Born in July 2013, ITRA exists to give a voice to everyone involved in trail running: to promote its values and diversity, to protect the safety of races and the health of runners, and to develop the sport in constructive dialogue with national and international bodies.
Trail running takes place in a natural environment: mountains, forests, deserts and coastlines, on paths where the terrain sets the pace. If you can walk a hill, you can start. What follows is up to you.
Do you want to explore your abilities in the great outdoors? Start with a short course close to home, get your first certified result, and watch your index build from there.
Short
Up to 42 kmFast, technical racing decided on climbs and descents rather than pace on the flat.
Long
42 to 99 kmA full day in the mountains, where pacing and nutrition matter as much as speed.
Ultra
100 to 159 kmThrough the night, across passes and valleys, with a crew and a plan behind you.
Ultra Long
160 km and beyondThe longest formats in the sport, where finishing is already a performance.
An association built by the people who race.
ITRA is composed of members from very different backgrounds: runners, organisers, national federations, doctors, coaches and volunteers, united by the same sport and the same respect for the terrain it happens on.
That mix is deliberate. Standards written only by organisers would miss what runners feel at kilometre 90. Rankings built only by statisticians would miss what a course actually demands. Everyone with a stake in trail running has a seat here.
Today more than five million runners share one scale, 12,400 certified races across 108 countries feed into it, and every certified finish becomes part of a permanent record.
ITRA's mission is to give voice to trail runners from all continents, and to make the sport safer, fairer and more open wherever it is run.
Give runners a voice
Represent trail runners from every continent so the people who race have a say in how the sport is governed.
Protect race quality
Certify courses, publish standards and evaluate races so every start line meets the same expectations on safety and fairness.
Measure performance fairly
Maintain the ITRA Performance Index so results from different countries, formats and terrain can be compared on one scale.
Look after runner health
Run health and anti-doping programmes, medical guidance and education for athletes and organisers.
Respect the terrain
Promote environmental responsibility so the trails we race on stay open, protected and welcoming.
Grow the sport worldwide
Support federations, national leagues and championships, and build dialogue with national and international bodies.
ITRA values are based on the fundamental values of trail running itself: what runners already do for each other on the mountain, held as a standard for the whole sport.
Respect
For other runners, for volunteers and organisers, for the communities that host races and for the mountains themselves.
Solidarity
Trail running is a sport where people stop to help. That instinct is part of the rules, not an exception to them.
Fairness
One scale, one set of standards, published methodology. Every result is earned under conditions everyone can inspect.
Humility
The terrain decides. Every finish, first or last, is measured against the same mountain.
Performance Index
A 0 to 1000 score for every ranked runner, with world and national rankings by discipline and category. The rebuilt index goes live for the 2027 season.
Race certification
Course evaluation, distance and elevation verification, safety and environment criteria, plus qualification status for championship events.
Results and history
A permanent record for every certified finish, matched to your athlete profile so your progression stays with you for life.
How ITRA is governed.
Decisions are made by members, through elected representatives and specialist commissions. Every standard published here has passed through people who race, organise or protect the sport.
- General Assembly
- All members: runners, organisers, federations and partners.
- Board of Directors
- Elected representatives from the association's membership.
- Commissions
- Health, anti-doping, environment, rules, courses and rankings.
- Federations
- National bodies working with ITRA on leagues and championships.
- 2013
ITRA is founded in July to give trail running a shared voice and shared standards.
- 2015
The Performance Index becomes the reference score for comparing results worldwide.
- 2018
Health, safety and anti-doping programmes expand across certified races.
- 2022
National leagues and championship qualification pathways scale up.
- 2026
The rebuilt Performance Index enters public beta alongside the current index.
- 2027
The new ITRA Performance Index becomes official for the season.
History, values, safety, the National League, insurance, contact and more.
Contact ITRA
We receive a lot of messages every day, and in most cases the answer is already available in our FAQ or in the sections below.This page is here to help you fix your issue in just a few minutes, without having to wait for a reply from us.
Discover Trail Running
Do you want to explore your abilities in the great outdoors? Trail running is a sport that takes place amid nature, and with respect for the environment, a sense of humility, shared community, and a strong sense of sports ethics. Trail…
History
On September 3, 2012, 150 trail running enthusiasts from 18 countries gathered in Courmayeur, Italy. Race organizers, equipment manufacturers, elite athletes, coaches and media shared their collective experience with the goal to structure…
International Runner Insurance
As an ITRA Subscriber you have the opportunity to purchase an ITRA International Runner Insurance, in partnership with XPLORASSUR and MUTUAIDE ASSISTANCE.
ITRA Green Charter
Trail running is a sport that takes place in the natural environment. Events take many runners to more spectacular, wild, remote, and fragile landscapes. At the same time as enjoying the sport, all stakeholders – organizers, participants,…
ITRA National League
Support the development of trail running at a national level
Missions
ITRA's mission is to give voice to trail runners from all continents to promote trail running throughout the world and defend its ethical values.
National Associations
As an international non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of trail running worldwide, ITRA plays a key role in recognizing associations committed to the development of trail running at a national level.
National League Continental Finals
The ITRA National League Continental Finals bring together qualified runners from National Leagues across a continent for a shared international competition.
National Representatives
ITRA is represented throughout the world by National Representatives.
Organization
ITRA is composed of members from various backgrounds, united by a passion for trail running within a non-profit association founded in July 2013.
Press releases
Safety and Health
The organizer has the obligation to set up safety and rescue systems adapted to trail running competitions. These measures must make it possible to ensure the safety not only of the runners but also of all those involved in the race:…
Values and ethics
ITRA values are based on the fundamental values of trail running. These values, shared by ITRA and all those involved in trail running, where authenticity and fair play are central, are all benchmarks that express our vision of trail…