This is my deeper look at the missing data on women in trail running, and why I think it matters.
Trail running loves a good headline
“Women’s participation is rising.”
“More women than ever are entering the sport.”
“Representation is improving.”
All of that is true, but it’s not the whole story.
Every year, ITRA releases global participation statistics. They break down gender, distance, region, and trends over time. They celebrate the growth of women in trail running and rightly so, but there’s one piece of the picture they don’t publish:
Age‑group participation.
That missing data matters more than most people realise.
The pattern every coach can feel, but no one is measuring
Working with women across the UK trail community, a clear pattern emerges:
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- A huge wave of women discovering trail running in their 40s and 50s
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- Far fewer in their 20s and early 30s
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- A drop again after 60
This isn’t anecdotal. It’s visible in race start lines, club memberships, coaching enquiries, and community events. It’s visible in who shows up, who stays, and who disappears, but without age‑group data, we can’t quantify and if we can’t quantify it, we can’t talk about it honestly.
Why age‑group data is missing and why that’s a problem
ITRA collects age data. They use it for runner profiles, race results, and the Performance Index. The information exists.
So why isn’t it published?
Because age‑group participation exposes deeper questions:
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- Why aren’t younger women entering the sport?
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- What barriers exist for women under 35?
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- Why do so many women arrive in midlife?
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- What happens to women after 60?
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- How do safety, culture, confidence, childcare, and cut‑offs shape participation?
These are not simple questions. They require leadership, nuance, and a willingness to look beyond the headline. Publishing age data would force the conversation.
The reality behind the numbers we do see
When we only look at overall participation, the story sounds simple:
“Women now make up around 30% of trail runners globally.”
If we could see the age breakdown, the picture would likely be far more uneven:
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- Younger women under‑represented
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- Midlife women over‑represented
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- Older women under‑supported
This isn’t a criticism of the sport, it’s a call for clarity, because without understanding who is participating, we can’t understand who isn’t and why.
Why this matters for the future of the sport
Trail running is at its best when it’s:
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- welcoming
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- representative
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- safe
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- accessible
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- community‑driven
We can’t build that future if we’re only looking at half the data. Age‑group participation isn’t a niche metric.
It’s a window into:
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- cultural barriers
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- safety concerns
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- financial pressures
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- time constraints
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- representation gaps
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- the impact of motherhood
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- the confidence curve across a woman’s life
If we want to grow the sport sustainably and inclusively, we need to understand these dynamics.
Women in trail running deserve to be seen, not just counted
Publishing age‑group data wouldn’t diminish the progress women have made.
It would strengthen it.
It would help coaches, race organisers, brands, and communities understand:
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- where support is needed
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- where barriers exist
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- where representation is missing
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- where the sport is thriving
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- where it’s struggling
It would give women of every age the visibility they deserve because participation isn’t just about numbers.
It’s about stories, stages of life, and the realities women navigate to show up on a start line.
A call for transparency
I’d love to see ITRA publish age‑group participation data in future reports.
Not to criticise the sport, but to strengthen it.
Trail running is richer, more resilient, and more representative when every age group is visible.
Until then, the question remains:
Where are the younger women in trail running and what would it take for them to feel at home here?
If we want more women, especially younger women on the trails, we need better data, better stories, and better visibility. This conversation matters, and it’s only just beginning.
If this resonates with you, share this blog, and share your thoughts in the comments below. Bring it into your running groups, your clubs, your circles. The more we shine a light on the gaps, the faster we can close them and the more women we’ll see claiming their space on the trails.
Here at NLRC, this is the work we show up for every day: creating space, building confidence, and helping women step into the sport in a way that feels supportive and sustainable. If you’re curious about where your own trail journey could begin, you’re always welcome here.