Trail Sisters + Life Time Aim to Increase Female Participation in Trail Running

Photos courtesy of Life Time and Trail Sisters

It’s time to get comfortable in the uncomfortable — we’re talking female representation in the outdoor industry.

According to the Outdoor Foundation, women make up almost half of all outdoor recreation participants, but they’re widely underrepresented in leadership roles across the industry. Sustainable change starts at the base, and a new partnership between Trail Sisters and Life Time is turning their efforts to trail running, where women make up only a third of trail race competitors. The gender disparity can be traced back to historical biases towards women in outdoor sports — but the narrative is finally turning a page.

TO THE START LINE

Trail Sisters believes female voice and representation are essential in the future of the outdoors. In alignment with their goal to foster an inspirational community that supports just that, Trail Sisters is hosting its first-ever run event — the Women’s Trail Half Marathon — in Buena Vista on September 11, 2021. Life Time will serve as the presenting sponsor of the already sold-out event.

Located in the Rocky Mountains, Trail Sisters describes the race as “13.1 miles that twist and turn through sage brush and ponderosa pines, all while providing stunning views of the prestige Collegiate Peaks.” The event starts Saturday at 8 a.m. and a post-race social is scheduled at the Trail Sisters headquarters — the founder’s home!

“What I’ve learned over my five years running Trail Sisters is that if someone is educated on a topic and really understands it, then they feel empowered and have the ability to help other people out,” says Gina Lucrezi, founder of Trail Sisters. “There’s a lot you can do if you’re an empowered person — it makes you feel confident and like you can take on anything. Giving people free access to help them grow their skill set and feel strong mentally, physically and emotionally can really set someone on their path to do anything in life.”

Helping curve the gender imbalance in trail running, the Women’s Trail Half Marathon aims to open the door for women to feel confident and empowered in the sport. In turn, it paves the way for equal leadership to rise in the industry.

“I know and see the impact that Trail Sisters has made in building confidence and education for women in this space,” says Michelle Duffy, associate marketing director for Life Time’s Off-Road Events.

CROSSING THE FINISH

Duffy explains the partnership is intended to enable Trail Sisters to continue their growth. The two organizations are working together to create educational content and resources on topics such as awareness, gear and conservation through digital experiences and at in-person events with local Trail Sisters run groups. Together, the organizations will tap into Trail Sisters’ 35,000-plus network of women runners across the country to foster community, connection and empower women to feel comfortable hitting the trails.

The Trail Sisters Coaching Grant exemplifies equitable progress that collaborations like these can create for women in outdoor sports. In partnership with Life Time, the grant encourages women to get into trail running, no matter their prior experience. Recipients of the grant receive training throughout the year from Life Time run coaches and a race entry into one of Life Time’s fall running events.

While more progress is still to be made, it begins with that first leap.

Learn more at trailsisters.net.

Originally published in the Fall 2021 issue of Spoke+Blossom