Female-Focused Trail Running Clubs: Mira Rai Initiative

Promoting female participation in sports is crucial, especially in trail running—a sport traditionally seen as male-dominated, with women currently representing just 29% of the ITRA community. To address this, we’re launching a series spotlighting female-focused trail running clubs from around the globe. These clubs share their inspiring stories about how they were founded, the motivations behind them, and the challenges they’ve faced and overcome.

Name: Mira Rai Initiative

Location: Nepal

Description: Founded in 2017, Mira Rai Initiative (MRI) is a non-government organization (NGO) committed to supporting trail-running and trail-running community in Nepal. The organization was founded by the legendary ultra-trail runner Mira Rai whose story continues to inspire trail-runners all over the world.

1. What inspired you to create a female-specific trail running group?

Being a woman and growing up in a remote village, there were no opportunities, but I knew I wanted a better life. I left my parents and luckily had the opportunity to get better in the sport of trail running and made loads of great connections including my coach. I learnt so much from the people around me. Just to know the right people and learning with them was so important.

Later, I was lucky to meet Richard Bull, who helped fund me and allowed me to visit and run in other countries. Now, I realise that I can help create a community and support other women, so I created my own initiative and used my connections to see how I can support others. That's why I started the initiative in 2017.

Everybody supported me, but now, people in Nepal want to run and visit countries like me, so I need to help support them.

2. What challenges do women face in trail running, and how can the community address them?

It depends on where you come from. In Nepal, I talk about initiatives and running and creating connections to see how I can support people. There are few women in Nepal who are involved in sports; women are working hard to make their dreams come true here.

In remote areas in Nepal, people don’t know about sports, so it’s hard to get involved. However, social media has helped to improve the sport. Slowly, step by step, more women will change their minds and find their way running. But here, many people worry about surviving and focus on working hard in the fields.

3. What advice would you give to women hesitant to try trail running?

It's different for everyone. Living in Nepal, we are already in the mountains, so we can easily understand the rocks and the trails. When I was younger, I was already moving on the mountain to work and survive, so it was like, ‘click’ I can do this trail running.

But it's about accepting challenges. Just try, try. It’s hard work, but step by step, you will get there.

Go by feeling; if you think you can do it, you can try little by little and keep going.

Trail running helps with everything for the mind, body, feet, and community. 

4. How does your group create a supportive and inclusive environment for women?

For the Mira Rai Initiative, we focus on having a small number of women and really help them over one-year projects. We bring the women to Kathmandu and help support them and train them. We follow a plan for the runners and organise the living space and training. We train every day on a different schedule, which is really helpful for the women.

I’m currently trying to build a Mira Ria training centre to create a space for the initiative because, at the moment, it's hard to find accommodation and a unique space for women.

To help contribute to the Mira Rai Initiative, visit the donate link here. 100% of the donations go directly to supporting Nepalese trail runners. 

Follow the Mira Rai Initiative on Instagram, Facebook or on their website.