Having targeted at least 50% female participation at its ultra marathons in 2024, event organiser Threshold Sports has been collaborating with female athlete network SheRACES.
As part of a joint ‘Ultra 50:50’ initiative, the two organisations have worked together on a new white paper, which focuses on a number of key areas:
- Female representation and perception
- Training and preparation
- Access and support at events
- Safety and harassment
- Menstrual health and the menopause
In producing the white paper, both SheRACES and Threshold conducted independent research that identified a series of barriers, some which are societal, and some which are seen to be the responsibility of the race organiser.
The findings suggested that issues related to female representation and perceptions of the sport, training and preparation, access and support, safety and harassment and menstrual health posed the greatest challenges to female participants.
The Ultra 50:50 initiative has set out to address these challenges head on. Where relevant, Threshold has made changes to the way it has promoted, planned and managed its events.
In 2024 Threshold saw a +13% increase in female participation on Threshold Trails Series events. 50k ultras saw a +59% increase in female participation, and 100k non-stop ultras +19%. At Race to the King – the focal point of the Ultra 50:50 campaign – 424 women signed up to a 50k in 2024 compared to 214 in 2023, an increase of 98%.
Women made up 44% of all participants (50k & 100k) in 2023, compared to 42% in 2024.
However, Threshold notes that… ‘This is not a result of fewer women taking part, so much as proportionally more men registering. Positively, the focus on female engagement throughout the Ultra 50:50 campaign did not negatively impact on the events’ appeal to male participants.’
SheRACES and Threshold are putting forward a clear case for making events more inclusive and attractive to female participants.
‘The potential return on time and financial investment will vary depending on the event and race organiser, but by diverting marketing spend from paid advertising to a more purpose-led campaign, and by making reasonably modest investments in service provision to accommodate the needs of female participants, we have been able to significantly increase participant numbers and the profitability of these events.’
In 2025 Threshold will continue to invest in female participation, with a focus on first time ultra runners. It will build stronger communities around its events to encourage peer to peer support, and highlighting the challenges that female runners face in terms of safety and harassment whilst running at night or in remote locations.
Threshold is also introducing equal rewards for male and female athletes who break the Race to the Stones course record.
SheRACES notes that… ‘Being inclusive isn’t just socially responsible; it is commercially prudent. In our research we found that almost 90% of women would be more likely to enter races that committed to inclusivity for women.
‘Yet despite this, many events across the world are still designed through a male lens… Where women are not actively encouraged to enter, or forced to pay again for their place if they have a baby. Where women aren’t given the experience we deserve on race day. Where the female race is not held in equal regard to the men’s.
www.thresholdtrailseries.com
www.sheraces.com
