Event of the Year

Black to the Trails – hosted by Black Trail Runners – earns the title of Strava's Event of the Year. In its inaugural year, Black to the Trails was a sold out event that helped to set a new benchmark for the future of trail running.

Black Trail Runners, the force behind equity and diversity in trail running, is not only a volunteer-led community and charity – it's a movement. The organization’s mission is to drive the inclusion, participation and representation of Black people in trail running, ultrarunning, and mountain running. Their inclusive event, Black to the Trails, isn't just any running festival – it's the first-ever Black-owned and led trail extravaganza in the UK (and maybe the world). Strava crowned it the Event of the Year and will be proudly returning as their headline partner in 2024. 

On Strava, Black Trail Runners has built a club with over 12,000 members and their social media following is now over 10,000. At just three years young, those numbers are markers of impressive community engagement. 

Launched in 2020, Black Trail Runners is a community and campaigning charity committed to increasing the participation, inclusion and representation of Black people in trail running. In so doing, they have attempted to tackle issues around the access, skills and representation of Black runners in the sport. As part of this, they have arranged a series of diverse social runs, including the inaugural Black to the Trails event that took place in May 2023, selling out 400 race entries in its first year. 

Sabrina Pace-Humphreys, one of the founding members, spoke to Strava earlier this year: "We're running Black to the Trails again next year and it promises to be even bigger and better, with the same commitment to accessibility and diversity.”

Black to the Trails 2024 is scheduled for May 12 at Dunstable Downs in England. As well as races ranging from 1km to 10km, there will be live DJs, soaring kites, face-painting flair, and a feast fit for champions. In short, it’ll be a day of celebration – and it’s open to everyone.