Growing inclusiveness

Positive changes are underway, however, to make the sport more women-friendly.

Globally, the community of female trail runners has been actively working to foster a more inclusive environment for women.

A case in point is Trail Sisters, an organization founded in 2016 to advance gender equity and boost female participation in trail running and hiking. It advocates for events to adopt standards including equal podium spots and awards for men and women, women-specific apparel and merchandise, availability of menstrual products at aid stations, ensuring visible placement of women at the start line instead of placing them behind male runners, and clearly stated pregnancy and postpartum policies. According to its official website, these standards have been met by over 600 events across North America this year.

Similarly, in 2022, British ultra runner Sophie Power — who became famous after being photographed breastfeeding her 3-month-old during a 170.59-km mountain race — launched the SheRaces campaign.

This initiative calls for events to allow pregnancy deferrals, provide breast pumps at aid stations or finish lines, offer safety trackers at checkpoints in dark or remote areas, ensure equal prize money for men and women and implement other guidelines that help create more inclusive and equitable environments for women. It also introduced a women-only trail running series with the goal of providing a safe and supportive environment, thereby encouraging broader female participation.

In China, outdoor gear brands are increasingly focusing on the needs of female trail runners. For instance, Kailas, a Chinese outdoor apparel and equipment brand, began implementing shoemaking molds specifically designed for women in 2020.

The brand has introduced women-specific trail-running vests, allowing female consumers to select sizes based on their bra cup measurements. Lyu notes that this year, she has also spotted sanitary pads at aid stations during some domestic races.

Serving as the race director for the Chinese trail-running gear brand Outopia, Lyu is determined to drive positive, female-friendly changes in the events organized by the brand. It regularly hosts small-scale trail running events located an hour from the city, with participation capped at around 500 runners.

"The courses are not overly hard. We welcome more women to join and aim to provide greater convenience for female participants during the race," she says.

As a former IT professional, Lyu finds fulfillment in her current position, which enables her to merge personal passion with meaningful influence for the women's trail running community.

The brand plans to launch a product line for female runners next year and will invite women of different levels and ages to test the products and help refine details.

"Some existing trail shorts and skirts are designed with insufficient length, creating concerns about being exposed during uphill sections," Lyu adds.

"We hope to design comfortable clothing with thoughtful fabric and cuts that eliminate such unnecessary worries."

Xing Ruling, a 62-year-old retired nurse and active trail runner in Beijing, has witnessed the sport's boom in China over the past 15 years.

In March 2009, she came across a newspaper advertisement for an outdoor endurance run in Beijing's Changping district — one of the very first trail running events ever organized in the Chinese mainland. Her first-place finish in the women's 100km category earned her sponsorship from The North Face brand, launching her into competitions across China and around the world.

"Now there are more and more domestic events with diverse categories. Runners of all levels can find a race that suits them," Xing says.

This growth is reflected in data from the fitness platform Joyrun, which reports trail running events in China surged from just 65 in 2014 to 505 in 2024.

Major events are also opening doors for newcomers. The Chongli 168 Ultra Trail — among the country's most prominent trail races — has offered a dedicated 10km category for female beginners since 2022, inviting more women to explore the sport in an encouraging environment.