When big-name brands and races like Tracksmith, UTMB, and Western States profit off exclusivity and erase the voices of BIPOC athletes, it’s easy to believe the whole trail running world is broken. And in many ways, it is.
But here’s what doesn’t get nearly enough attention: there are people, races, and organizations doing the work. They’re proving that inclusion isn’t just possible—it’s already happening. They’re lowering barriers, extending real invitations, and building spaces where athletes who have historically been excluded can finally see themselves and belong.
This is what it looks like when invitation is paired with action.
Trail Mix Fund
The Trail Mix Fund takes one of the biggest barriers off the table: cost. By waiving race fees for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and low-income runners, it clears the way for participation that would otherwise be impossible. What started as a grassroots idea during the pandemic is now a 501(c)(3) any race can join. It’s not charity—it’s equity in action.
This is also why I designed my “Here for the BIPOC Runners” shirt—a direct response to PRTA’s “here for the women’s race” campaign, which missed the mark on what equity actually means. All proceeds from that shirt go directly to the Trail Mix Fund, because if we’re serious about inclusion, it can’t stop at words—it has to move resources.
Broken Arrow Skyrace (California, USA)
The Broken Arrow Skyrace partnered with Arc’teryx to launch an Inclusivity Initiative that goes beyond marketing. They offer early entry, comped spots, gear, and travel support for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and nonbinary athletes. On top of that, they created a diverse advisory council so the very people who need representation are helping shape the race itself.
Black Trail Runners: Black to the Trails (UK)
Founded by Sabrina Pace-Humphreys, Black Trail Runners has redefined what representation can look like. Their Black to the Trails event is now one of the most ethnically diverse trail runs in the world—70% of participants are people of color, and 70% are women. It’s more than a race; it’s a cultural celebration of heritage, joy, and belonging.
The Active Joe + We Run Long (Texas, USA)
At the Dinosaur Valley Endurance Run, race organizer The Active Joe teamed up with We Run Long to bring BIPOC athletes into the event in tangible ways. That meant comped entries, travel support, and explicit invitations—not just waiting for diversity to show up. The result? Every athlete finished, including those who ran the 100K. This is what happens when representation is backed by resources.
Tsuut’ina Trail Run (Alberta, Canada)
Held on Tsuut’ina Nation land, this race begins with ceremony: prayer, drum song, and remarks by Tsuut’ina leadership. Proceeds benefit the Tsuut’ina Disability Program. It’s not performative—it’s rooted in relationship. The land, the culture, and the community are centered from the very start line.
High Lonesome 100 (Colorado, USA)
The High Lonesome 100 didn’t just tack on an inclusion statement. They split entry spots equally between men and women to address historical imbalance, introduced a nonbinary category with full podium awards, and partnered with the Trail Mix Fund to remove financial barriers. Equity is built into their race structure, not sprinkled on as decoration.
Mt. Taylor 50K (New Mexico, USA)
The Mt. Taylor 50K honors sacred Diné land by beginning at sunrise on Tsoodził, one of the Navajo Nation’s four sacred mountains. Proceeds support the Nídeiltihí Native Elite Runners, investing directly in the next generation of Indigenous athletes. This is what it looks like when a race acknowledges land as more than a backdrop—it’s a living relationship.
Big Tesuque Trail Run (New Mexico, USA)
The Big Tesuque Trail Run directs proceeds to Wings of America, a nonprofit empowering Native youth through running and leadership programs. This is the ripple effect of inclusion: when race dollars flow back into Indigenous communities, running becomes a tool for cultural pride and future leadership.
Antelope Canyon X Half Marathon (Arizona, USA)
The Antelope Canyon X Half Marathon is more than a race—it’s ceremony in motion. Organized by Diné runner Harold Benally, it begins with Navajo prayer and a corn pollen blessing, grounding the event in respect for land and ancestry. Harold handcrafts turquoise and silver finisher necklaces, a cultural offering rooted in Diné tradition. Proceeds support Navajo high school runners, closing the loop between land, community, and future leaders.
Transvulcania Joëlette Division (La Palma, Canary Islands)
One of the world’s most prestigious ultras, Transvulcania, added a Joëlette wheelchair division so athletes with disabilities could share the same course and glory as everyone else. Inclusion here wasn’t symbolic—it was structural.
Run Wild Missoula / Missoula Marathon (Montana, USA)
The Missoula Marathon was one of the first races in the U.S. to offer equal prize money for nonbinary, male, and female winners. They’ve also partnered with local LGBTQ+ organizations and created safe spaces at their events. This is what it looks like when even smaller races set precedents the majors still avoid.
Why These Races and Orgs Matter
These aren’t feel-good gestures. They’re proof-of-concept. They show us that trail and endurance running can be reimagined when organizers commit to invitation and support.
-
Lowering barriers—through waived fees, gear, and travel stipends.
-
Extending invitations—not waiting for representation to “just happen.”
-
Investing in youth and future leaders.
-
Grounding events in the lands and cultures that make them possible.
-
Proving that inclusion isn’t impossible—it’s already happening.
Trail running doesn’t need more marketing about being “welcoming.” It needs more leaders willing to follow these examples. Because inclusion isn’t passive. It doesn’t just appear at the start line. It’s built, nurtured, and made possible through action.
A Call to the Big Names
If smaller races and grassroots organizations can do this work—waiving fees, honoring Indigenous lands, investing in youth, creating new divisions, and redistributing resources—then there is no excuse for global brands and marquee races not to follow suit.
UTMB, Western States, Tracksmith: the blueprint is right in front of you. Stop profiting on exclusivity. Stop treating Indigenous land like a backdrop. Stop leaning on token representation.
The future of trail running is being written right now by the people and organizations willing to do the work of invitation and support. The question isn’t whether inclusion is possible—it’s whether the biggest players will rise to meet the standard already being set.
Because inclusion doesn’t just happen. It’s built. And it’s time for everyone to start building.
You can read more about the lack of diversity in trail running here.