Wild Woman Trail Runs returns for 12th year

“This is a casual race,” said co-director Angie Marie, emphasizing that all people are welcome, regardless of how fast their mile pace is. “I think the Gorge is really underrated for trail running … A lot of people don’t realize how amazing our trails are, how friendly the trail running community is.”

Marie, who co-directs the race alongside Susan Elliott, noted runners traveled from as far as New York, Hawai‘i and South Dakota for the weekend, and there was local representation from nearly every town in the Gorge.

“It really feels like a community event, even with folks flying in from across the country,” Marie said.

Beyond the run, the event also included camping, an ice plunge and a panel of semi-pro runners who discussed the idea of collaboration versus competition in women’s sports.

“The camping aspect is really cool,” Marie said. “It gives women the chance to spend time with each other and get to make new friends as runners, rather than just show up to the start line, get a medal and leave.”

One of the half marathon runners, White Salmon resident Kate Sabo, noted how inclusive and supportive the environment was.

“There were women of all ages running, from teenagers to women in their 70s,” Sabo said. “It was really cool, and no matter what event you were doing, everybody kind of ran into one another on the run and supported one another.”

She added that the course itself was a highlight. “It was all single track and maybe some forest roads, but the trail did a really wonderful and creative job. It was a very well thought-out trail system.”

Sabo, inspired by the event, said that she’s already looking for the next run to sign up for.

Wild Woman Trail Runs was co-founded by Trout Lake residents Stephanie Irving and Betsy Scott in 2012. At the time, it was the first all-women’s marathon in the country on either trail or road. To ensure all their friends would participate, they added the marathon relay for those who preferred to run a shorter distance, a category that remains popular today.

“We wanted to give back to the running community, but in a different way, on trails. And we thought it might be fun to do an all-women’s trail marathon,” explained Irving, who already had years of experience in developing equestrian trails.

“And after the first year of putting on the run, my husband, my boys, and my brother, whose wife runs it almost every year, all agreed, there was magic to the run,” Irving said. “I feel so fortunate to be a woman surrounded by men strong enough, and smart enough, to ‘get’ the importance of supporting the Wild Woman Trail Runs.”

Irving stated the spirit of the race has remained the same since its inception. “Women are setting aside this weekend for themselves … A number of our runners have returned year after year. And that makes us feel really good.”

In addition, Irving is a strong public advocate for expanded funding for survivor services and domestic violence prevention. This year, a portion of race fees was donated to Helping Hands Against Violence, a Hood River-based shelter that provides resources for survivors.