Gender Policy and Categories

Trail running is for everyone

It is in that spirit that we are officially launching our new Gender Policy, which includes a non-binary category. https://www.sinistersports.ca/gender_policy

This has been in the works for a couple of years, but we had been waiting for better guidelines from World Athletics. We had hoped for a more comprehensive, global vision, but most races have been making up their own policies. We have recently seen races like the Boston Marathon add a Non-Binary category, and Ultrasignup posted an update this fall, allowing race directors to do the same. This is a tectonic shift in the world of sports and the recommendations will undoubtedly continue to develop each year.

As I mentioned above, our crew has been discussing this off and on for years, and lately, we have had more inquiries about a formal gender policy. We have always had this sort of inclusive nature, but it was never in writing; we just treated people with respect.

We sought out input from people in the non-binary community, as well as experts who specialize in gender issues. We dissected the policy in a dozen different ways and did a lot of rewriting after filtering it through different scenarios.

Our goal is to have a policy that lifts everyone up and does not compromise our existing categories in any way. There are undoubtedly complexities with these sorts of changes, especially when you view it through the eyes of an organizer who has to take the values of many people into consideration. Everything we do has to remain true to our vision of having robust competition and providing incredible experiences. Within my own decision-making process, I'm a bit of a blunt instrument when it comes to these things (it's my stoic, Danish heritage), and I break them down into very basic parts. Simply put, our goal is to see people racing - that's at the core of what we do. Trail running is a "big tent" sort of community where people are always welcome, no matter who they are. Far be it from me to tell someone to be a person they are not. So we are pleased to launch an official policy that will help more people feel welcome at our events.

Comments

What's on the Menu?

Food is undoubtedly a big part of the race experience. More so, getting nutrition into your meat sack is critical for a successful race. We spend a lot of time trying to decide what foods to offer at each event, and we actually look at eight different values when we are deciding on aid station menus. We get a lot of requests for different things; sometimes it's an "ah-ha" moment, and often it's just not practical based on our requirements. Here are the eight values we consider when selecting food options. Satisfaction Basically, will people like it? We want to be sure we have stuff that is easy to consume and palatable, as well as having broad appeal. When we try something new, we always assess after the race to see if people actually enjoyed it. If there was a lot left, it means it was either not popular, hard to serve, or people just didn't know it was an option. Usually it's the former, and it gets taken off the menu for future races. Racer expectations ar...

Do You Need A Running Coach?

There are people who are naturals in their sports and they rise to conquer every challenge... I am not one of them. Like most, I've fumbled a lot in my various sports over the years and managed to do well at a few things, just through a lot of really hard work. It wasn't flawless or efficient, but I managed to get it done. I always see a lot of questions about coaches and for a long time and sort of dismissed that as an option for those who are elite or really trying to podium at a specific race. More and more, we are seeing runners at every level of ability using coaches to achieve their goals, and what a difference it is making in the sport. Let's talk a little bit about what coaches can bring and what you should expect. Setting Goals A coach will look at what you want to do and figure out a plan to get you there. They will also help you to be realistic and look at the big picture. Sometimes you will be chomping at the bit to run a specific race, but it might make more s...

GI Distress and Gut Training

This blog is 90% about racing from the point of a race director, but there are several perennial issues that racers ask about. One of the top discussions each year is GI health and dealing with gut distress. Few things weigh on racers more than that uncontrollable, gut-wrenching queasiness. I am excited to introduce one of our newest crew members, Heidi Frehlich, a professional triathlete and ultramarathoner who specializes in these very issues. ~BG

RD INTEL

Search This Blog