This working definition is a starting point and should be continually reviewed and updated to ensure it remains relevant and responsive to the evolving needs and experiences of the trail and ultra running community. As our sport continues to expand, we have an opportunity to shape an inclusive culture that welcomes runners from all backgrounds.

Accessibility

Accessibility in trail running refers to the intentional design and organization of races, training programs, media broadcasts, and related activities to ensure that they are open and available to all athletes, regardless of physical ability, socioeconomic status, or geographical location. This includes:

• Physical Accessibility: Trail designs, race routes, and facilities should accommodate a wide range of physical abilities. This could involve offering different race distances, guided services for athletes with mobility aids, and providing necessary accommodations for athletes with disabilities to counteract ableism in the sport.
• Economic Accessibility: Efforts should be made to minimize financial barriers to participation. This could include offering sliding scale entry fees, providing equipment rental options, creating resources/platforms for group logistics coordination to mitigate costs, or establishing scholarship programs for under-resourced athletes. Economic justice should also extend to fair compensation for athletes, coaches, and workers across identities.
• Geographical Accessibility: The sport should strive to be accessible to athletes in various locations, including urban areas, rural communities, and regions with limited access to mountainous or remote trails. This might involve organizing urban trail races, virtual races, trail maintenance events, or providing transportation assistance for remote events.

Inclusion and Equity

Inclusion in trail running means creating a welcoming environment where everyone, regardless of their background, feels valued and can fully participate. Equity ensures fair treatment, equality of opportunity, and fairness in access to resources and opportunities. Some aspects of inclusion and equity are:

• Gender and LGBTQ+ Inclusion: Trail running should be a safe and welcoming space for athletes of all gender identities and sexual orientations. This should involve implementing clear policies on harassment, providing gender-inclusive facilities, cultivating LGBTQ+ inclusive spaces and offering non-binary race categories.
• Cultural Inclusion: The sport should respect and celebrate the diverse cultural backgrounds of its participants. This could involve acknowledging the traditional owners of the land where races are held, incorporating diverse cultural traditions into event programming, offering educational resources to athletes, or offering multilingual resources.
• Racial and Ethnic Inclusion: Trail running should actively prioritize the inclusion and representation of athletes from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. This involves not only outreach initiatives but also creating an environment where athletes of all races and ethnicities feel valued and respected. Anti-racism should be a core value, with active steps taken to dismantle systemic racism in the sport.
• Age Inclusion: Athletes of all ages should feel welcomed and valued in the sport. This could involve offering age-specific race categories, organizing family-friendly events, or providing training resources for different age groups.

Diversity and Representation

Diversity in trail running refers to the representation and active involvement of athletes from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. This should extend to professional athlete sponsorships, event, program, and brand leadership, and marketing and branding campaigns. Some forms of diversity include:

• Racial and Ethnic Diversity: The sport should actively seek to involve and represent athletes from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds. This could involve outreach initiatives in diverse communities, mentorship programs, or partnerships with organizations that promote racial and ethnic diversity in sports. Anti-racism should be a core value, with active steps taken to dismantle racism in the sport.
• Socioeconomic Diversity: Trail running should strive to be a sport that is not defined by socioeconomic status. Efforts should be made to involve athletes from a range of income levels, educational backgrounds, and occupations.
• Diversity of Abilities: The sport should celebrate athletes of all abilities, from elite competitors to recreational participants. This could involve offering a range of competitive categories, providing adaptive training programs and coaching resources, or celebrating personal achievements alongside competitive successes.

Intersectionality

Recognizing intersectionality is crucial to understanding how various identities overlap to compound marginalization for some athletes. We should acknowledge and address these intersections in partnership with these athlete groups to create a more inclusive and equitable environment.

• In order to create intersectional realities that value diverse athletes, trail running should provide safe spaces for athletes to self identify and have their voices fully heard and understood.  Providing avenues for athletes of all backgrounds, identifications, and abilities to share authentic experiences will reveal opportunities for trail running to be all inclusive rather than dictated by more mainstream experiences.