In partnership with outdoor footwear company, Merrell, trail runners from Britain have launched a new campaign to take the sport to future Olympic Games by running 455km from London to Paris.
This summer’s Olympics marks one hundred years since running off-road was an official discipline, with cross-country running the last of its kind at the Paris 1924 Games.
Trail running has been catapulted into the spotlight in recent weeks following the historic completion of the infamous Barkley Marathons by British trail runner, Jasmin Paris, alongside fellow Brit Russ Cook completing an epic achievement by running the length of Africa.
The campaign instigated by outdoor footwear company, Merrell, sees athletes from running clubs across the UK calling on Olympic decision-makers to include trail running at future Olympic Games, starting with Brisbane 2032, the next cycle for new sports to be introduced.
They stepped onto the campaign trail by trail running in a relay over 455km from London to Paris – arriving in the French capital on Sunday, April 14th.
Speaking from Paris after completing the challenge, Jimi Harrison, a member of the Keep On Keeping On running club, said “We’re ran from London to Paris ahead of the Games to raise awareness that trail running continues to be overlooked as an Olympic sport.
“At Paris 2024, four new sports are being added that include breakdancing, surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing. We feel that new Olympic sports should reflect the trends and popularity of the current day and believe the time has come for trail running to be adopted at future Olympics.”
As part of the campaign, Merrell has penned an open letter to representatives of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Trail Running Association (ITRA), and Brisbane 2032, calling on them to set the wheels in motion to include trail running at the Olympics when the Games go Down Under.
Simon Sweeney, Marketing Manager at Merrell, said “As trail running fans, we wanted to use our platform to help mobilise the international trail running community around a common cause.
“One that we firmly believe has been overlooked for too long – we’re calling on Olympic organisers to end the century of hurt and give trail running its rightful place within the Olympic schedule.”
