Marathon woman
For those for whom this sort of thing is their sort of thing, the London Marathon was a thing over the weekend. It's not mine, so it'd completely passed me by. And would've continued to do so, if it weren't for the lead on the BBC's home page: Jepchirchir wins in women's only world record time
.
Sam Drury opens his report in a similar fashion:
Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir stormed to victory in a women's only world-record time of two hours 16 minutes and 16 seconds in the London Marathon.
Sam Drury, London Marathon 2024 results: Peres Jepchirchir breaks women's only world record, BBC Sport
But what the hell is the difference between a women's only world record
and a straight-down-the-line, common-or-garden women's world record? Y'know, the traditional women's world record of yore.
Our fearless correspondent explains, kinda but not quite: They were on track for women's only record - a record for a marathon run on a course without any male athletes in the race
. Hmmm, clear as mud, Sam. There were men running in the same marathon, albeit doing manly man running, not girly running. They were there, on the same course; at least I don't think there were two different courses, one for each of the sexes. (confused)
Or by male athletes in the race
, could it refer to men who've conveniently discovered they're women, competing in the women's race because it's easier to win? And easier to set world records. (thinking)