Hong Kong runner builds new community around Asia Trail Girls, hoping to encourage women to support each other and tempt newcomers to the sport

Veronika Vadovicova is one of the best runners in Asia, but wants to create a community where women of all levels of ability feel welcome and supported

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Veronika Vadovicova, winner of the Asia Trail Master 2019, has started a community called Asia Trail Girls. Photo: ITR Run

Published: 8:30am, 17 Jun 2020Updated: 10:23am, 18 Jun 2020

A new community project in Asia aims to facilitate female trail runners by supporting each others’ ambitions and giving others the confidence to try the sport for the first time. The group, Asia Trail Girls (ATG), was started recently by 2019 Asia Trail Master (ATM) champion Veronika Vadovicova.

“In Asia, people like to do things together, but I just don’t see many girls doing things together, so this is like a new addition to the way people already think in Asia,” she said.

For now, ATG is a website including stories from runners of all abilities, and advice from more experienced runners on everything from training to running in motherhood.

“By telling stories, not only can we reflect on the experience and what we achieved, but we can inspire other women to do the same.”

Once Asia Trail Girls gains moment, Vadovicova will create events and meetups, even if it’s just casual training. She already has contacts across Asia from her Asia Trail Master season who are interested in becoming ambassadors, building ATG in their countries. In time, it will become a platform for runners to meet.