Friday Five

Friday Five: Best Races for Women?

ESPNW has listed the five best races for women. They are:

1) Disney Tinker Bell and Princess half marathons

2) Nike Women’s Marathon

3) ZOOMA women’s race series

4) Women Run the Cities

5) St. Luke’s Celebration – “the largest women’s 5K in the country.”

I’m fascinated by this, as the best races for women have one thing in common – lots and lots of women and (virtually) no men. I may be wrong, but I suspect the best races for men would also include lots and lots of women.

Some academic should do a study about the interaction of the sexes as it relates to running, because there are several contradictory dynamics going on. In one sense, running is the ultimate level playing field – everyone covers the same distance under the same external conditions. Regardless of sex, some runners are hyper-competitive and others use road races as social opportunities or community events.

On the other hand, female-centric races and diva nights clearly have great appeal to women, though male counterparts would seem prehistoric and trashy. I’ve never thought it was appropriate to chat up women while they’re running, though the existence of flunning makes me wonder if that’s just old school thinking. At the same time, a race/expo for dudes only would have no special appeal for me, and I suspect most male runners would feel the same.

Why wouldn’t a “best race for women” simply feature more – and cleaner – porta-potties, lots of convenient viewing areas for family and friends, and gender-specific t-shirts? What are guys doing that make women-only races such a draw?

Friday Five: Linky Love

I haven’t given a shout-out to some great bloggers in a while, so check out these folks:

1) The Blonde Runs

2) Trail to Wellness

3) Run Mom Run

4) Whine & Cheese Run Club

5) Beer Runner

Friday Five: Runner’s Maladies

Sure, you’ve heard of tennis elbow, but does any sport have more injuries named after it than running?

1) Runner’s knee

2) Runner’s toe

3) Runner’s face

4) Runner’s nipples

5) And, of course, the runs.

Any suggestions for new ones to add to the lexicon? Runny nose? Runner’s hair? Runner’s ‘rhoids?

Friday Five: Forbidden Runs

Running Shoes News has compiled a list of 10 forbidden runs – that is, “alluring but prohibited places” where it would be pretty cool to run. But “Friday Ten” doesn’t have the same ring and, besides, it would stretch the limits of fair use. So I cherry-picked my five favorites:

1) Korean DMZ (I’ve been there!)

2) Area 51

3) The Holy See Library

4) The White House lawn

5) International Space Station

But since the space station would be a treadmill run, I think a tempo run on the Sea of Tranquility would be better.

Friday Five: Fashion Tips for Galen Rupp

Elite distance runner Galen Rupp has a pollen allergy so severe he has taken to wearing a face mask during races – including his victorious 10,000-meter run at the U.S. Track & Field championships.

“I know it looks silly. I get embarrassed wearing it to be honest with you. . . . But if it’s going to help me out . . . that’s the most important thing,” Rupp said.

Well, you know what they say: If you can’t hide it, decorate it. Here are five stylish face mask ideas for Rupp:

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Friday Five: New Terms for Minimalist Running

In response to the ongoing confusion between people who run with no shoes and people who run with thin shoes, here is a list of alternative ways to describe what you’re doing when you head down the road in your Vibram Five Fingers:

1) “I’m running lite.”

2) “I’m heel-cushion challenged.”

3) “I’m flat-footed.”

4) “I’m going gecko today.”

5) “I’m VC-ing this race in my new Ho Chi Minhs.”

Friday Five: Weaponized Running Shoes

Over at RunningShoes.com, they’ve listed their choices for the Best Running Shoes for Zombie Apocalypse Survival, but their choices all have one serious limitation: They assume you’ll always be able to escape, which, if you’re facing fast zombies instead of slow zombies, could result in having your brain eaten.

Better to sacrifice some speed and running efficiency for lethal force. Here are five excellent shoes for the zombie apocalypse:

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