Gender-specific challenges

For these female trail runners, from elites like Yao to enthusiasts like Song, gender-specific challenges have been a consistent part of their experience. Yao points out that as a professional trail runner, she relates to the unique struggles women face in the sport.

"The menstrual cycle is one of the biggest obstacles. Sometimes we train for months, only to have our performance severely impacted because the race coincides with our period, leading to disappointing results or even having to withdraw," she explains.

She also highlights practical issues such as the lack of private changing areas or toilets for women at aid stations during long-distance events, as well as safety concerns when running on remote trails at night.

Song adds that she once struggled to find well-tailored trail-running clothes and shoes designed specifically for the female anatomy.

She adds that female trail runners also struggle to find vests with an ergonomic fit for the female physique, yet this piece of gear is essential for carrying water, food and other supplies.

For Lyu, who became a mother of twins in May, the challenges multiplied during pregnancy and her postpartum period. She maintained her trail training throughout pregnancy, walking uphill and jogging cautiously downhill with her hands cradling her abdomen, though she had to drastically reduce her training schedule. After giving birth, finding a supportive sports bra became a new challenge, as breastfeeding changed her size.

"Fellow runners who were also new moms would exchange tips on which bras actually worked. Finding a good one felt like finding a treasure," she says.

Her days now start at 5 am, squeezing in a 10-km run in the sacred window after pumping breast milk before her babies wake — a daily commitment to balancing new motherhood with her identity as a runner.