The LA Marthon commercials are touting a gimmick similar to the Life and Times Tri where the female elites are given an early start so they can finish along with the elite men and everyone can pretend that they were really racing each other.

I can see it eliminating 2 problems of traditional starts: 1. elite women running among fast age group men. 2. More spectators will see the finish of the women's race because they won't have to wait 20 minutes.

But I can't get with the fantasy that the women are running with the men down to the wire which is how they bill it..

Larry