Discrimination - in places you'd never expect!

So last year I ran in a Cary 10K pushing Ella in her running jogger - but I had to register as a "recreational" runner instead of a "competitve" runner due to the jogger.  What did this mean?  My time was not recorded, I was not allowed to receive any age group or overall awards, and I wondered when it was all done... WHY DID I PAY MONEY FOR THIS?  I felt like I was running bandit - but I still paid the race fee!  And I felt like my effort didn't count - when I really was doing twice the work pushing a baby the entire way.  This year, for the first time since moving to NC, I decided not to run the race because of the way I felt afterwards.

I have not run in another race with Ella since, but I was planning on running in the competitive 5K this Saturday for Race for the Cure.  I searched the website, read the waiver I was signing, and no mention about not allowing joggers - in fact the website went out of the way to say they were totally allowed.  So I signed up for the competitive 5K with Steve, intending on just starting in the back and staying out of everyone's way but running with Ella.  Tonight, 3 days before the race, I get an email stating that strollers are allowed everywhere EXCEPT the competitive 5K.  I guess if you've never been in my position - a running mom who almost NEVER runs without pushing her daughter in her jogger - you may not know why this is so bothersome, but it's like flashing a sign at me: YOU AND YOUR JOGGER ARE NOT ALLOWED and I feel very discriminated against!  Especially since I signed up and paid extra money to run this race and now I can't - plus I have been given very little time to try to find a babysitter for my daughter so I could run.

Now, I know that Race for the Cure is SO MUCH MORE than just a 5K.  We are honoring one of the strongest women I know, Jody Garrison, in raising money and later, walking another 5K with her.  But I still don't like to feel like I can no longer run any race "competively" because I run with a jogger.  The race directors need to realize that if you do run with a jogger, you are going to be MUCH more aware of the people around you - who wants to crash with their child???  I say let Runners with their Joggers run competitively and let their times stand.  What are they really afraid of?  That we won't be last and others will feel bad about it?  If that were the case, they wouldn't allow 8 year olds who outrun half the fields in!