There's this woman, I think her name is Kathrine Switzer, who ran the Boston Marathon in 1967. There's this guy named Jock who tried to rip off her number because she was a woman. I grew up in that era and I'm very thankful that there were women before me that proved they were tough enough to participate in "grueling" sports like running a marathon. Many more examples of this but hopefully one is enough for you to get my point. I agree it's too bad I've had to fight for my right to play sports since I was a kid but that's the way it was when I grew up. I pretty much played with boys on all my sports teams, was the only girl many times and they were ruthless if you weren't up to the task. I'm glad girls and women today have many more sports opportunities because some females were willing to prove themselves.

I find the nihilist view against providing athletes some level of support on the swim, if they so choose to take it, is a reasonably closed view and, therefore, bad for the sport. Within 30 seconds these people are in your review mirror and the RDs problem. Why anyone would choose to exclude them doesn't make much sense. I generally have found that people who rail against the under prepared feel their presence is diminishing one's own accomplishments in the eye of the un-educated (Sue from Accounting: What did you do this weekend? You: I did the XYZ tri? Sue: Oh really my sister in law Sable did that too and she can't even swim!). People should derive their sense of self from within, not relative to others. This concept that this somehow changes the definition of a triathlon is also without merit, since the definition is merely self applied. As an example, the New Balance Half Ironman is not a half ironman (every leg is short), but that doesn't stop them from calling it such. Thanks for the lecture about my sense of self. That's good stuff. I'll make sure I bring it up at my next appt with my shrink. I'm not "railing" against the unprepared because I've been in many races where people are unprepared and that really is there problem, not mine. My point was that I've only seen this swim buddy thing in a women's race and I don't understand why they think women need this help. There is a local blind triathlete, he needs a swim guide, riding partner and run guide. I don't think anyone says he doesn't have a right to be out there even though he would never be able to complete the race without outside assistance. Are you comparing women to blind people? Wow, that says a lot. Net, net, don't judge, don't label, go out and take care of yourself and this will never be a problem for you. Sounds like you need to take some of this advice yourself.

Lastly, your male stereotypes are a little antiquated. While I would love to see an all male triathlon that doesn't mean that we will eschew the porta-potties and pee wherever we like. We are not all as pig headed as you make us out to be. I think both men and women pee all over the place in triathlons. That's what I've heard at least. What male stereotypes are you talking about? Not sure what you mean about pig headed either.

I guess a big part of the thing that bothers me is that I've never seen this at a coed race. It bothers me that a race director would think that women will need help but men won't. I may be wrong about this not being offered at any coed races though so I was wondering if anyone had seen it at a race where men were swimming as well. I'm all about being inclusive in triathlon, don't get me wrong but I just don't like the "women might need extra help" message.

I guess a big part of the thing that bothers me is that I've never seen this at a coed race. It bothers me that a race director would think that women will need help but men won't. I may be wrong about this not being offered at any coed races though so I was wondering if anyone had seen it at a race where men were swimming as well. I'm all about being inclusive in triathlon, don't get me wrong but I just don't like the "women might need extra help" message.

I volunteered again as an Angel and we had an accident that has reminded me how dangerous this is for people, regardless of gender, who aren't ready. One of the women apparenly panicked, went under, and is still unconscious in the hopital. I didn't see it.