Threshold Sports has set an ambition to achieve at least 50% female participation across the UK’s leading ultra marathons
Entries are now open for the 2024 Threshold Trail Series, which features two of the largest and best-known ultra races in the UK: Race to the King and Race to The Stones. Since 2013, the Threshold Trail Series has consistently welcomed a higher proportion of women than the industry standard, but female participation across all running distances has declined by 10% since the Covid pandemic. There has also been a 24% drop in female participation in ultras compared to participation in shorter 5K events, with just one third of UK ultrarunners currently female.
As a result, Threshold Sports is introducing initiatives around health, safety, preparation and representation. Its new initiative, Ultra 50:50, endeavours to achieve gender parity and set new industry standards to inspire, empower and enable women to take part in the toughest events.
Partnering with SheRACES, grassroots running groups, female runners, as well as those not already in the running community, Threshold Trail Series’ aim is to understand the challenges that prevent women from taking part and address these challenges head on.
A series of pop-up running events in the lead-up to the summer will continue to delve into the challenges to participation, and enhancements to events next year will support female participants on the next – or first – step on their running journey.
Nick Tup
