Why You’re an Asshole if You Worry About Getting “Chicked”
Posted by Rebecca in Athletes on Nov 1st, 2010 | 17 commentsThe New York Times recently wrote an article about the growing sport of triathlon and how older people are getting into it. At the end of the article there’s a blurb about a triathlete from Stamford named Eric Goodman:
“Mr. Goodman agreed, though his main concern now isn’t how he looks in the mirror, but making sure that he isn’t ‘chick-ed’ at the next race — slang for being beaten by a woman.”
Really, Mr. Goodman? You’re more concerned about being passed by a female triathlete than you are about how fit and healthy you are? You’re a fucking asshole.
This isn’t the first time I’ve come across a blog post or an article either written by or about a male triathlete where they get all butthurt about the possibility of getting “chicked” and talk about it like it’s the most demeaning and horrible thing a triathlete can experience. Ordinarily, I’m a pretty laid-back person with a sense of humor, but I find the stigma of “getting chicked” to be offensive and sexist. Do these guys honestly expect to beat every woman who’s racing? If so, they damn well better be Craig Alexander because unless they’re a professional triathlete at the top of their game, they’re gonna get passed by a girl who’s faster than them.
The best and most obvious example of a woman who chicks most of the field is Chrissie Wellington. In 2009 she took first place at the World Championships in Kona and set a new women’s course record with a finish time of 8:54:02. Perhaps more impressive than her champion title and course record is the fact that she took 23rd place overall, beating 79 male pros and 1,245 amateur men. Chrissie Wellington and the other active female pros are faster than the average triathlete. Hell, they’re faster than most elite triathletes. They’ll certainly out-race a chauvinistic age grouper who gets his panties in a bunch at the thought of someone with a vagina out-swimming, biking and running him.
It’s not just the female pros who will kick your ass — I know plenty of female age groupers who can out-race most of the competition, male or female, and make it look easy. Many of my teammates have busted out Ironman times that the average male triathlete wouldn’t dream of accomplishing. They swim like dolphins, bike faster than you can believe, and run at a seemingly unsustainable pace. They take top accolades at most of their races, and they work hard and train long hours to get as good as they are. To be disgusted by the notion of getting “chicked” is not only insulting to all female triathletes who are racing and trying their best, it’s ignorant and dismissive of the athletes out there who truly excel in the sport and deserve recognition as being great instead of “pretty good for a girl.”
Let’s return to Mr. Goodman. On June 6th, 2010, he participated in the Hope in Motion walk, run, and ride event. Mr. Goodman placed 289th out of 571 people. Over 100 women beat him. He also did the Jarden Westchester Triathlon on September 26th, 2010, and finished in a time of 2:31:38. 18 females had a faster day than him. Looks like he got “chicked” hardcore. Maybe Mr. Goodman should stop worrying about a female passing him on the bike or catching him on the run and instead focus on his own race. After all, the chances are high that he’s already been beaten by a female — she was just so fast that he never saw her.
Don’t make a big deal about getting “chicked” — it makes you look like a sexist douchebag who’s more focused on out-racing girls than on being healthy and active and racing the best race you can, period. Females are tough, fast, and determined. If you’re threatened by that, you better either get a hell of a lot faster or stop doing triathlons, because we’re not going to hold back to avoid hurting your machismo.
17 Responses to “ “Why You’re an Asshole if You Worry About Getting “Chicked””
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F**king LOVE it! Hate people like that!
dang right girl. well said.
I know some female athletes that are Rock Stars. I look up to them and try to learn everything I can from them. Oh and don’t forget about the athletes that finish hours after you they had twice pain and the mental exhaustion as you. Also they have twice the heart and twice the Dedication as you.
You didn’t even mention with all the age-grouper women who are faster than their male counterparts, that in addition to being triathletes, they likely work 24/7 as wives and mothers, as well as holding down a paying job. And tehy can still kick his ass.
It’s difficult enough being bossed by women at work and at home and then having your ass kicked in a race..I don’t like being chocked..it’s humiliating..women should have their own races!
Amen,sister! I was appalled by this comment when I read the NY Times article.
One of these days I’m gonna beat Bill on the bike in a tri. I’m comin for ya, Bill. I’m comin for ya.
Rock on girl!!! Thanks for putting this out there! Women work their butts off to be as fast, fabulous, and strong as they are and they deserve the recognition for it!
If you do enough Triathlons around here you get to know the names of the fast ‘chicks’ out there. And Ive personally been ‘chicked’ by quite a few TN girls as well as the women on my own Tri Team. Does it bother me as a guy being passed by a girl? Hell no. I know the pain they are in and the work it takes to get there.
Just go out and race and have fun. It Sounds like Mr Goodman should find a ‘Men only’ race in NY…which by the way will NEVER happen..
Why do you think men do triathlons in the first place? 😉
Don’t hold back, Rebecca, tell us what you really think!
Is it called getting “dicked” if a man beats a woman in a race?
I read the same article and had a similar reaction. My first thought was “this asshole clearly doesn’t race against the same women I do”.
I personally don’t call it getting “chicked” when a woman passes me, I call it competition.
S
It’s been SIXTEEN DAYS since your last post. SIXTEEN.
Get off my back, I have a day job! …also, I’ve written since then so there.
I use the term “chicked” regularly but mostly when talking about my wife who beats me EVERY time we run. Thankfully she doesn’t swim or she’d beat me in every tri we entered, but she’s catching up on the bike. She’s a fierce athlete and competitor. I have no issue getting beaten by anyone who trained or raced harder than me. Personally my wife loves the term (it’s got a positive connotation in our house) but that may be due to the fact that she chick’s half the mens field at every race. Anyone complaining out getting chicked needs to learn to work harder or get over themselves.
How about you’re a pussy if you’re worried about getting “chicked”? Men act like such babies sometimes. Too worried about his precious ego, what a d-bag.
I don’t mind getting chicked. However, if there is only one girl ahead of me, and there’s a chance I can take her, I’ll go for it. But, it’s still kind of silly. This exact scenario happened tonight. The fact of the matter is that if she was a guy, or if I was a girl, she would have crushed me. I just have the benefit of producing more testosterone. She must have trained harder and longer to get to the same speed.