Is UTMB doing enough to support women athletes?

Sophie Power, a British ultrarunner and advocate for women’s participation in the sport, recently shared a disappointing experience during her 150km TDS race. In a social media post, Power detailed how she found no tampons at several aid stations, despite UTMB’s promise. She also encountered male supporters entering the only female toilet at a large aid station, undermining the “safe space” that had been promised.

In 2023, UTMB made strides toward better supporting female athletes by committing to key initiatives such as providing period products at aid stations, establishing female-only toilets and ensuring equal media coverage for the women’s race. While improvements were made in race coverage, Power’s experience highlighted some serious shortcomings the organization needs to tackle. “It is not enough to promise. In fact, it is worse as we rely on those promises,” Power explained. Despite raising concerns with aid station staff, little was done to address the issue during Power’s race.

Why the shortcomings matter

Power’s frustrations highlight a broader issue: women runners rely on promised resources and facilities to ensure they can focus on their performance. When these commitments are not upheld, it becomes more than an inconvenience—it’s a matter of fairness and safety. After 18+ hours of racing (or at any time), having essential period products and private changing spaces should not be a luxury, but a standard. “It is not an excuse to say “it was in the operational plan,” ” Powers said. “It has to be delivered.Tampons can easily be centrally purchased and “no men” signs distributed if aid station volunteers can’t be relied on.”

In her race, the lack of enforcement around female-only spaces became particularly problematic, and when Power approached the man running the aid station the situation was shrugged off. “He said there weren’t enough male toilets and he couldn’t police it. I said these were supporters and they could go outside,” she explained. Power underscored the need for better education and clearer boundaries for all race participants. “Sadly, male athletes need to be briefed about not entering female-only areas too.”

The path forward

Power’s advocacy extends beyond social media. She is the founder of SheRACES, a nonprofit that works to remove barriers for women in races. SheRACES collaborates with events like UTMB to improve policies that support women, and Power herself is well-known for her remarkable endurance feats (most recently setting a Guinness World Record running across Ireland) including the viral moment when she breastfed her 3-month-old baby during the 106-mile UTMB in 2018. Her foundation pushes for more equitable treatment in races worldwide, ensuring that women’s participation is valued equally.

When asked to comment, UTMB had not responded at the time of publication. However, they did make some immediate changes after the TDS race, such as improving visibility for women athletes at the CCC start line. But the question remains: is that enough, or should UTMB—and the broader ultra-running community—do more to ensure female athletes are supported equally?

posted Monday September 23rd
by Keeley Milne