Running as a woman

There are more and more female runners and this is very good news for running and trail running. This article on women's running is an opportunity to celebrate all female runners and congratulate them for their daily motivation in training and for their ever-increasing participation in races. Well done to all of you, you are examples for all those who are thinking about taking up running and who are perhaps still hesitant.

Pioneers like Katherine Switzer led the way. In 1967, Katherine ran the Boston Marathon when the race was only open to men at the time. The race director tried to rip off her bib, but her boyfriend who was running with her protected her and she was able to continue and finish the race. It would take another 5 years for the Boston Marathon to officially open the race to women in 1972.

Since then, what a long way we have come, even if there is still more to go, as if we were still in the middle of a long race. At the last Paris Marathon, 28% of the participants were women. Congratulations to all these marathon runners in Paris and elsewhere who set an example and inspire other women who will decide tomorrow to register for a beautiful, legendary race like the marathon.

Women's running also involves incredible performances that show the determination and endurance capacity of great female athletes like Courtney Dauwater. Courtney performs on long (very long!) trails at a very, very high level. In 2017, she won a 200-mile race (a 321-kilometer ultra!) in Moab in the United States ahead of all competitors, including men, and in 2018, she finished 2nd of all participants in another 200-mile race at Lake Tahoe, also in the United States. Her extraordinary endurance capacity, to go through what she calls the pain cave and to continue, to persevere over such long distances, explains a lot about her exceptional performances.

These athletes like Katherine Switzer or Courtney Dauwater are unique examples in the history of running, trail running and ultra. But it is not only these pioneers or exceptional athletes who set an example, all those who take up running, trail running, ultra and who register for races also continue to set an example.

So to all those who are reading this article and who dream of starting running or signing up for a 10km, a half marathon, a marathon, a trail race, or even an ultra, don't hesitate any longer. Dare to dream of small or big races. Go ahead, put on your sneakers and sign up for the races you dream of to continue in the footsteps of Katherine Switzer and all those who followed in making running in all its forms a women's sport par excellence.