Trail running and sustainability: what my seasons taught me

Running in magnificent landscapes: between passion and questions

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Some people know my passion for trail running and outdoor activities and I am happy to share some thoughts on the practice of this sport and its impact.

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Throughout the season, a question accompanied me: what impact do we, as runners, have on these places that we love? Between the visceral need to be outside, each for their own reasons, and the guilt in the face of the pressure that our practice can create in the environment.

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My steps took me from the Azro n'Thor trails in Algeria to Brittany and its incredible Grand Raid Ultra Marin, as well as to the Swiss Alps for the Wildstrubel 50. For the last one I'm done... last 🥴 but carried by something much stronger than being a happy finisher: the effort, the encounters, and this raw emotion in the face of mineral landscapes and the glacier.

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A sensation already experienced in Algeria: the certainty of being only a guest on a magnificent Earth that must be protected.

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Towards a more responsible trail: individual actions and collective dynamics

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And yet, what I observed made me optimistic: a professional organization, a great respect for the trails, exemplary volunteers, zero waste, the visible pride of residents in welcoming passionate hosts. A real culture of accountability, not guilt.

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I also tried to be consistent: carpooling, shuttles, trains between Crans-Montana and Adelboden after the race, limited trips for the rest of the season, with races very close to home.

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So, without feeling guilty, how do you reconcile passion and responsibility in 2026?

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• Give priority to train, carpooling, public transport
• Limit your participation in distant races to one or two, even if they are legendary
• Combining racing and family reunions to kill two birds with one stone
• Tell yourself that it is not necessary to have four pairs of shoes depending on the terrain and give the penultimate model of GPS watch instead of leaving it to sleep in the drawer
• Support responsible initiatives, such as the Mont-Blanc Marathon, reserving 40% of race numbers for train passengers
• Participate in solidarity races as a volunteer and demonstrate creativity and commitment like the association Who cleans if not you? On the Ultra Marin
• And above all, demonstrate exemplary behavior yourself on trails and trails.

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Because the transformation is under way. And it is not limited to trail running but to its entire ecosystem.

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Protecting trails: a personal and professional commitment

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Event organizations, companies as stakeholders, territories, partners... all will soon be evaluated on their environmental, CSR and extra-financial dimensions.

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UTMB, Ultra Marin, GRP, Templiers, Templiers, VVX, Saint-Élyon and many others: everyone knows that we will have to go further, responsibly and intelligently.

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This is precisely why, in line with what drives me, I am now supporting ASCEND Tech in the development of; Harnest;, a platform that helps outdoor sports players in particular (and others!) to structure, manage and prove their ESG commitments.

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Because protecting the trails we run on is no longer an option.
Because trail running, through the diversity of its practitioners, can become a model for other sectors.

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Running is as much about taking care of the world you go through as it is taking care of the life you are going through.

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Boubékeur BOUKERMA
Business development @Ascend Tech and optimistic trail runner.