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Trail Running Guide

Running in the wild, on trails and in the mountains: discover the formats, history and great races of trail running, and how to read SportiFlow data.

Formats and distances

Trail running takes place on tracks and footpaths, often with a lot of climbing. The UTMB World Series groups its races into four categories.

CategoryTypical distanceProfile
20KAbout 20 to 30 kmFast race, often done in a morning
50KAbout 40 to 60 kmA stepping stone to ultras
100KAbout 80 to 120 kmUltra, often with some night running
100MAbout 160 km (100 miles)The flagship event, over 20 hours for the best

History

Modern trail running grew out of mountain running and ultra-distance running.

  • 1974 - Gordy Ainsleigh runs the Western States on foot, in California
  • 1986 - First Marathon des Sables, in Morocco
  • 1995 - First Festival des Templiers, in Millau
  • 2003 - First UTMB, in Chamonix
  • 2013 - Creation of ITRA, the International Trail Running Association
  • 2021 - Launch of the UTMB World Series

Great races

Some legendary races on the calendar:

  • UTMB (Chamonix) - about 170 km around Mont Blanc
  • Western States 100 (California) - the world's oldest 100-mile trail race
  • Diagonale des Fous (Réunion) - crossing the island from south to north
  • Hardrock 100 (Colorado) - high altitude in the San Juan Mountains
  • Zegama-Aizkorri (Basque Country) and Sierre-Zinal (Switzerland) - the great short classics

Reading SportiFlow data

SportiMedia's Trail section is based on public data from the UTMB circuit.

  • UTMB Index: a performance index based on runners' results; the higher it is, the better the runner.
  • D+: the total elevation gain of the course, in metres.
  • 20K, 50K, 100K and 100M categories: the distance family of each race.
  • Running Stones: points earned by finishing a UTMB World Series race, used for the UTMB lottery.
  • Registration: the registration status shown for each upcoming race.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between trail and road running?

Trail running takes place on footpaths in nature, with climbing and some self-sufficiency. Road running is on tarmac, over a flat or gently rolling course.

What is an ultra-trail?

It is a trail race longer than a marathon. The most famous exceed 100 km and run through the day and night.

Why is mandatory kit checked?

Mountain weather changes fast. A waterproof jacket, survival blanket, headlamp or water reserve help you cope with the unexpected while waiting for help.

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