Information for Female Runners

 

Below are some of the commitments we make to ensure barriers to female participation in our events are removed. If you require any further information on the below, please email us here. 

You will find a podcast 'Women in Ultrarunning' featuring a more in depth discussion of many of these topics here. 

- Imagery/ Content: Our website is dedicated to promoting inclusivity. From the homepage through the race pages, to the previews and results. We will always dedicate as much space and resource to the each race - womens, mens and non-binary. Our aim is always to feature at least as many pictures of women, as well as People of Colour and an age spread of runners in every post race page and report.

- Race Overviews and Language: We have and will never use unnecessary terminology to make the races appear artificially more difficult and raise a barrier to inclusion. More than the sheer act of running these distances and events requires anyway.

- Fair Deferral/ Refund policies for pregnancy and post partum: Every race has a separate, explicit 100% refund policy for pregnancy and post-partum - these are listed on the registration pages. Women should feel comfortable entering our events whilst planning pregnancy, in the knowledge that they won't be disadvantaged if they do receive the good news before the race. 

- Toilets: Everywhere we can have a toilet we have one. Mens and Womens are separately signed. Any check point where we are not permitted a toilet by the landlord or by access, we are working on relocating. BUT! That is easier than it sounds and sometimes takes years.

- Feminine Hygiene: You will find spare tampons at every check point. These are stored with the general aid station kit, simply ask the volunteers or staff when you arrive if you require any help.

- Safety: We offer a buddy system at overnight check points to group runners up. The reason we allow pacers in the 100s that are point to point is purely as a safety consideration. 

- Volunteering: We will ensure there are women in each aid station volunteer team.

- Anonymity: Any request to anonymise results will be honoured.

- Awards: T- shirts come in male and female cut and sizes. Opt out for Trees not tees

- Breastfeeding/ Expressing: We deal with breastfeeding requests with runners and volunteers alike, making special provision wherever required. Please just email us for a personal discussion around your requirements.

- Room to race: We don’t generally have problems with busy start lines as our starting fields are small, but if there is a tight start line (NDW50 and 100) we will always call faster men and women forward in advance of the count down.

- Unaccetapble Behaviour: We will treat any report of unacceptable beahviour or harassment with utmost severity, take swift action and ensure that there is an appropriate outcome/ punishment for it.

- Prize money / awards: Have and will always been equal.

- Cut offs: Our cut offs are in place essentially to allow the maximum time to finish the course without encouraging walking the entirity. We are a running event organiser and aim to deliver running events, where organisations like the LDWA do a superb jog of encouraging runners and walkers and hence have much extended cut offs. The average pace required to finish is indicative of encouraging a percentage of running, whilst accepting that every runner will walk some, up to the majority of the race. We can and will have walkers finish our events (Sandra Brown walked the Autumn 100 in 24:36 aged 66) but we are primarily for runners. Our cut offs in elite races make things clearer. The 17 hour cut off at the track 100 is designed entirely around female athletes. The mens qualifying standard is a sub 15 hour 100. The Womens is a sub 17 hour 100. Precisely to level the field. But, we also don’t have a ‘Womens and a mens’ cut off as the course is open already for the duration. The aim is to have the courses open for anyone of any age to complete within a generous enough limit but that still allows that sense of achievement and having done something special as a runner.

RESOURCES

Centurion Running Podcast: Women in Ultrarunning

She Races. Fill in the She Races Survey to help provide more data and feedback from which guidance can be given back to the sport.

Fitrwoman App: Track Your Period and Train Smarter

Sport and Female Health: Roar by Stacey Sims

Sport and the Menopause: Next Level by Stacey Sims

Sophie Power: Return to Running Documentary

Active Pregnancy

Postnatal: Return to Running Medical Guidelines