Understanding the Importance of the Black Women's Run Series: Creating Space for One the Most Marginalised in Irish Mountain Running

At Trail Criu, our mission is to make Irish mountain running accessible and welcoming to all people, reflecting the diversity of modern Irish society. As part of this commitment, we have established the Black Women's Run Series, a dedicated programme designed specifically for Black women. This initiative has prompted questions from some individuals about why such a specific focus is necessary. We aim to address these questions, providing context and evidence for our approach.

The Current Landscape of Irish Mountain Running

Irish mountain running, like many outdoor sports, has historically been dominated by specific demographic groups. Data consistently shows significant underrepresentation of Black women in outdoor recreational activities in Ireland, with intersecting barriers of race and gender creating unique challenges for participation.

In our work at Trail Criu, we have successfully engaged Black men in our programmes, but have found that reaching Black women requires additional, targeted efforts. This disparity highlights how general diversity initiatives, even those successful with other underrepresented groups, can still leave Black women behind without specific outreach.

The absence of Black women in Irish mountain running is not due to lack of interest, but rather due to systemic barriers that have excluded them from these spaces. These barriers are both structural and cultural, requiring targeted interventions to overcome. Direct, explicit invitation and dedicated programming are essential to communicate that Black women are not just permitted but actively wanted and valued in Irish mountain running spaces.

Why Focus on Black Women?

Black women face unique challenges that create additional barriers to participation in Irish mountain running:

1. Intersectionality of Race and Gender

Black women experience the compounded effects of both racism and sexism, known as misogynoir. This intersectionality creates distinct barriers that are not addressed by initiatives focusing solely on race or gender. While programmes focused on women in general or ethnic minorities as a whole are valuable, they often fail to address the specific challenges faced by those experiencing multiple forms of marginalisation simultaneously.

2. Structural Responsibilities and Time Constraints

Research indicates that Black women often bear disproportionate caregiving responsibilities within families and communities. This "triple shift" of paid work, domestic labour, and community care limits time available for recreational activities like mountain running. The Black Women's Run Series is designed with these realities in mind, creating flexible, supportive environments that acknowledge these responsibilities.

3. Representation and Belonging

The absence of visible representation in Irish mountain running creates a cycle of exclusion. When Black women do not see others like themselves participating, it reinforces the notion that these spaces are not for them. The Black Women's Run Series creates immediate representation, demonstrating that Black women belong in Irish mountain running.

4. Safe Spaces for Authentic Expression

Black women frequently report modifying their behaviour, speech, and self-expression in predominantly white spaces due to concerns about stereotyping or discrimination. The psychological burden of this "code-switching" detracts from the mental health benefits that mountain running should provide. The Run Series offers a rare opportunity for participants to be fully themselves without this additional mental load.

Evidence Supporting Dedicated Spaces

Our approach is grounded in evidence from sports participation research and successful programmes internationally:

Black Girls Run! in the United States has demonstrated significant success in increasing Black women's participation in running, with over 225,000 members across the country.

Black Girls Do Run UK has shown that dedicated running groups increase long-term participation rates among Black women by creating sustainable communities of support.

Research from Sport Ireland indicates that targeted programmes addressing specific barriers faced by underrepresented groups show greater effectiveness than general diversity initiatives.

Studies on women's participation in outdoor recreation consistently show that women-only spaces can serve as crucial "stepping stones" to wider participation.

Complementary, Not Exclusionary

It's important to emphasise that the Black Women's Run Series exists alongside, not instead of, our other inclusive programming. We continue to offer a wide range of events and activities that welcome all participants regardless of background. The Run Series is complementary to these efforts, addressing specific barriers faced by one of the most underrepresented groups in Irish mountain running.

Our experience has shown that in pursuing broader diversity goals, it is easy to inadvertently leave Black women behind. While we have seen success in engaging other underrepresented groups, including Black men, we recognise that without specific, targeted initiatives, we risk reinforcing existing patterns of exclusion. This Run Series represents our commitment to speaking directly to Black women, explicitly inviting them into Irish mountain running, and demonstrating through action that they are genuinely wanted in these spaces.

The Run Series actually enhances inclusion in the broader Irish mountain running community by:

Developing confidence and skills that participants can bring to integrated events

Creating leadership pathways that increase representation at all levels

Building a critical mass of participation that transforms the overall culture of the sport

Generating insights that improve our approach to inclusion across all programmes

Our Commitment to All Participants

Trail Criu remains committed to creating an Irish mountain running community where everyone feels welcome and valued. We offer numerous programmes for various underrepresented groups, including:

Beginner-friendly mixed-gender events

Programmes for people living in direct provision

Accessibility initiatives for runners with disabilities

Subsidised participation for those facing economic barriers

Family-friendly events for parents with young children

We believe that true inclusion requires both integrated spaces where everyone comes together and dedicated spaces that address specific barriers. This balanced approach creates the most effective pathway to an Irish mountain running community that genuinely reflects all of Irish society.

Conclusion

The Black Women's Run Series represents Trail Criu's commitment to addressing the most persistent barriers to participation in Irish mountain running. By creating dedicated spaces for those facing the greatest challenges to participation, we strengthen the entire community. We invite everyone to support this important initiative as part of our broader mission to transform Irish mountain running into a truly inclusive sport.

As we move forward, we welcome constructive dialogue about how we can continue to improve our approach to inclusion across all our programmes. Together, we can create an Irish mountain running community where everyone has the opportunity to experience the joy, health benefits, and connection with nature that this wonderful sport provides.