Not to mention the didactic spanking you gave the rest of us. If you look on page 14 of the same issue you will see the results of the Fila Everest SkyMarathon. As noted 25 runners, of which only three were women, started the race. Throughout the results of your magazine, the percentage of women runners to men is very low. I say new issue because, as you so dutifully pointed out to the letter writer in the December 1993 Running Wild, there are very few races that offer substantial prizes, let alone cash, for winners.
Fewer women competing in races means at any given performance level there are fewer women.
This brings to mind another, albeit more controversial, reason for unequal payments. While at first I am sure you would cry foul, try to keep in mind that the female record for the hour-long event is more than 12 minutes slower than the men's record. Most importantly, however, this is NOT comparing women to men, but women to women. There is no chance whatsoever. Despite repeated attempts, the organizers could not get a top female athlete and, in the end, picked two male athletes.