Last November 11^th, in Braga, Portugal, IAU and the Portuguese Athletics Federation announced the location of the 2016 Trail-Running World Championships. They will take place October 29^th 2016 in Geres, in the midst of the Peneda-Geres national park, over a course of 85km and 4 500m D+. They are organized under the auspices of IAU and ITRA.

“After the success of the 2015 Trail Running Championships at Annecy it became essential to have both ITRA and IAU collaborating in the organization of future editions and so in 2016 both entities will join their efforts to represent in the best possible way the true values of our sport and to welcome the top athletes of the world” confirmed Jose Carlos Santos, ITRA’s vice-president.

“This competition is heralded as the Trail-Running World Championships. It is thus natural to work with an association recognized by the IAAF (International Athletics Associations Federation) and collaborate on the trail-running events” explains Dirk Strumane, IAU’s president. “IAU represents the practice of ultra-marathons and has an important experience in the organization of world championships. The collaboration of these two entities should allow for a well organized international competition and offer a very exciting show”.

Carlos Sa, a renowned elite trail-runner, will be the technical director of the event.

Recognizing the specific needs and characteristics of trail-running, ITRA also wishes to initiate an international debate. It aims to collect the opinion of all actors of this sport (athletes, federations, media outlets, races directors…) and to find the best solutions for the upcoming World Championships. The issues envisioned regard the frequency of such events, their format, how are the participating athletes to be selected… Another important issue is the most efficient coordination of the international trail-running agenda.

Regarding ITRA: the International Trail-Running Association (ITRA) is a sport association recognized by the IAAF. It pursues the international development of trail-running.

Regarding IAU: the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU), operating under the auspices of the IAAF, pursues the international development of long distance races understood in the IAAF rules and regulations.

INFO: ITRA