As the excitement of the 2024 Paris Olympics winds down, we’re left with awe-inspiring moments and memories. But one question keeps resurfacing in the endurance sports community: could trail running and/or ultramarathoning ever become part of the Olympic Games? For the growing number of trail running fans and athletes around the world, it’s not just a fantasy – it’s a dream that’s becoming increasingly possible. So, I took it upon myself to help the International Olympic Committee (IOC) out with the following proposal. Feel free to take any of my ideas for the small price of trail and ultrarunning in the Olympics!
The Challenge: No Global Governing Body – Yet
One of the biggest hurdles to getting trail running into the Olympics is that it doesn’t have an official global governing body, which the IOC requires for any new sport. However, this challenge isn’t as steep as it sounds. Trail running already has strong connections to World Athletics through the International Trail Running Association (ITRA), the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU), and the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA). If World Athletics, which already oversees Olympic track and field, took the lead, trail running could easily fit into the Olympic family.
Relying on an existing organization, especially one as familiar with Olympic competition as World Athletics, would make for a more seamless and favorable transition into the Games than a brand new governing body could.
The Course: Nature’s Olympic Stadium
Now, let’s imagine the venue. Unlike the pristine tracks and synthetic surfaces we usually associate with the Olympics, trail running would take athletes deep into the heart of nature. Picture a course winding through the breathtaking landscapes of the host country – whether it’s the rugged mountains of the Rockies, lush jungles of South America, or the rolling hills of central Europe. Unique to each host city, this venue would be anything but standard fare.
In contrast to road marathons or track races, trail racing would be a dynamic event, with natural obstacles like river crossings, rocky paths, and steep ascents. The course itself would be a part of the spectacle, with fans able to experience the race up close, perhaps even hiking to different points along the trail to cheer runners on. Supporters become fully immersed in the race experience, getting a taste for the runners’ athleticism and skill as they fly up ascents in fractions of the time it took them to reach their vantage point.
A Format for the Fans
The key to making trail running Olympic-friendly lies in designing a course that’s both challenging for athletes and engaging for spectators. One potential format could mimic the cross-country mountain biking events which have been in the Olympics since 1996. A 6-10 km man-made loop, packed with elevation changes, technical descents and unpredictable terrain, would provide a spectator-friendly race while maintaining the core challenges of trail running. Runners could complete multiple laps – ensuring that fans can follow the action and cheer their favorites through each loop. The Golden Trail World Series has been utilizing a similar format with the “petal-course” taking runners through 3-4 unique loops that all bisect the same central fan-zone.
While such a format might seem repetitive for the athletes, it would bring the excitement and energy of the race to life for both in-person and TV audiences. In fact this format, taken from mountain biking, is designed to be TV friendly lasting 90-minutes in total duration. Fans could line the course and encourage runners at regular intervals, creating an electric atmosphere. Runners’ lap times and positioning would be more easily followed, building anticipation amongst spectators who see time gaps closing and finishing orders in constant flux.
The Vertical Kilometer (VK): A Short, Brutal, Must-Watch Event
Beyond long-distance races, there’s another aspect of trail running that could light up the Olympic stage: the Vertical Kilometer (VK). This short but fierce race involves climbing 1,000 meters in roughly 5 kilometers (just over 3 miles), a lung-busting ascent that leaves athletes gasping for air and spectators on the edge of their seats.
With the entire race taking under an hour, it fits perfectly into a broadcast-friendly format. Imagine watching athletes dash up a mountain, pushing their bodies to the limit as they ascend into the clouds. The views alone would be incredible—drone footage capturing runners racing toward a mountaintop, with sweeping vistas and panoramic shots that highlight the drama of the event and beauty of the host city. As the fastest athletes cross the finish line in around 30 to 45 minutes, it’s an event that would be as gripping as it is breathtaking.
Making Trail Running a Spectator Sport
Let’s be real: watching endurance events on TV can sometimes be, well, a bit slow. If you tuned into the Olympic marathon or cycling road race, you’ll recall that the broadcast left viewers wanting, wanting to see some of the action as opposed to cityscapes and back markers.
But trail running offers a unique opportunity to change that. With modern technology we could make this sport a real crowd-pleaser. Drones and GPS tracking systems would allow viewers to follow the athletes in real time, with live leaderboards and split times keeping everyone engaged. Imagine overhead shots of runners weaving through forest trails, racing along mountain ridges, or splashing through rivers – those visuals would be hard to forget.
And then there’s the commentary. If you’re a trail running fan, you already know that Dylan Bowman and Corrine Malcolm are the voices of the sport. They’d bring the passion and knowledge needed to explain the action, much like Rowdy Gainesand Summer Sanders do for swimming. Their energy would help bring the race to life for both seasoned fans and first-time viewers.
The Athletes: Endurance at Its Finest
One of the biggest draws of trail running is the diversity of skills required. While track athletes excel at running predictable and flat laps of a standard 400m track, trail runners are truly well-rounded athletes, equipped with a far greater range of skills: from navigating technical terrain and maintaining pace on steep inclines to enduring variable weather conditions and difficult descents.
Bringing trail running to the Olympics would introduce a new kind of athleticism to the world stage. These athletes have the endurance of marathoners, the technical skill of mountain bikers, and the mental toughness of long-distance swimmers – all combined in one grueling, exhilarating package.
A Global Showdown: Bringing Together the Best
Adding trail running to the Olympics unlocks a new level of global competition. Athletes from mountainous regions would have an edge on steep climbs, while runners from diverse climates could adapt better to changing conditions. Nations could even field teams, with a relay race format (and we know the Olympics LOVE a good relay) that allows runners to showcase different strengths. Imagine a relay broken up into different length legs and terrain challenges: there could be a 2 km uphill leg, into a 5 km non-technical dirt stretch, a 2 km steep and technical descent leg, finished with a gnarly 5 km technical legs.
Qualification could mirror the Golden Trail World Series or similar events, with the best runners from each country earning their spots through a season of races. Teams of up to three athletes per nation would represent their countries, and, as has become popular in many Olympic sports, mixed-gender relays would add another exciting dimension to the competition.
A Legacy of Nature and Spirit / The Olympic Legacy
The “Olympic legacy” is a rather esoteric catchphrase that gets bandied around by sporting federations following any successful Games. The inclusion of trail running in the Olympics could really put those words into action: trail running is more than just a sport – it’s about connecting with nature, pushing your limits, and embracing the beauty and challenges of the great outdoors.
Trail running showcased on this global scale would inspire a new generation of runners to lace up their shoes and explore the outdoors in a way that’s both challenging and accessible. Beyond that, it could spark conversations about conservation, the importance of preserving wild places, and the role sports can play in promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.
In many ways, trail running feels like a return to the original Olympic spirit. Ancient athletes competed on dirt tracks and rugged terrains, which sounds to me a lot like trail running – so why not bring the sport back to its roots?