Runners at upcoming events in Scotland will be provided with free period products to help break down the barriers some participants face.
Event management company Breaking Strain is providing the free products at its races.
The Hey Girls products will be available within the Events Village and at all checkpoints on routes at the upcoming Run the Blades event in July.
Run the Blades is one of the UK’s largest trail running events, offering 10k, half-marathon and 50k ultra-marathon courses in East Renfrewshire from Friday, July 14 to Sunday, July 16.
Daisy Williams, contracts and partnerships manager at Hey Girls, said: “Too many people avoid taking part in physical activity due to their period.
“Having a period shouldn’t get in the way of being able to carry out exercise. It shouldn’t hinder training or force people to miss out on sporting events.
“Whether they avoid participating in activity altogether due to their period or have to take a break during their cycle, we want to take away that barrier.
“All of us at Hey Girls are delighted to be working with Breaking Strain and we hope our products will keep people running.”
Inclusivity is an important part of the event, with women making up half of all attendees over the past three years.
The importance of having period products available for runners was highlighted earlier this year at the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc race, where Yvette Casallas had to withdraw when her period came five days early. No products were available at the checkpoints.
Breaking Strain have also been inspired by Sophie Power at She Races, who has issued a set of guidelines for event organisers to break down barriers to women – including guidance on managing periods.
It is hoped the free period products will help encourage more women to take part in the event.
Lee Peyton, director at Breaking Strain said: “As a male race director, I’ve never needed to think about my period coming early or the lack of changing spaces at races.
“While our event has always had a greater percentage of females, there’s more that we can do in improving the experience of women at the race.
“Up until recently I thought we were being fair to all, but I hadn’t really considered some of the barriers to female runners both entering and competing in a race.
“To that end, from 2023 we will now provide period products at all of our events within our Event Village and at all checkpoints on our routes. Let’s face it, running a 50K is hard enough without having to think about mother nature.”
All donations generated through the Hey Girls buy one, donate one model will go to East Renfrewshire Larder and Children 1st, Action for Children Scotland.
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