UTMB World Series expands its Paths to Parenthood policy
New policy reflects the diversity of all athletes' journeys to parenthood, whether elite or amateur. After introducing a pioneering pregnancy policy in 2023, UTMB® World Series is expanding its commitment to inclusion by evolving its parental support policy. Developed in collaboration with the Pro Trail Runners Association (PTRA), it both addresses the specific needs of elite athletes, and reflects the different forms of parenthood and life journeys for all runners across the UTMB WS circuit.
Welcoming parenthood in all its forms
Since the pregnancy policy was introduced in 2023, more than 400 people have been able to defer their registration or receive a refund. This new policy now includes different forms of parenthood and life journeys: pregnancy, medically assisted reproduction (IVF and other assisted fertility treatments), adoption, and surrogacy. It applies to all parents, regardless of their level of participation or family situation. This evolution marks a key milestone in the overall growth of trail running, establishing a clear and structured framework while ensuring sporting fairness and respecting athletes’ personal and family journeys.
“We want every athlete, regardless of their status, to be able to fully embrace parenthood without having to give up their passion for trail running. This policy aims both to support runners and to help shift mindsets toward a more equal and inclusive sport.” - Nicolas Lagrange, CSR Manager, UTMB World Series
For both parents, whether in cases of pregnancy, adoption, surrogacy, or medically assisted reproduction, the policy offers the option to:
- Receive a full refund
- Defer their race entry
- For lottery-based races, receive a refund and benefit from priority access for a future edition
- For top elite women, the UTMB Index is frozen for 5 years.
Details and conditions: utmb.world/inclusion
“In 2024, I was fully focused on UTMB. Everyone around me was ready to come and support me in Chamonix: everything was already organized. When I found out I was pregnant, my first thought was: ‘It’s okay, I’ll still run UTMB.’ Then I realized that wouldn’t be reasonable. I was able to defer my entry to 2026 with this policy. I was already convinced that motherhood and trail running are completely compatible, but experiencing it in real life is quite different. Today, I’m no longer running just for myself. Knowing my son is waiting for me at an aid station or at the finish line multiplies my strength”. - Ella Peyrard, amateur runner who benefited from the parental policy
Addressing the challenges of a professionalizing sport
As trail running continues to grow and professionalize, the UTMB World Series aims to ensure that motherhood and the path to parenthood do not hinder an athlete’s career. Starting in June, the UTMB Index of elite runners will be frozen for up to five years during their path to parenthood. The athlete’s UTMB Index and ranking at the time of the application will be recorded and displayed on their individual page on utmb.world for the duration of this period. Freezing the UTMB Index ensures that elite athletes pursuing parenthood are not unfairly penalized in their ranking and can return to competition with the status they earned before stepping away.
“The ProTrailRunners Association’s Women’s Equality Working Group has made a significant contribution to this policy. We recognize that women are incredible, and we need policies that create space for them to demonstrate it. Our working group is deeply committed to projects that not only create a smoother path for female athletes who decide to start a family but also celebrate motherhood at every level. Too often, motherhood has meant a backlash or an immediate end to an athlete’s career, without acknowledging the positive aspects or giving athletes the opportunity to decide for themselves. Our goal is to collaborate with organizations like UTMB Group to ensure direct input into our career paths and those of future athletes.” - Eszter Csillag, elite athlete and board member of the Professional Trail Runners Association
UTMB World Series invites all runners concerned to refer to this policy according to their needs. The full parental policy is available here: utmb.world/inclusion
