A woman's place is on the start line 

SheRACES is a non-profit global movement advocating for equity, safety and inclusivity in endurance and mass participation sports. We work with race directors, brands and athletes to drive change in the way races are designed, promoted and experienced by women.

Our mission is to get more women on start lines, ensure women have an equal race experience and that the women's competition is valued. 

We believe that everyone deserves an equal opportunity to race, and an equal experience when they do. But women are still underrepresented on the start line, and 96% have experienced unequal treatment in a race (source: SheRACES survey of >1300 women).

We can’t remove all the barriers to entry – some are societal or biological (we’re still the ones having babies). But there are many barriers that CAN be removed to us being on the start line, and many improvements that can be made to value us equally when we do race.
 

SheRaces was founded by Sophie Power, ultrarunner, advocate, speaker and mother of 3

"I was famously photographed racing the UTMB, a 106-mile mountain race, while breastfeeding my three-month old baby. I wanted to defer my place until I was fully fit, but while the organisation will defer places for injury, for them pregnancy was seen as a choice. Completing the UTMB was a dream for me, and having already lost a hard-won place when pregnant with my first son I chose to race. Many women lose out on that opportunity.

© Alexis Berg for Runner's World. Strava.

"Several race directors contacted me after my story went viral saying they were embarrassed they had never thought about pregnancy – or even that women have different experiences of races to men. They wanted to know how they could improve their race and value female athletes equally to male.

"Many more women contacted me sharing their experiences and asking for support in making race policies equitable. ​I founded SheRACES to ensure women have the same opportunities as men. Where races are designed through a female lens as well as a man’s. Where we are encouraged to participate, that our differences are taken into account and our achievements are held in equal regard."

– Sophie