The BIPOC Athlete Fund
We’re building a trail access platform for runners of color. Choose a race from our partner network and apply. If you’re accepted, we cover your entry and connect you to mentorship and community care so you can show up, prepare, and feel belonging.
More Than a Bib
Trail running can be life giving, but it hasn’t been equally accessible. Cost matters. So do the barriers you don’t always see: not knowing where to start, not seeing yourself represented, and walking into a start line feeling like you have to do it alone.
This fund is built to change what access feels like. We work with race partners throughout the year to lower hurdles and raise the level of support, so your first start can become a lasting part of the sport.
You’ll find mentorship, events, course previews, and in person support at select races. The goal is simple: show up, prepare, and feel belonging.
What You Get
This is more than entry coverage. It starts with a thoughtful application and a questionnaire that helps us get to know you and how we can support you. If you’re accepted, we cover your entry, connect you to mentorship, and bring you into community so you can show up, prepare, and feel belonging.
Your Entry Is Covered
Once you’re accepted, we take care of your registration so you can focus on training, learning, and showing up with confidence.
Find Your People
Join our Slack and connect with other BIPOC runners through events, community runs, and meetups around select races.
Guidance That’s Real
Get paired with an experienced BIPOC mentor. This is not coaching. It is a relationship with someone you can trust for questions about training, nutrition, course preparation, and race week nerves.
Support on Race Week
We’ll help you feel ready with course previews, guidance, and community energy. At select races, we show up in big ways with our partners, including aid station presence, finish line support, and in person connection before and during race week.
Who Can Apply
This fund is for BIPOC runners who want support getting into trail running or staying in it. If you are looking for entry support, mentorship, and community care, you are in the right place.
Eligibility
This fund supports runners of color who:
Identify as a runner of color, including Black and Indigenous runners
New to trail running, doing your first trail race, or looking for support to stay in the sport
We prioritize applicants with underrepresented identities within communities of color, including women, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and people with disabilities
Engage with the community when possible through Slack, events, and race connections
Our Partner Races
Our partners host races across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. They share our values and help expand the sport by making space for runners of color. Supported entries through the Athlete Fund come from these partner organizations.
Aravaipa Running
Aravaipa Running is an Arizona-based race production company known for hosting some of the Southwest's most iconic trail races. From desert ultras to mountain adventures, their events showcase Arizona's diverse and rugged landscapes.
Daybreak Racing
Daybreak Racing specializes in challenging, original courses set in spectacular Pacific Northwest locations. The Oregon-based company prioritizes participant safety, inclusive race atmosphere, and professional organization while maintaining old-school charm. They offer well-marked courses, professional medical support, fully stocked aid stations, and partnerships with local sponsors, with donations supporting local beneficiaries at every event.
Massif Running
Massif Running produces trail races across Utah's stunning landscapes, including the Buffalo Run on Antelope Island and the Twisted Fork Trail Festival in Park City. Known for well-organized events that showcase the beauty of the Wasatch region.
Miwok 100K
Miwok 100K is a legendary ultramarathon in the Marin Headlands, celebrating the drama and beauty of Northern California’s coastline. The course weaves through soaring ridgelines, lush redwoods, and sweeping ocean vistas, giving runners a rare blend of challenge and inspiration. Designed to highlight the region’s natural wonder and trail-running heritage, Miwok offers both seasoned ultrarunners and passionate newcomers an unforgettable, uplifting experience in a welcoming and community-focused environment.
Mountain Running Races
Mountain Running Races hosts premier trail running events across Washington State, including the Leavenworth Trail Fest and North Bend Trail Fest. They also run the Vert Running Series, a five-race mountain running series stretching from the Olympics to Mount Spokane.
NorCal Ultras
NorCal Ultras organizes trail ultramarathons throughout Northern California, bringing runners to some of the region's most scenic and challenging terrain. Their events are known for a welcoming atmosphere and well-marked courses.
Northwest Trail Runs
Northwest Trail Runs organizes trail running events throughout Washington State, focusing on well-marked courses that showcase the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Their events feature parks and trails within easy reach of the Seattle metropolitan area, offering both experienced trail runners and newcomers the opportunity to explore diverse terrain in a supportive racing environment.
Rainshadow Running
Since 2006, Rainshadow Running has been curating unforgettable destination trail races across the Pacific Northwest. Their events highlight some of the most breathtaking trails in the region—each course uniquely challenging, beautiful, and memorable. After the miles, runners are welcomed into one of the most vibrant post-race parties in the trail running world, with amazing food, local craft beer, and live music from regional bands. Rainshadow races are known not just for the trails, but for the community and celebration that follow.
Trail Sisters LLC
Trail Sisters is a grassroots movement building community for women in trail running. Through local meetups, events, and online resources, they create welcoming spaces for women of all abilities to discover and grow in the sport.
Walla Trails & Community
Walla Trails & Community is a trail running organization in the Walla Walla, Washington area dedicated to building connections between runners and the local trail network through group runs, events, and community stewardship.
Wonderland Running
Wonderland Running creates memorable races in magical Pacific Northwest locations, operating since 2019 with a focus on community and exploration. Based in Oregon, the company combines trail running expertise with environmental stewardship, offering well-organized events that celebrate the natural beauty of the Cascades and surrounding wilderness areas. Their community-focused approach emphasizes inclusive experiences that connect runners with spectacular landscapes.
Supported by Brooks
Brooks Running
Brooks Running is a global running footwear and apparel company headquartered in Seattle. A longtime supporter of the running community, Brooks sponsors races and athletes at every level and is known for their commitment to helping runners find their perfect gear.
Belonging Is the Goal
Tierra Libre Run is created by runners of color and led by runners of color. We believe our community deserves more than access. We deserve power, joy, and a real home in trail running.
This fund is one way we show up for each other. The bigger vision is a trail access platform for belonging, where you can learn, ask questions, and build relationships that last beyond a single race.
You do not have to already be a trail runner to belong here. If you are curious, we are ready to welcome you.
Ready to Start?
Start by exploring the races in our partner network and choosing one that feels right for you. If you are an ally, your donation helps keep this work going, including entries, mentorship, and community care. The Athlete Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit initiative with fiscal sponsorship through our nonprofit partner. Donations are tax deductible. Tax ID 812908499.
