Beyond the Finish Line

Ageism and high performance in women’s trail running: when age challenges prejudice

In the world of trail running — where each course tests not only the legs but also the mind — more and more women are choosing the mountains to push their limits. But for many, the toughest challenge isn’t technical terrain or elevation gain — it’s the invisible judgment that equates aging with decreased athletic value. This is called ageism.

While the number of women in mountain races grows each season, society still clings to youth as a symbol of potential. Women over 40, even at peak performance, often face skepticism, have their results questioned, or are left out of the spotlight. It’s a form of prejudice that cuts deeper than any climb.

In trail running, this stigma is especially ironic. Unlike more explosive sports, trail running demands strategy, emotional intelligence, patience, and above all, resilience — skills often strengthened with age. Yet the media and public attention still tend to favor younger athletes, as if excellence had an expiration date.

This erasure is a subtle form of exclusion. It shows up in shallow media coverage, the lack of meaningful age group recognition, the absence of support policies for mature athletes, and the common belief that it’s “too late” to compete, chase podiums, or set new goals. Ageism limits. And when paired with sexism, it silences.

But the story is starting to change. Organically, many women are showing — with body and sweat — that high performance has no age. They cross finish lines with impressive times, tackle tough courses with excellence, and prove that power and maturity can — and should — go together.

These athletes are more than inspiring. They are living proof that it’s both possible and necessary to rewrite what is expected of women in sport. In doing so, they’re not just breaking stereotypes — they’re clearing the way for others to run, at any age, at any pace, with every right to shine.

Because on the trails, as in life, it’s not just about finishing first. It’s about staying in the race. And staying in it with courage is, in itself, an act of resistance.

Written by Renata Aflora, from the women’s collective Mulheres que Empoderam.