Celebrating Inclusivity: How PYP Encourages Women in Trail Running

At Pick Your Poison, we hold a simple but powerful belief: the trail belongs to everyone. As race directors, we are deeply proud to host an event that reflects our core values of inclusivity, representation, and equitable access to sport, especially for women who continue to reshape the landscape of trail running.

Our commitment to fostering a welcoming environment is not simply aspirational; it is measurable in our participation data over the last five years. The 2026 numbers demonstrate something truly meaningful: women represented 50% of our total race participants, a balance rarely seen in trail running at the global level, and one that speaks to the community we intentionally cultivate.

We thought this graph would be harder to make.

Our 2026 Participation is A Milestone Worth Celebrating

According to our race analytics, the 2026 registered participants field achieved perfect parity:

• 50% female, 50% male across all distances combined.

Breaking this down by event distance reveals even more encouraging trends:

• 12.5K: 61% female

• 25K: 55% female

• 50K: 34% female

These numbers show that not only are women strongly represented in the shorter and mid‑distance events, but a look back at the last 5 years shows they are also steadily increasing their presence in our longer, ultra distance year over year.

Looking at our five‑year participation breakdown confirms that:

• Female representation in the 12.5K consistently remains above 60%.

• The 25K just surpassed 55% female participation in 2026.

• The 50K, climbed from 26% in 2022 to 34% female participation in 2026, following a continued positive trendline.

Increase in female participation since 2022

As shown, our overall trends continue upward in terms of female participation. When you look at the individual race numbers, we see:

• 7.7% increase in 25k female participants

• 8.0% increase in 50k female participants

• 3.3% overall increase in female participants

We are so pleased to see this as a reflection of our thoughtful planning, inclusive policies, and making clear that women are not only welcome on trails, they belong here.

How 🅿️☠️🅿️ Compares to Global Women’s Participation

To understand the significance of our participation numbers, it helps to view them in the context of current global statistics:

Trail Running (All Distances)

• Worldwide, women now make up “nearly one third” of UTMB race participants, 29% in 2024, up from 25% the previous year. [advnture.com]

• More broadly, RunRepeat research identified 46% female participation in trail racing as of 2022. [irunfar.com]

  
  

Ultrarunning

• Globally, women represent only 23% of ultramarathon participants (2020). [irunfar.com]

• Even as interest surges, such as the recent rise in high‑profile women completing iconic ultras, there remains a substantial gender gap at long distances.

Against this backdrop, 🅿️☠️🅿️’s numbers stand out:

• Our overall 50% female participation exceeds the global averages.

• Our 50K distance at 34% female participation is notably higher than the global ultra average of 23%.

It brings us so much pride to have women participate in 🅿️☠️🅿️ trail running at levels exceeding global norms.

Why This Matters: Upholding Our Values of Inclusivity

Inclusivity is more than a statistic; it’s an environment we cultivate through every decision we make as organizers. We strive to remove barriers that have historically kept women from entering trail races, whether those barriers relate to safety, representation, onboarding, or visibility. Studies highlight that many women still face safety concerns and feel discouraged from signing up for races. 72% reported hesitation due to these barriers, according to SheRACES surveys. [irunfar.com]

This is why 🅿️☠️🅿️ remains deeply committed to the following values:

Representation Matters

Seeing equal numbers of men and women at the starting line reinforces the message that trail running is for everyone: beginners, experienced athletes, mothers, young adults, seasoned racers, and those stepping onto a trail for the first time.

Creating a Safe, Supportive Atmosphere

From marketing imagery to aid station culture, from volunteer training to pre‑race communications, we work deliberately to create an environment where women feel safe, respected, and supported.

Encouraging Progression Into Longer Distances

The climb in female participation in the 50K, from 26% to 34% over five years, demonstrates what happens when women are empowered to step into new challenges without intimidation.

Celebrating Success & Breaking Barriers

Just as global role models like Jasmin Paris and Courtney Dauwalter continue to rewrite the boundaries of what’s possible for women in ultra‑distance sport, we want 🅿️☠️🅿️ to be a place where local athletes discover their own potential.

Looking Ahead: Continuing Our Commitment

Each year, our mission is reaffirmed by the runners who choose to run 🅿️☠️🅿️. The continued rise in female participation, across every event distance, shows that intentional inclusivity works. But it also reminds us that this work is ongoing.

As race directors, we remain committed to:

• Encouraging new female participation through outreach and mentorship (come join our Facebook group!)

• Ensuring equal visibility and recognition of female athletes.

• Providing safe, equitable race experiences for runners of all backgrounds.

• Strengthening our policies to eliminate barriers before they appear.

• Encouraging the spread of stories of triumph in athletic achievements for women.

Where do we go from here?

We want to be a trail race where women thrive and we're proud that our event prioritizes inclusivity as a guiding principle. We will continue to operate with the values of:

• Equal prizes and recognition in awards for women.

• Gender specific shirts for swag.

• Feminine hygiene products in our aid station supplies.

• Equal representation in our marketing imagery.

• Deferral policy for expecting mothers

This year we want to focus on amplifying the stories of women in running so that more women can feel the allure of the trail, and the safety of the community we are building. If you want to tell us your story, drop us a line so we can share it and inspire other women in the sport of trail running and ultrarunning.

We are grateful to every woman who has laced up to run our trails. You are shaping the future of our sport, inspiring others, and proving that trail running is richer, stronger, and more vibrant when everyone has a place on the path.

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We wanted to share this gallery of women doing inspirational stuff on the trails of 🅿️☠️🅿️ in the hopes it inspires you too.