Trail running has been on a tear in recent years, and now two of its biggest players are joining forces. The UTMB World Series, home to some of the sport’s most iconic races, has partnered with Strava, the digital hub for millions of athletes. The idea is to bring runners and fans closer to the action, while shining a light on how the sport itself is evolving.
Segments go live
As part of the deal, Strava segments will be woven into live race coverage of UTMB majors and finals. That means fans won’t just watch the leaders run past checkpoints—they’ll also be able to see who’s pushing hardest on signature climbs or battling for segment bragging rights in real time. UTMB races will also expand their footprint on Strava through official clubs, providing athletes with a space to share training notes, exchange race recaps and connect year-round.
The numbers behind the boom
The data is striking. Strava reports trail running uploads have doubled in just three years, while UTMB Index races logged more than 800,000 starts in the first half of 2025 alone—more than double 2022’s numbers. Nearly half of those finishers were racing trails for the first time.
Women are fuelling much of the surge. UTMB data shows a 2.6 per cent increase in female participation over three years, with Gen Z women leading the charge on Strava: uploads from that group are up more than six times globally. Europe remains the sport’s biggest hub, but the fastest growth is happening across Oceania and Africa, where women now make up more than half of shorter-distance fields.
More than ultras
While the spotlight often shines on epic hundred-mile battles in Chamonix, the majority of runners are setting their sights shorter. About two-thirds of UTMB Index finishers choose races at marathon distance or less. Strava’s global data backs that up: the average trail run uploaded to the platform is 9.7 kilometres with just over 200 metres of elevation gain. Trail running, in other words, is still about big adventures, but not necessarily big mileage.
Community at the core
If there’s a single thread tying it all together, it’s connection. Strava notes a 31 per cent jump in club memberships since 2019 and more group runs across all generations, with baby boomers showing the sharpest rise. At UTMB races, 91 per cent of participants come from within the same continent, and more than half bring friends or family along. Race weekends, in other words, are as much about community as competition.
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The road ahead
“At the heart of this collaboration is a commitment to providing athletes with the best experience,” said Antoine Aubour, the director of brand communication and marketing at UTMB Group. “Whether they’re training for their first 20K or chasing a podium at the Finals, they often look and find the same things on Strava and in UTMB World Series events: a community to share with, key data to understand their performance and decisive routes to discover new places. Together with Strava, we support a richer, more supportive trail running ecosystem.”
