Women
Women used to be treated like second-class citizens at races (some people think they still are).
There was no Women's Olympic Marathon until 1984. During the early 1980s, sponsors required Chicago Area Runners Association to erect finish line chutes at every mile of a 10k race so women who tired could still receive finishing times.
Things have changed. Chicago IL and Frederick MD are among the many locations offering races centering on women. While some events lean toward gender stereotyping, most focus on running.
The Race That's Good for Life 5k, in Oak Park IL, instituted separate male and female races nearly two decades ago. Women run first, enjoying more attention and never worrying about depleted food lines. (It's also thought they'll be more patient than men would be waiting for post-race awards).
Don't shortchange women at races. Offer the same age groups, even if you don't think they'll all be filled (there are often no male or female runners in the 15-19 age group, so there are already leftover awards).
Refer to runners as "women" or "female." Do not call them "ladies" or "chicks." Don't refer to women as "babes" unless you also call men "hunks," although neither is appropriate.
If you have indoor bathrooms, ensure there are more female stalls than male stalls - men can use urinals. Portable toilets don't matter - there is no reason to separate them by gender.
When introducing female winners, talk about their running accomplishments, not their physical appearances.