I’m an Athena Runner, and You Should be too
Athena, it sounds so … magical, or maybe it sounds regal. As it probably should, since Athena is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law, and justice, strategic warfare, … blah blah blah — or at least that’s the gist of the Wikipedia page. When you’re a runner though, it means something entirely different.
I fluctuate between about 167 lbs and 171 lbs, which means I can comfortably fit into the Athena division, which is a weight-based division for women. In fact, I could lose about 25 lbs and still make the cut, but we’ll talk more about that later.
Clysdale is the male version of the same weight-based division. If you don’t know what a Clysdale is, it’s a really big horse: think the Superbowl Budweiser horses.
It is argued that people who don’t fall into the expectation of how a runner should look will be slower than a lightweight runner and therefore should compete in a special division.
The logic is that the larger you are, the more energy you must exert to complete the half marathon. Therefore, the separate division is designed to “level the playing field.” Essentially, if all variables are the same, but one athlete weighs more than another, then the lighter one should be able to move faster or easier compared to the heavier individual.
This didn’t seem too absurd until I learned what the weight class requirement was for the Route 66 marathon Athena runner is 145 Lbs+. The last time I was 145 lbs was in 9th grade of high school. I am certainly not fat, and I’m not tiny either. One of my favorite comedians has a great name for it. It’s called “softball skinny.”
Just a side note: while I wouldn’t mind weighing 144 lbs, I just want to emphasize that’s about the time my hip bones start noticeably protruding out of my sides.
Is it possible that a woman 140 lbs can run faster than me since I am 170 lbs? I think so if fitness levels were similar. My question is why 145 lbs? Is there science to that number or is that just when they decided women are overweight?
Furthermore, why does the Clydesdale division include multiple weight classes while the women’s division is just 145 lbs and heavier? Are they assuming women who weigh 145lbs will run competitively with a woman who is 200 lbs, but a man who is 170 lbs will run differently than a man who is 185lbs?
There is also this level of shame that comes with being an Athena runner. Some people work hard to try to drop out of the Athena division by losing a lot of weight, and others participate because they think it is an easier way to win.
Another side note: the winner of the Athena division in 2017 ran the half marathon in 1 hour and 37 minutes and the winner of the female open ran it in 1 hour and 20 minutes. So the difference between these two divisions is 17 minutes.
Before you think I am arguing we ditch the divisions and protest races that have them, I’m not. There is probably some merit to weight-based advantages and disadvantages. Here’s what I’d hope to see happen in the future. First, a peer-reviewed study that exams the true differences between runners. If this already exists, please share it with me.
Second, I want women to redefine what it means to be Athena. My hypothesis is if women who qualify for Athena registered in the division it would become the largest most competitive division at any race, and the female open would be the odd man out, or they’d reevaluate making the cut-off heavier than145 lbs.
Finally, if we keep these divisions, I’d like there to be comparable weight brackets in 15-pound increments for women, not just the men.
Do I think I will always be an Athena runner? Maybe, and if I am honest with myself, probably. 145 is a very healthy BMI for me, and if I reached it, I would still be an Athena.
I also encourage everyone to strive to be fit and healthy, but at the end of the day, the answer of whether or not I am healthy isn’t solely found by looking at the scale. In fact, I’d argue that my happy weight is about 152 to 157, which would still make me an Athena runner.
Why am I not necessarily striving for 144 lbs? The answer is because I am a fairly muscley person, and 144 lbs would require me to lose muscle largely in my legs, and I just don’t see a benefit in that goal.
Today was cold, and I didn’t reach my goal, but I look forward to competing next year, most likely in the Athena division, and I hope, if you qualify, you do too.
