It's like every woman for herself. I've noticed it while watching races, and am aware of it when I'm racing as well. Even in women-only races, women tend to string themselves out and run solo, whereas guys will group together and run in a pack. I have both seen and been involved in races where three or four women will stay just a few feet apart, rather than work together. Park, who has a male coach and a female training partner, says these differences have been the focus of many spirited discussions among them, and with her husband, Rich Stark, a runner himself.
Men work in a group, take turns leading the intervals, pushing each other.
Women are running separate workouts. Oh, they may all be doing the same thing, but, trust me, they are running separate workouts. Or watch a distance race on an outdoor track. Men will start out in a group, and eventually the race becomes one of attrition, as runners fall off the pace. Women, for the most part, start out scattered and stay scattered.