From Courage to Community: The Story of Women at Bhatti Mines Ultra 2026
- Trail Femmes
- Apr 3
- 4 min read
Numbers tell a story. But sometimes, they tell a story far deeper than what appears on the surface.
At this year’s Bhatti Mines Ultra, the women’s participation and performance across distances wasn’t just data, it was a reflection of something growing, evolving, and quietly powerful in the trail running community.
A Shift Worth Noticing
In 2025, women made up 33.3% of the field. In 2026, that number rose to 46.5%.
That is not just an increase. Out of 99 runners who started the race on March 8, a hot Sunday, 46 were women. That is a significant shift in one year.
Nearly half the start line is now women.
And that tells us something important: more women are not just discovering trail running, they are choosing to step onto the start line.
50K – Where Courage Lives
At the longest distance, the numbers dip.
Only 7 women stood at the 50K start line (about 22.6% of the field).
And yet, this is where courage is most visible.
The 50K is not just a longer race, it is a different mental game. It asks for time, training, support systems, your navigation skills, and the belief that you belong there.
Of those 7 women, 4 finished. A 57% finish rate.
Not perfect. Not easy. But deeply honest.
Because this category is not about polished success, it is about showing up in spaces that still feel intimidating, and choosing to try anyway even on a extremely (and unexpected) hot day.
25K – The Confidence Zone
Move down to the 25K, and something shifts.
15 women lined up here, nearly 47% participation, almost doubling from the 50K.
This is where belief begins to settle in.
The distance feels achievable yet challenging. It is often the bridge between “Can I do this?” and “I know I can.”
And the finish rate reflects that confidence:13 out of 15 women finished - a 86.7%.
This is what progress looks like, not just more women starting, but more women finishing well.
10K – Where Community Shines
And then comes the 10K.
24 women out of 36 runners.That’s 66.7% participation, women forming the majority.
And the finish rate?
100%. Every single woman finished.
This is no longer about breaking barriers. This is about belonging.
The 10K reflects what happens when the environment feels accessible, welcoming, and inclusive. When the fear of the unknown is replaced by the joy of movement, friendships and community.
The Starting Line Isn’t Equal (Yet); But the Seeds of Change Sown Already
While the numbers show progress, they also remind us that the journey is still uneven.
But behind this shift is something intentional.
Bhatti Mines Ultra has an all-women organising team. Each of us balanced full-time jobs and personal responsibilities, some even navigating their children’s exam season, yet from planning to execution, from doing all the paperwork to building a pool of volunteers for race-day, everyone showed up with their 100%.
To have a significant growth in women’s participation, from 33.3% in the first edition to 46.6% this year, that shift feels significant and encouraging.
The race was held on March 8, International Women’s Day - a day with many competing road races. Yet runners chose to show up on the trails, even in unexpectedly hot conditions. That choice meant a lot to us. Much of the outreach and promotion was led by women from Trail Femmes, and perhaps that helped build trust - creating a space that felt genuinely welcoming and women-friendly.
We were also intentional about the experience:
A changing tent at the trailhead
A women-only toilet area
Access to period products at the start/finish
Small details, but ones that matter.
Because inclusion isn’t just about inviting people in. It is about making sure they feel they belong when they arrive.
What This Means for the Future of Trail Running
A jump from 33.3% to 46.5% in just one year doesn’t happen by accident.
It comes from:
Communities that encourage
Spaces that feel safer and more inclusive
Stories that inspire others to try
If we want to see more women at the 50K start line, the answer isn’t just “push harder.” It is:
Building stronger entry points
Creating more visible role models
Encouraging progression without pressure
And most importantly, nurturing community
When women feel supported, they show up.
More Than Just a Race
For many, Bhatti Mines Ultra was a joyful day out on Women’s Day.For others, it was a true test of endurance.
But beyond the results, it’s the stories that stay with us:
A mother and daughter running side by side
A daughter volunteering while her father raced
A family waiting at the finish line for nearly 10 hours for a 50K runner
A new mother's first race after childbirth
A husband and wife running together
Friends finishing hand in hand
And,
Runners, crew, and community members spending long hours on the trail, in extreme conditions, giving up their Sunday to cheer, support, and ensure every runner made it back safely
Because the truth is, races don’t happen on their own. They are built by the quiet dedication of crew members and volunteers who show up, stay back, and hold the entire experience together.
These are the moments that don’t appear in race statistics; but they are what define the spirit of the event. They are why we do this. And they are what stay with us long after the finish line.
We can’t wait for the next edition.
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Also, read our Race Director's reflections on the race --> Read Here
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