On the trail with Erin
Erin tell us a little about yourself
I am 24 years old and working towards a PhD in Coastal Oceanography at Plymouth University. I knew I was trans from a young age but it wasn't until I experienced a bad injury to my arm in 2014 that I forced myself to consider who I was and would be in years to come. I came out publicly in the Autumn last year. I consider myself a scientist, endurance runner, cyclist and general outdoors enthusiast. My main sport is long distance trail running.
How active were you before you transitioned?
Before transitioning I would spend hours in the gym trying to change my body in a masculine way to try and conform to other peoples ideals. Results felt like damage. I jumped between sports but never found a sport that I could commit to. My one passion was hill walking and mountaineering. The mountains were a place I could escape to and be myself. I had a reasonable level of fitness beforehand, but didn't enjoy exercise.
Did you find it difficult to stay active when you were transitioning?
Exercise has been a major part of my life since beginning transition. It gives me time to reflect while out on a run. Running gave me an outlet for stress and time to focus on the moment without worrying about anything. I exercise for myself now and because I enjoy the exercise I have seen my activity levels increase as a result.
Have you always ran?
I didn't always run. At school I was not particularly fit, and made excuses to miss sports. The competitiveness wasn't for me, and if you weren't good at football you were dismissed by staff and pupils alike as not worth the effort. I had tried to get fit at times. I went to secondary school in Spain, and tried to take up running in my lunch breaks with a friend around the vineyards of the Jalon Valley. However the school soon put a stop to that, accusing me of going home to play video games because, as they put it, I "was the last person they expected to want to do exercise."
I started running when I was seventeen. I could only do 20 seconds running, 40 seconds walking at first! I felt embarrassed when people saw me. But I kept going. Six weeks later I ran 20 minutes straight and I remember that "runners high" and sense of accomplishment lasting all day! Pretty soon my friends saw me as a "runner" and assumed that had always been the case.
After my arm injury I fell into a depression. Running was the thing that lifted me out of that hole. It gave me an outlet and means to take back control of my life. It was then that I began training in earnest and entered an ultramarathon. With the place booked, I had no choice! I started eating much healthier, and drinking less, and running a lot more. Pushing myself in races has since given me the confidence and means to push through many challenges I have faced transitioning.
Have you found any challenges around trans people competing? At some levels of group sport there are specific rules limiting trans peopleâs inclusion if they havenât medically transitioned.
I do worry about competing and winning in the female category at times as I have not been medically transitioning long enough to qualify by most international standards. I entered my first race as Erin in the female category at the beginning of 2015, the Born to Run Ultra in South Wales. I contacted the race director and explained my circumstances. He was exceptionally understanding, and even introduced me to a friend of his who was transitioning. I raced in the female category but explained I would refuse the prize if I won. In the running events I have participated in so far I have always experienced an open and friendly atmosphere, however in future I will worry about competing and winning in the female category.
What do you think of the recently released Olympic guidelines on trans athletes.
I am glad they have been progressive and also transparent in their guidelines. It gives people like me a reference to send to race directors if I feel I should explain my circumstances. Most of the races I enter are not regulated by large sporting federations, so having clear guidance from a body such as the IOC is a great resource to have as it shows that thorough research has been conducted by officials who have determined that trans people can compete fairly in our identified genders. I will never be an Olympian, but their guidelines are adopted widely outside of the Olympics.
What do you like most about your sport and how can others get involved?
I love trail running. It takes you to places away from the busy urban settings. The softer ground easier on the joints and the varied terrain keeps you focused in the moment. I love escaping into nature, stopping after running up a hill to look back at the view, racing down a narrow winding coastal path barely keeping control. Most of all it's the sense of pushing my limits and showing myself how much I can do with enough determination. And trail running is free!
To get involved I would suggest joining a local Saturday parkrun for the addictive community feeling that draws me back every Saturday morning. They are all over the UK and are free 5k runs for all abilities. Otherwise, just pull on a pair of trainers and find your nearest footpath or bridleway and see where it takes you!
Do you do any other sports?
I enjoy cycling, and have taken my touring bike around the South West, Wales and across the USA.
What has been the reactions of others in the sports you play to you being transgender?
The majority of people have been warm and accepting at events. Most people, like myself, are not running to win the race but rather to enjoy the trails and community feel. Only once have I had someone act in a rude manner at a race, whispering and passing comment on me at the start of the event, however I simply ignored them and struck up conversation with the other runners. Running clubs have been accepting and friendly all around, it's their nature I think.
What advice would you give trans people who are thinking about taking up sport or exercise but are worried about not finding inclusive spaces?
I think contacting your local club for whatever sport you wish to participate in can be a good start. You can explain your concerns and see what they say. They may put your concerns at ease and you will have a contact to meet when you first visit. Friendly community running groups and events like parkrun are great places to meet people and exercise in a non-competitive setting.
Finally, what do you think needs to be done to make sports more trans inclusive?
In my own experience, a statement on a clubs website of their inclusiveness can go a long way to encouraging participation. Providing gender neutral facilities can help allay anxiety and encourage more trans people to join sports centres and gyms, particularly at the early stages of transition.
Read more of Erins adventures on her blog and follow her on instagram too















