Run for HER: 5 Ways to Celebrate Women’s Running This Month

Women’s running has long been a symbol of strength, resilience, and progress, with female athletes breaking barriers on and off the racecourse. 
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You know, like when...

• 🏃‍♀️‍➡️Katherine Switzer showed up to run the Boston Marathon in 1967, and managed to finish even after a race official attempted to rip her bib number off, or...
• 🏃‍♀️‍➡️Courtney Dauwalter recently becoming the first person to win the Western States 100, Hardrock 100, and UTMB in the same year.

From the first pioneers who fought for their place at the starting line to today’s record-breaking runners, the sport continues to empower and inspire.
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♀️So, how can we honor International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month as runners?
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Whether you lace up solo, join a community event, or support women-focused initiatives, there are countless ways to celebrate.
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Ready to run for HER?
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Here are five powerful ways to make an impact this month—both on and off the trail. 

International Women’s Day (IWD) was born in the early 1900s when women began coming together to hold rallies, meetings, strikes and conferences with the following purpose in mind:

• To self-advocate and campaign for their human, work, social and political rights
• The first International Women’s Day event was held in 1911. 
• The United Nations officially recognized IWD in 1975. 

After a lull in the movement, the internationalwomensday.com platform was launched: 

• “with the specific aim of re-energizing the day and inviting mass participation, a focus which continues to this day, by celebrating and making visible the achievements of women, while continuing the call for accelerating gender parity.”

In 1988, March was designated Women’s History Month. 
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🏃‍♀️‍➡️As a female runner, I can’t help but think:

• How can we honor these significant holidays within our sport? 

It turns out, there are plenty of ways to recognize and tap into your feminine energy within the realm of running, no matter your gender identity. Here's how...

Check out the growing list of books by female runners to help you train, fuel, and level up

The book Better Faster Farther: How Running Changed Everything We Know About Women by Maggie Mertens is both eye-opening and infuriating. 

• She begins the historical recount of women’s suffrage in the running domain in the 1800s, much earlier than the infamous 1967 Boston Marathon assault on runner Katherine Switzer by the race director himself. 
• On the one hand, the decades-long verbal and physical abuse endured by women for simply running is unbelievable and sickening. 
• On the other hand, none of it is surprising as I reflected upon personal gender discriminations. 

For instance, in high school I sought permission to lift weights during my study hall or lunch break in the school’s weight room. After all, the football players held this privilege. 

• My request was rejected. 
• I was certain it was because I was a girl. 
• Quietly, I continued lifting weights after school. 
• Who did I think I was demanding special treatment as a track athlete? A girl, that’s who. 
• Even though I didn’t persist or take my request any farther, I like to think that if I lived in 1880, 1920, 1960, I would have been an outspoken activist for women’s running rights. 

📖Lots of other running books exposing women’s suffrage and highlighting women’s achievements in running exist.

• Many of them are reviewed here.

♀️One quick way to get a weekly dose of womanhood is from a new website and social media platform by Dr. Megan Roche: 

• Huzzah Hub

Three female runners are featured in the 2025 Trail Running Film Festival line-up

Frankly, the first time I attended the Trail Running Film Festival I left mostly disappointed. It was 2015. And not one film highlighted women. 

• “Every film was about white guys!” I said to my husband as we left the theater.
• I continued attending each year, despite this one male-centric gripe. 
• Thankfully, each year got a little more diverse.
• Genders, body types, races and cultures of all types are now represented. 

In recent years, including those when the pandemic forced virtual-only shows, films have featured:

• A paraplegic 
• A cancer survivor
• A big-city all-female running group
• A Spanish-speaking mountain runner 
• Bigger bodied urban runners 
• A multisport minimalist, just to name a few…

Even more, I just received the 2025 Trail Running Film Festival email announcing the global tour’s film selections:

• 🏃‍♀️‍➡️The top three films in the email feature women.  

Yes, the Trail Running Film Festival is doing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion right. 

Run for a cause to support female runners & wear the shirt

The Here For the Women’s Race t-shirt was created in 2024 to shine the spotlight on female ultrarunners. 

• The shirt was first sold (and sold out) at the Western States 100, held the last Saturday in June.
• It took several long months until I could order one online. 
• They were that popular.  And for good reason... 

One hundred percent of all online store profits goes toward the Women’s Trailrunning Fund grant program, which aims:
 

• “to increase the visibility of untold and overlooked stories in trail and ultrarunning by funding creatives and athletes who wish to highlight female runners, specifically female runners across age, ability, color, gender expression, and sexual orientation.”

I’m considering purchasing one of the t-shirts for my husband, a feminist himself, so he can wear it while crewing me in my next ultra. 
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Another way to wear your feminism on your sleeve is by supporting female-owned sports companies, including: 

• Oiselle
• Title Nine

Listen to podcasts & music that highlight female runners & the spirit of womanhood

Professional trail runners Corrine Malcolm, Keely Henniger and Hillary Allen host the Trail Society Podcast. 

• Their educational episodes highlight female athletes, from scientific studies to current events to listener questions. 

After soaking in the educational feminine energy of the Trail Society, turn on some tunes to amp up the spirit of womanhood. 

• This 90-minute International Women’s Day & Women’s History Month Running & Workout Playlist includes warmup and cooldown songs with upbeat, sassy and inspiring anthems making up the majority. 

Run with your tribe

What better way to celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month than to get with other women and run? 

• In 2017, I had my second son, making my household a three to one female to male ratio. 
• I craved time with females but had little time, so I decided to combine my desire for social connection and outside exercise and formed an all-female trail running group.

🏃‍♀️‍➡️Over time, we began calling ourselves the Trail Run Tribe. 

• We are a grassroots, tight-knit crew who have grown by word-of-mouth and continue to train together regularly. 
• This June, we will celebrate our eight-year anniversary. 

If forming your own tribe sounds like too much commitment:
 

• Check out already existing groups like Trail Sisters or invite one friend to run with you. Sharing miles with one or 10 other women is equally empowering, supportive and fun. 

In a world that has made great strides toward equality for women, it can sometimes feel as if we are regressing. 
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So take it upon yourself to educate, advocate and immerse yourself in women’s causes. You have many ways to do so, big and small.
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Whether it’s by:

• Wearing positive messaging on your apparel
• Dancing to female-powered lyrics
• Getting educated via books, films and podcasts
• Or running together…

We can all contribute and take a stand for representation and equality in big and small ways.
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Happy trails, and happy International Women's Day and Women's History Month.
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How will you celebrate?