Trail running accessibility – you need a lot more than just a pair of shoes and a can-do attitude
- Trail runners profess its accessibility reflects simplicity and freedom inherent in its enjoyment, but for many it is more complicated than shoes
- Time, access, money and role models are all necessary assets that many do not have, and it is shown in the relatively homogenous make-up of the sport
The idea that trail running is a sport for all is a romantic notion that is part of its appeal. Just strap on your running shoes and hit the trails, no fuss or faff, just freedom.
There is a much-repeated refrain: “All you need is a pair of shoes.” But the reality is that barriers for trail running are far higher for some groups. Failing to recognise these barriers perpetuates the high socio-economic and homogeneous make-up of the sport.
Tangible factors like time, money and access, coupled with intangible aspects such as like role models, growing up in an environment that normalises the outdoors and the community norms, and a welcoming feeling all affect how accessible trail running really is.
Trails
Aside from a pair of shoes, you also need trails, obviously. While they are free to use in many countries, they are not free to get to. For people who live in inner cities, it takes time and money to reach the trails.
The Wilderness Society, a NGO dedicated to protecting America’s wild places, says on its website: “Factors like lack of access to transportation mean many people are being left out of public lands or discouraged from enjoying them. This disproportionately affects people of colour and those in low-income areas.”