We Run Mountains: Black Trail Runners tackle Infinite Trails

The growth of trail running in the West has been nothing short of explosive. Lockdowns have fuelled our thirst for adventure, nature and a quest for monthly-subscription-free exercise. And the running industry has eagerly stepped up to equip us for our new outdoor-loving lifestyles - complete with comfy, stacked cushioned soles and jazzy colours. This has all come together to push trail running into the mainstream, helping to ignite modern running’s third wave.

What was once a niche activity practiced by a hardcore of ultra-enthusiasts (anything over marathon distance) and recreational runners looking to step off the road, has evolved into a sport that offers global series for elite athletes through to regular community runs – and it’s here, in trail running’s grassroots, that everyday runners can come to chat, run and have some cake at the end.

The scale and breadth of trail running is larger than most appreciate, leaving governing bodies and organisations scrambling to cater to – and perhaps shape – the future of the sport. Turn up to any number of events and you’ll find a fun, club-like vibe without membership or visible guest list, where people of all sizes, ages and even abilities come together to celebrate the outdoors. In this space, Strava segment times take a backseat to joy, and ‘winning’ is often measured by simply crossing the finish line. But where, in this euphoric melee of calorie-consuming back-slapping and ironically-moustachioed high-fiving, are all the young Black men?

Much has been made in recent weeks of the ‘Here for the Women’s Race’ movement, a competitor-driven push for more female inclusion in trail running events, which, predictably, have been white, male-dominated competitions. Female participation generally sits between 10% and 30% of the start line. While far from the parity we would hope for, this looks like a demonstration in successful inclusivity when compared to the figures of POC (People of Colour) participation. According to data from the Black Trail Runners (BTR) community group, POC make up just 1% of race participants on a good day. Zoom in on young Black men under 30, and the numbers fall into the decimal points.

While trail running is all about the good times, there is still a strong performance aspect to the sport, with its own lithe and slightly kooky looking poster boys and girls, whose presence turns heads when they show up. Long distance track and road races have long been dominated by East Africans. Yet, whether due to race locations, a lack of large prize purses at big-ticket trail races or, perhaps more sinisterly, a desire to ‘keep the scene as it is’, trail races have not yet generated the same draw for African runners – or runners of African descent.

This in turn may dissuade other would-be runners of colour from turning up to events: remember representation matters, folks! While brands are now diversifying the athletes they feature in their marketing, the start lines of ‘serious’ races still present an almost exclusively white line-up. This is where the work adidas TERREX is doing with Black Trail Runners becomes so important, not just in opening up opportunities for POC to experience trail running, but also in offering gateways into the growing performance race scene, where they are so conspicuously absent.

TERREX’s European flagship trail event, Infinite Trails, sits deep in the hills of Austria’s Gastein Valley in the Salzburg Alps, an unlikely and potentially hostile place for three young Black men to go running up a mountain. Yet, the reality of Infinite Trails proves to be one of support, motivation, and athleticism, attracting participants from across the globe to take on what are arguably some of the prettiest, if often overlooked, mountains in the range. The three British invitees, all new to mountain trail running, were determined to challenge themselves on terrain not found in the UK and to uplift their communities, showing that competitive trail running is a viable option for people like them.

It’s often said that humans are born to run. But the truth is that each of us brings a unique story to what running means. Leslie is the most experienced of the group – lean, disciplined, with a high skin fade and laser-like focus. A career man who works with numbers, his sub-three-hour marathon time reflects the same number-crunching skills. When he says he’s going to “give it a go,” you get the sense that he means it with every ounce of his physical and mental capacity. He takes the time to figure out pacing and fuelling, knowing what his body is capable of, while holding an emergency stash of energy for any surprises the mountain might throw at him.

Hamse is 21 and on his second foray into running after abandoning his huge potential at school for more typical teenage endeavours. He gained weight through inactivity but reconnecting with old running friends gave him the push to step back into the sport with newfound vigour and purpose. A man of faith, Hamse navigates his personal and spiritual needs through a lens of continuous personal development. He’s on a steep, often loose learning curve; the young Somali-born athlete has raw talent just waiting to be honed into that of a future contender.

And there’s Liam, tall with short-twisted dreads, a hint of Bristol in his accent, and a ripped physique. His entry into trail running came after life-changing injuries ejected him from his first sport as a rugby international. From traveling the world representing his country to struggling physically and emotionally with his shattered dreams, Liam found running as a new outlet that fit within his limitations. “My top-end speed is limited, but I can run far,” he says.

Walking down the chocolate-box Alpine village street, the trio attract double-takes but also genuine smiles from the locals. While their presence and natural swagger are undeniable, they didn’t come here to be seen as token runners or to make up the numbers. They are self-aware and act as ambassadors for their respective communities. When the early morning start gun is fired at half-light in the mist-filled valley, all of them show up with full respect for the task and the ambition to give maximum effort.

They didn’t win – they didn’t expect to – but each finished their race with times that seasoned mountain runners wouldn’t be ashamed of. All of them left knowing what now needs to be done to improve. The experience of running over breathtaking mountains with horns and cow bells being shaken might not increase your everyday performance but, with hindsight, there is plenty of room to develop. “I could have pushed harder,” Leslie admitted. “It’s like running into the unknown; I didn’t want to go out too hard and blow up on the first climb.” Hamse was surprised by the descents: “I didn’t know you actually have to train for downhill too.” And Liam? “It feels like I’m back,” he muses.

Mountain trail running is a whole new world of learning for young Black men, and this is just the start of what promises to be an exciting journey—one of discovery, of creeping up the rankings, and of growing visibility, not just at the start but at the finish line too.

Find out more about Black Trail Runners and adidas TERREX Infinite Trails.

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