ITRA

Born in July 2013, the ITRA (International Trail Running Association) aims to give a voice to parties involved in trail running in order to promote its strong values, its diversity, the safety of races and the health of runners, as well as to further the development of trail running and ensure a constructive dialogue between the national and international bodies with an interest in the sport.

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 running benefits from a definition that is shared internationally by all participants.

History

Since the early 2000’s, Trail running has gained many followers around the globe. However, for years, the sport had not achieved full recognition. That's why more than 150 concerned members of the international trail running community gathered in 2012 to create a strong basis for trail running and to affirm its core values.

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 running and guide our actions on a daily basis.

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.

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.

Safety and Health

As a demanding sport amid wilderness, and on often rugged terrain, trail running requires impeccable organization, where all safety and rescue measures are well considered and managed. That is why ITRA has developed a guide of recommendations to assist race organizers.

National Representatives

Values and ethics

The 1st Assises Internationales du Trail laid the foundation of a demanding and respectful sports discipline.

This meeting led to the drafting of the Trail Running Ethics Charter, a core set of principles with strong human values:

Authenticity

Authenticity is the first value of trail running. The sport has as a core tenet a sense of harmony between man and nature. It promotes sports relationships based on simplicity, conviviality, sharing and a fundamental respect for differences. The trail running community values authenticity as highly as physical performance.

Humility

In trail running, humility in the face of nature is another core tenet. Together, Listening and learning provide a deeper, fuller understanding of the principles that govern the natural world and our fundamental understanding of a demanding sport in a wild, rugged setting. Humility rests on an understanding of our personal limits, and not jeopardizing our physical or mental abilities.

Fair play

Fair play refers to the acceptance of rules and the spirit behind the rules, as well. It suggests that each participant should embody the values of trail running: namely, mutual aid towards the other runners, and the respect of all the players involved in the races.

Fairness

Equality is the search for balance, based on a sense of impartiality and equal opportunities for all runners. All athletes have the same rights and the same duties: it is the responsibility of the organizers to guarantee this principle of fairness and to offer the best possible race conditions to all participants.

Respect

The principle of respect applies to oneself, to others, and to the environment. Respecting others means adopting a sense of awareness that respects other trail runners, the local population, its culture, customs and traditions.

To respect oneself is to take care of one's health, to refuse all doping products and to be attentive to the dangers of excessive self-medication. Respecting the environment means preserving the fragile natural environment in which we run, and minimizing our environmental impact.

Solidarity

In the natural environment, community is a necessity for survival. It involves helping one another to make progress together.

Thus, each participant in a trail race is required to come to the aid of anyone in danger or experiencing difficulty. Beyond this aspect of community, many athletes are committed to environmental, social or other worthy goals, and run to promote these objectives. In doing so, they express their responsibility towards humanity and the environment in which they run.

Consult the Trail running Ethics Charter.