Women are famously absent from marathons, Park Runs and running machines at the gym, so Ironman decided to change things.

But the triathlon event Ironman England decided to promote its new “Iron Girl” contest on its Facebook page. This, your mole suspects, may have been a mistake.

Ironman is best known for its gruelling races that include a 3.86km swim, a 180.25km bike race and then a marathon, all within a 16- to 17-hour time limit. It is considered one of the toughest endurance tests in the world.

So what did it have to offer its potential Iron Girls? A 5k “fun run”.

“What sort of training should I do for this?” one user wondered. “I’ve painted my nails and curled my hair. Should I let my gynaecologist know I’m attempting manly sports?”

“What time does this start?” another asked. “I’m just a little concerned I won’t be able to get back to the 1950s in time to wash my hair, put make-up on and have the children quiet before my husband arrives home from a busy day of being the chief breadwinner.” Others called it patronising.

Apart from the fact entrants needed to be over the age of 16 – therefore making them, er, women, not girls – women actually tend to outperform men at the toughest runnning challenges.

Women are three times more likely to finish an ultramarathon than men. And, just two days after Ironman England threw down its 5k challenge, British runner Jasmin Paris became the first woman to win the 431km (286miles)Montane Spine Race, and beat the existing record by 12 hours.

Not only that, but she stopped at checkpoints along the way to pump breast milk for her 14-month-old daughter.

Maybe in the future she can work her way up to the Iron Girl 5k.