Going the extra mile

"I could clearly feel more female runners are joining the races, with many transitioning from other endurance sports like marathons and triathlons," she says.

She also notes that, against the backdrop of the national fitness campaign, participants are becoming more knowledgeable about using structured, scientific training methods to enhance their performance.

Shanghai resident Song Ci in her 30s, a regular at the gym, was first attracted to trail running in 2020 after participating in a 12km race in Zhejiang province.

"I've always preferred strength training over cardio, but trail running felt completely different. Chatting and laughing with friends along the way, enjoying the scenery, eating fried rice and braised beef at aid stations … I finished the 12 km in just over two hours, and it felt surprisingly manageable," she recalls.

She soon progressed to races between 20 km and 30 km. She found she could outpace some of her male friends on mountain trails, a discovery that filled her with quiet pride.

"Women are naturally curious and open to new things," Song says.

"While trail running may sound like an extreme sport full of challenges, once you try it, you might discover the tremendous potential within yourself as a woman. Our endurance and pain tolerance can be very strong."

Song also finds herself embracing the warm, tightly knit, trail-running community. "Perhaps it's because we have to face so many uncertainties in the wild that we need to accompany and support each other, whether by sharing supplies or helping runners who experience cramps or other issues on the trail," she says.

"Go alone to run fast, go together to run far."

Beyond the physical and social aspects, trail running also strengthens Song's environmental awareness. Her experiences in nature have helped her understand the importance of the "leave-no-trace" principle, which she now integrates into her daily life through more sustainable choices.