Run Like A Girl adds weekend trail event in B.C.
The group are planning Squamish’s first official trail marathon and the event is already sold out
In 2012, three trail runners from Vancouver set out to redefine what it means to run like a girl. Four years later, Courtney Burt, Hailey Van Dyk and Dayna Egyed are in awe of the community of runners they have built and further motivated to continue inspiring women to run.
“We have dedicated our lives to motivating others to see life as limitless,” says Burt. “Run Like A Girl was created with the intention of showing that everyday people can do extraordinary things.”
Run Like A Girl is deeply rooted in social media, having grown from 10,000 Facebook followers in 2012 to surpassing the 100,000 mark earlier this year. But don’t mistake this organization for a movement that rests on its online popularity. Run Like A Girl is having a real-world impact. From directing races to hosting retreats and facilitating coaching, the founders are connecting with people face-to-face. Burt feels it’s their relatability that has largely driven their success.
“We’re growing and the community is growing,” says Burt. “What we’re going through is what we talk about in the community. Like coming last in a race – something that can happen to anybody. We’re not putting ourselves above anyone else, we’re not elite runners.”
This summer, Run Like A Girl will host its second annual Be Fearless Trail Race in Squamish, B.C., featuring a 11k, half-marathon and marathon. As far as the Run Like A Girl founders know, this will be the first-ever marathon in Squamish.
“There aren’t many trail marathons so for people coming from the road it’s kind of a weird transition,” says Burt. With most trail races being 50 kilometres or longer, Burt explains that it can be a difficult jump to make when your longest race has been 42.2k. “Those eight more kilometres are actually a big deal,” says Burt.
The 2017 Be Fearless event on June 3 has sold out for the second year in a row. But that’s no reason to be left behind. In their commitment to support female runners around the world, Run Like A Girl is providing a virtual race option as part of this year’s Be Fearless event.
Participants of the virtual race will be mailed a race kit, which includes a bib and finisher’s gift, and will be given f lexibility to run the distance on their own time. This year, those who sign up for either the virtual and on-location race will be supporting the Canadian Mental Health Association.
“We have a lot of success with our events, and I think the number one thing that makes our events stand out among other trail races in the Vancouver-Squamish area is that part of the proceeds from registration go to certain charities that we’ve connected with,” says Burt. “This year it’s for mental health, which touches everyone’s lives.”— Tara Campbell