Every step counts, every trail transforms
Editorial by Catherine Poletti, President of UTMB Group
UTMB. Four letters that fit on a bib, yet resonate far beyond it: a call to the extraordinary, an echo that travels across mountains and unites hearts all around the world. Across five continents, the UTMB World Series traces far more than race courses: it opens up a horizon for every region, every organiser and every runner. I firmly believe in doing things seriously without taking ourselves too seriously. Perhaps that is what has allowed us to stay true to ourselves, twenty years on. This seriousness rests on simple values that we share with our teams and our partners alike: respect for people, places and the living world; the humility of a guest; and the conviction that we move forward better when we build together. These values are embodied in the five pillars at the heart of UTMB Group's strategy: bringing the community together, growing our sport, leaving no one behind, leaving no trace and leaving a legacy
Bringing a community together
In our hectic lives, UTMB offers a magical pause, a moment suspended in time when time itself regains its true meaning. For me, trail running has become a universal language: a place where conflicts fade, where generosity wins over indifference, where humanity shows its most beautiful face. Every stride tells a story. Every encouraging smile weaves an invisible yet lasting bond. This community extends far beyond those who run. Volunteers, partners, media, suppliers, families who come to cheer: they are many, and they are essential to making the event happen. I believe there are as many reasons to take part in UTMB as there are participants: to run, to support, to cheer from the side of the trail, to organise, to pass on. And often, more personal reasons: to regain self-confidence, to look to the future again, to take back control of one's life, to run for a cause greater than oneself, or to help someone else get back on their feet. It is this connection between runners and non-runners that makes trail running a sport of solidarity and togetherness, rather than a solitary discipline.
Growing our sport
Growing trail running means, first and foremost, guaranteeing excellence: flawless safety and an unforgettable experience. It also means innovating and sharing. As a leader in trail running, we have a responsibility to support the development of our sport as a whole, well beyond our own races. That is why LiveTrail is available to any trail running event, whether or not it is part of the UTMB World Series. This runner and flow tracking software helps organisers make the right decisions and allows anyone, anywhere in the world, to follow the race and any runner in real time. For the events on the circuit, we are also developing UTMB Live, a major innovation dedicated to these events, among others. For us, innovation is not about adding technology: it is about making every race safer, easier to organise and more open.
Leaving no one behind
Inclusivity guides our steps, because I firmly believe that trail running should reveal the extraordinary in everyone. From amateur runners to elite athletes, everyone shares the same start line. This is true for women, with a policy welcoming runners with a young child, discovery programmes and visibility equal to that of men: the same prize money, the same podiums. It is true for para athletes, who take part in the same races as everyone else, with the right to choose their guide and visibility for their extraordinary performances. And it is true for accessibility, with solidarity programmes that reduce financial barriers.
Leaving no trace
In the face of the climate emergency, we are moving forward with determination and clarity: raising awareness through every experience, decarbonising in a way that takes each region into account, and protecting ecosystems alongside local communities. On the ground, this means very concrete actions, from reducing plastic to maintaining trails, and much more. I see trails as sanctuaries to be preserved, and every race as a learning opportunity for those unfamiliar with nature and its codes, as well as for the generations who will come after us.
Leaving a Legacy
Every race reveals the beauty of a region, the richness of a local culture, the soul of a people who welcome us with open arms. Our events are born from the meeting of authentic places and passionate communities. Some come to us, seeing our races as an opportunity to showcase their natural and cultural heritage while generating lasting economic benefits for their residents. We do not take over these regions: we work with them. Each UTMB World Series event, soon to number seventy around the world, relies on a local team that we guide and support so that it always remains in harmony with the region that hosts it. Our partnerships aim to create virtuous ecosystems: local jobs, the promotion of traditional know-how, respectful tourism, intergenerational solidarity, and training for the volunteers who bring our events to life. It is this collaboration that turns every race into a true celebration, blending sporting effort with cultural discovery, and leaving behind far more than just a memory.
The people who make UTMB happen every day
None of this would exist without the women and men of UTMB Group. In Chamonix and at every event on the circuit, they carry this project with a commitment I witness every day. We have remained a company with a family spirit, where people speak openly, make decisions together, and where everyone can take the initiative. That, too, is what not taking ourselves too seriously means: making room for everyone's ideas and knowing how to celebrate what we achieve together.
Join this shared dream
Whether you run, organise a race, work alongside us or cheer from the side of the trail, you are joining a movement that brings humanity together around a shared horizon. You give momentum to the regions that welcome us. You respect the diversity of our world. You build genuine connections across borders. You protect our environment for tomorrow. Four letters can transform your vision of what is possible. Together, let us push our limits, with respect for ourselves, for others and for the fragile beauty of our world. Every step on the trail brings us a little closer to a humanity united by self-transcendence and the celebration of our differences.
UTMB: giving everyone a horizon.
Catherine Poletti
President of UTMB Group
