The 2023 Baker Trail UltraChallenge (Baker Ultra) near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, accomplished a milestone rare for any 50-mile race: the number of female participants exceeded the number of registered male runners.
Articles by Amy Nelson
Increased female participation can serve as inspiration to others and work to assuage general self-doubt. Role models matter. Visibility leads to the realization that we can do hard things. And as first-time ultrarunner Lori Malazich would say, “Success begins with the decision to try.”
“More women will hit the trails when they see themselves represented on the trails.” These are the words of Jubilee Paige, race director for the iconic Black Canyon 100K in Phoenix, Arizona. At the start of this year’s race, Paige shouted, “Get to the front, ladies! This is 2022!”
On Friday, March 19, 2021, I drove four and half hours from Pittsburgh to Lucasville, Ohio, to compete in Ohio’s Backyard Ultra (OBU). The venue was McChesney Ridge, a nature retreat, boasting single-track trails and...
Located an hour outside of Pittsburgh, the Baker Trail UltraChallenge is a 50-mile foot race spanning single-track trails, dirt roads, pavement, footbridges, farms and forests.