Last weekend the internet virtually broke over the news of Netty Edwards.
Below is the full story of what happened, and here is the club’s statement, your reaction and our editor on BBC Radio 5 Live talking about it!
Female runner Netty Edwards was left fuming and more-than-embarrassed as she was pulled out of the Spen 20 only after a mile-and-a-half.
Netty, who has completed both marathons and ultra runs, is by all accounts an experienced runner. She was running approximately 12 min/miles when a marshal approached her on a push bike and told her that she was going too slow, reportedly saying that the race ‘is not for people like her’.
Not even a tenth of the way through, Netty was dismissed – much to her dismay.
Taking her story to social media this is what Netty had to say:
On the Facebook group ‘Spen 20 Road Race’ there were many runners on her side, one in particular, Fanny Dolittle, said: “Absolutely disgusting pulling a runner out of the race after only a mile & a half! I will never do this race again! #spen20”
One reply in particular was from Ian Ogden, a member of the group, who said: “Slower runners are informed and are prepared to start an hour earlier.”
Netty has not replied or acknowledged that she knew this information, but many of the members of the group suggest that she did.
Meanwhile, Vice Chair of Spenborough & District A.C has voiced his opinion on social media by stating that Netty should be banned from racing:
He also went on to brand Netty and her supporters ‘numpties’:
The Vice Chair didn’t just stop there, he took an even more aggressive tone with one of Netty’s supporters on Twitter:
His reaction of course gained even more outbursts from the running community, to which he hasn’t acknowledged.
As for Netty, she has been gathering widespread support, with many amateur runners not quite believing what had happened at the weekend:
Shocked to hear of a runner taken off the course at 1.5 mile into a 20 mile race just because of initial slow pace #spen20
— Cardiff parkrun (@cardiffparkrun) March 15, 2015
So a runner at #spen20 was told to stop after just 1.5 mile because she was “too slow” and yet we want more people to take up the sport?
— Too Fat to Run? (@Fattymustrun) March 15, 2015
I think one of the things that has made me feel sad is so many people dismissing 12 m/m as somehow not runners. #spen20 — Helen Tamblyn-Savill (@Helsieboo) March 16, 2015
Men’s Running has tried to contact Spenborough and District A.C but has not received a reply.
