Spotlight on women in trail running

Because one day is not enough to highlightinspiring, committed, sporty...POWERFUL women

It is during the 365 days of the year that women must play elbows to make their place, to push the barriers and to show that they are just as strong as the men in the world of the sport. Raidlight supports these women and in particular the female runners by developing equipment adapted to their morphology in order to accompany them in the best way possible in the realization of exploits. On the occasion of the women's rights day, and this for the next 2 months, Raidlight directs its projector on portraits of powerful women who change the course of the history of which some are ambassadors.

Can you introduce yourself? 

I'm Chiara, I started trail running in 2015 because it allowed me to develop in raid and vice versa! Since then it's addictive!

What has trail running done for you? 

Trail running is about freedom, discovering nature and new places that are otherwise inaccessible! It is living! It's feeling close to nature, climbing, surpassing yourself and going further and further!

It is the power to overcome everything!

Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Claire Bannwarth, I am a French ultra runner and an actuary. I have been running more than 10,000 km per year for almost 20 years, and since I discovered trail running 5 years ago, I have been on average on more than 20 ultra races per year, including most of the XXL races that exist in Europe (Tor des Géants, Spine Race, Legends Trail, Swiss Peaks, 360 the challenge, PT281...) where I often compete with the men (or even more)

What has trail running done for you?

Trail running has given me a lot of things, pleasure above all, but also self-confidence, the feeling that nothing is impossible, a capacity for resilience and adaptation, and above all an unfailing optimism!

Can you introduce yourself?

"My name is Marie, I am 30 years old, I work at Raidlight in the E-commerce department as a Traffic Manager. I am passionate about trail running and cycling, which I have been doing for several years now. I'm also a nature and mountain lover, that's why for a few months now I've chosen to live in the heart of the Chartreuse massif."

What has trail running done for you?

"Trail running, and sport in general, has allowed me to grow as a woman. Like many young girls, for too long I associated sport as a way to lose weight when it is much more than that. Through trail running, I was able to realise my physical and mental capabilities, whereas I have no confidence in myself (at all). In endurance sports like trail running or cycling, the more you practice, the more you move the cursor of difficulties, the more you gain confidence and the more you realize that you too are capable of accomplishing a lot. Five years ago, I thought I was incapable of running 30 or 40 km, let alone finishing the Sainte-Lyon. I didn't suspect for a second that I had this strength in me, and I discovered it in trail running in particular. This confidence is reflected in my life, in my daily life, I am more daring at the professional level, I find it easier to assert myself, I am more independent. Trail running, endurance sports, is life; you have a desire, an objective, you try, sometimes you fail, each time you learn and you learn from it, you continue, you move forward, you become stronger and you start again. I sincerely believe that sport should be seen as a tool to reveal yourself, to blossom and to reappropriate your body.