In 2023 we set a goal to get 50 women to sign up to run an ultra distance at the Fire Tower Trail Races. We ended up with 46 women across the 50K and 100K distances (41%), which was absolutely thrilling!
In 2024 we upped our game and offered a training program for women who were attempting their first ultra distance and we blew away our goal with 54% of our finishers in the 50K being women. This includes every one of the training program participants who started the race making it to the finish line! It proves the point that sometimes all you need is a little bit of support to get to the starting line and amazing things can happen.
Year after year, we’ve shown up to our favorite races and seen women’s fields making up a scant 25% of the whole. This is, in part, because women often face unique barriers when it comes to participating in ultrarunning. Balancing life, work, parenthood, and the requisite hours of running during a long training cycle can become too much. Between the societal pressures, safety concerns, fears of failure, and so many other tiny contributing factors, the idea of training for and running an ultra just doesn’t feel worth it. And so our start lines start to look a little skewed.
With our ultras, we’ve taken an intentional approach to alleviate some of these concerns. We want a 50K to feel within reach for every woman – because it is.
Some choices we’ve made have been to offer generous and highly attainable cutoffs in our 50K distance (17 hours), portable toilets at every aid station, feminine hygiene products at every aid station, free tent and van camping at start/finish, and free food after the race for participants and their families.
Once again this year, we’re adding one more thing to help make this work for every woman out there: a free training program for women who are attempting their first 50K (or greater) distance.
That’s right, we’ve partnered up with Nora Bird at Team Bird Training to offer a special bonus to any women who are doing their very first ultra distance race! In this training program, you will get:
- One of three training plans to choose from based on where you’re starting from (there’s even one for seasoned marathoners who’ve never gone beyond 26.2!)
- Multiple group coaching Zoom sessions with Nora and other participants
- Group runs in the Twin Cities with Nora and other participants
- A special group run experience at St. Croix State Park with Nora and other participants
- Discounted rates on more specialized coaching options at Team Bird Training
- Access to Nora’s vast knowledge and experience helping athletes succeed in trail and ultra running
All you need to do is register for the Fire Tower 50K and contact us, letting us know that you’re attempting your first ultra distance race and we’ll get you connected with Team Bird Training to get started. The training program starts June 1st, 2025, but let us know by May 26th, 2025 that you want to sign up so we can get you connected!
Program is now closed. Good luck to everyone in October!
As with previous years, women taking on an ultra distance at Fire Tower get a special “50 Women Run 50K” patch in their swag to show off that you were part of making Fire Tower Trail Race history!
We’ll see you out there!
Fire Tower Trail Races 