Pitching RUNHER Magazine

We’re assigning stories for Issue 006, which will land in mailboxes in early January 2027, and we’re interested in hearing original article ideas from writers. We are looking to work with experienced journalists who have a track record of reporting and writing multi-source features and who can think like editors when it comes to reporting, structuring, and drafting a clean, publication-ready piece that requires minimal editing before it goes into production.

What We Do (And Don’t) Cover

First and foremost, RUNHER is a space for narrative, longform storytelling around female, trans, and nonbinary athletes. We cover road running, track (and field!), trail running, and ultrarunning. (Please note that we are a US-based publication.)

RUNHER was created to prioritize deeply reported stories about women’s running that invite readers to immerse themselves in the sport and its community. Think of RUNHER as a gateway to the sport: a place where new fans of women’s running will be as engaged as long-time supporters.

Features around competition, community, and culture are the cornerstones of this publication. We’re looking for:

• Thought-provoking deep dives into issues affecting female athletes
• Ambitious features exploring provocative ideas and big questions women face in the running space
• Explorations of less-covered corners of the running community
• Trend reports on gear and fashion as they relate to women’s running

For Issue 006, we’re especially interested in exploring topics including track and field; the business and financial side of women’s running; harassment and bullying in women’s running (from the elite to amateur level); the politics of women’s and non-binary running; the effects of doping on the sport; what’s happening at the high school level; extreme racing; and more (please do not limit yourself to these suggestions, but we suggest reading past issues and looking at our social media to see stories we’ve previously covered).

Please keep in mind that we are not looking for prescriptive service stories (i.e. SEO content), gear reviews and roundups, or personal essays, and we will be prioritizing reported features (that go beyond collections of profiles) over single-person profiles. We do not accept AI pitches.

What We Pay

Features range from 1,000 to 3,000 words and we pay between  $0.50 to $1 per word, depending on the scope of the story and the writer’s experience.

Photography

RUNHER will also include features where images drive the narrative, with limited text or other elements for context. We’re looking for photographers to submit art or shoot ideas that capture the real, raw, and emotional side of women’s running, as well as under-covered/lesser-known events. Rates to be determined.

How Do I Submit My Pitch?

All story and art pitches should be submitted through our submission form.

The pitch form for Issue 006 will open later this summer.

Please submit one detailed pitch at a time, including a suggested headline, clear angle, and proposed sources. Please include links to 2–3 previously published features with your pitch so we can assess fit/experience. Please do not send pitches via email or direct messages on social media and LinkedIn (they will get lost!).

Please be specific in your pitches. If you're going to pitch:

• examining recent research → cite specific research examples
• referencing documented cases → share examples of the cases you’ll reference
• centering the voices of X women from different backgrounds → include specific examples of sources you’ll speak to
• drawing on expert insights → what specific experts will you reach out to?

These don't need to be your final sources, but including specific examples of who and what you might include in the story shows that you're confident in the subject area.

We promise that we read everything and we will do the best we can to respond to everyone who adheres to the pitch guidelines outlined above.