, with some claiming that this is fair while other thought the opposite way. Paula Radcliffe, who competed in 4 Olympic games and still has the women's marathon record of 2:15:23 even responded.
My Opinion:
I believe that it is fine for them to compete in the Boston Marathon. In 1967, Kathrine Switzer, the first female to run the Boston Marathon was attacked by Jock Semple. Semple attempted to tear away her bib number. During this time, female runners weren't allowed to compete in the event. In 5 more years after this event, women were officially allowed to compete. The same problem is occurring here. People are claiming that Stevie Romer isn't allowed to compete just because she is transgender. Just because she was male but expresses herself as female does not pose a threat to the event. She ran a time of 3 hours and 41 minutes, which wouldn't allow her to compete in the male 50-54 range. But just because she expresses herself as female, she is allowed to compete in the event. It's not like she is going to destroy the whole female field and win the prize money. They qualified and this was the only decision BAA could make. I believe that it is unfair for those who got their spot taken, but on the other hand, I feel like this is a good decision for the mere future. I still believe that BAA should check her ID to see if they entered for the right age and such. Like in 1967 when Switzer ran although she was a woman, this will be ground breaking history for upcoming transgender runners.
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