She.Races | Camino Ultra

SHERACES POLICY

At Camino Ultra, we aim to provide an entire event experience that is inclusive, accessible, and welcoming to all. We highly value the proactive nature of encouraging everyone from every background to be able to take part in our beloved sport of ultra-running.

We are excited to be backing SheRaces, and, although much of what is written below has been the uncodified reality of our races, it has been a valuable and important process to formalise our Camino Ultra SheRaces Policy.

Our London-based events have a proud history of equality in men and women Camino Runners. We hope that, in presenting our policies here, we will continue to see at least equal representation, potentially more.

Level the Start Line

Inclusive Imagery:

Across our Camino Ultra website, social media, blogs, and images we make available to press partners we will include a range of images. This includes sharing photos of first-time runners, back markers, front runners ensuring that we are representing all ages, shapes and colours in our organisational communications. All our photographers and videographers are fully briefed on this goal to guide their storytelling.

Inclusive Copywriting:

Our blog and post-race write-ups will be written equally by men and women.

Race Descriptions:

Although 50KM races are traditionally know to be tough events, we are undertaking the process of making the language and information around our routes more inclusive and accessible. We will include more specific information about our routes as early as we can. We will continue to encourage runners to focus on the experience and not the time. Our FAQs are purposed so that the more 'competitive' language is matched with all the reasons that Camino events are available to everybody.

Celebrate Every Finisher:

All Camino Ultra finishers will run through our 'Arch finishing line' to enjoy their moment, no matter their time or position.

Generous cut-offs:

Historically, we have had a generous finishing time rather than en-route cut-offs. In recent times, we have introduced checkpoint cut-offs where we deem the conditions to be potentially hazardous. These are as generous as possible and come as late on the course as feasible. We are undertaking an analysis of our routes against historical data from our runners to ensure that our cut-off times do not exclude those who have more even pacing through the full race distance.

Planning:

We will be informing runners of all the logistics around our events in advance where possible. This will include a series of automated emails and an option for 1-2-1 calls. Our Instagram and info@ account is staffed by women and we welcome all questions, worries and comments.

Fair deferral policies:

No women will be penalised for having a child. Any woman can defer their place at a Camino Ultra until they are fit, healthy and ready. Pregnancy deferrals last for the next two years of the chosen Camino Ultra.

Equal The Experience

Toilets:

Camino Ultra are never in remote locations, making our toilets provision often easier than with most ultramarathon races. At the start lines, we will ensure appropriate toilet facilities with clearly marked separate toilets for women. At aid stations without toilet facilities, our leaders will have assessed appropriate areas to recommend to women. Safe, out of site and with provisions. We will also ensure sanitary products are available at all our official checkpoint aid stations.

Safety:

Our distance wave starts will remain in place to make for a less crowded and safer beginning to our events. Where possible, we aim to have enough female volunteers to ensure representation at every aid station.

As part of the ‘Duty of Care’ section of our race briefings, we will cover on-course etiquette – this includes information how to pass runners from behind, the rules on inappropriate language and a reminder of the values of Camino Ultra.

Tees:

With our Green Runners Policy we are no longer offering free tees at any of our races. Tees are an optional purchase. This enables us to ensure high quality fabrics, design, and appropriate sizing for both male and female bodies. Camino Ultra continue to work closely with our partner TreesNotTees and encourage our audience to opt for Tree options where our races allow.

Breastfeeding athletes:

If any runner needs to breastfeed at a Camino Ultra event, we will be available to discuss and plan their needs out on the course. We have no rules on ‘Outside Help’ and, due to the uncompetitive nature of our events, we can be flexible.

Respect Our Competition

Equal Coverage:

All our post-race write-ups, press releases and discussions will make equal reference to the results of both the women's and the men's race. We do publish times and results and will always endeavour to promote Female results first or with equal standing.

Prizes:

We do not offer prize money, but we do share small mementos that are identical for both male and female podium positions.