Where’s the endurance of supporting our off-road runners gone?
Until 2023, GB Mountain, trail and ultra running teams were fully funded to compete in the World Championships, enabling our top UK athletes to represent the Nation, offering unmissable opportunities to showcase what we do best. Since a drop in sponsorship to UK Athletics, it was announced that the teams were no longer going to be offered any assistance with funding, leaving feelings of frustration at why mountain and trail running isn’t deemed as financially important as other sports.
Ultra Running has been in the media peripheral in the last few years, but the spotlight was beaming with coverage with Jasmin Paris’s success at the Barkley Marathons, finishing the gruelling event just 99 seconds off the official cut off time. If this is not a top-level sport that needs funding support now, it raises the question, if not now, when?
Context
Though it saddens us to admit, it’s a little-known fact that the categories of mountain running, trail running and ultra running are not registered as competitive sports in the Olympics, despite us feeling that they perhaps should be. Though there was once some support for the athletes at World Championships level, this is no longer, and there are no expenses to spare for any representing athletes.
The history of off-road running achievements continuously causes amazement in the public eye, and the media coverage of such has ramped up considerably over the years. Reflecting at how many have pushed the boundaries of trail and distance running through history; athletic legends like Lizzy Hawker and Ann Trason, setting world records are just a few examples of what can be achieved and there’s no doubt you’ll agree these achievements are trophy-cabinet worthy.
More recently, with the likes of Jasmin Paris’s success, publicity has grown significantly. Jasmin was invited to the start line of elite women’s race in the London Marathon to set them off and received an MBE for services to fell and distance running. Russ Cook was also highlighted in the media, becoming the first person to run the full length of Africa which everyone would agree was no walk in the park. Examples like these make it difficult to understand why long-distance running isn’t at the top of the list of absolute priorities in competitive sport, despite us being biased or not.
With races like the UTMB moving to the UK Market, there is now a large spread offering in the world of running in our country and far more opportunities than there ever have been before to take part in races. In contrast to the UK, and after researching European Athletics policies, there are strategic agreements in boosting running across Europe including Off-Road running championships in Trail and Mountain running, and mass races with a fantastic strapline that “Every Runner an Athlete, and every Athlete a Champion”
Why this isn’t the case for potential GB athletes at the World Championships in 2025?
100km womens team, Credit: Adrian Stott
Athletic selection process
World Mountain & Trail Running Championships will take place in Canfranc-Pirineos in Spain on 25th-28th September 2025. The long trail trial dates take place in June 2025, with the shorter trail date in May 2025. It has been stated that all athletes must make a financial contribution to the cost of attending the Championships. The contribution may in fact be one hundred percent of the costs of the World Championships, estimated at £1,100 plus airfare.
In the true ultra-running community spirit, there are committees of volunteers to support UK athletes and have done so for many years. Those committees input into selection policies with UK Athletics and even search for funding to ensure every athlete that qualifies is given a chance to compete where possible.
Speaking with Adrian Stott, former GB international ultra runner, and member of both the volunteer Mountain & Trail Advisory Group and the Ultra Running Advisory group, he noted.
“The opportunities on offer for younger athletes that could become GB athletes may sadly be on a decline if they are not able to be assisted with the financial burdens competing brings. Great Britain has always had talented runners at all levels, and this talent has been well nurtured through the senior ranks. Now, the parents of some juniors, that may still be at school, may not have the money to help support their participation if selected for a team.”
Adrian attended the recent World 100km Championships in Bengaluru in India in December 2024, where the athlete’s accommodation costs were covered by UK Athletics, but they were asked to pay their own airfare. Thankfully, although the 100km team had to make sacrifices, most have jobs that allowed them to travel. Adrian commented.
“Competing in a World Championship is a pinnacle event, giving them a chance to test themselves against the best in the world.”
Adrian had some interesting conversation points around sponsored athletes and explained that athletes can be sponsored with kit, travel, accommodation, and some even paid for their sporting efforts, or a mixture of it all. Competing in World Championships can be expensive – so athletes may now think twice about accepting their invite to compete. He commented;
“Athletes will have to make sacrifices and will feel they have more flexibility to choose what they wish to race in, and World Championships may not be their first choice anymore. It’s a shame, but also a reality these days that it comes to picking whether running for Britain is a priority versus how much they are willing to spend on the experience. They may also choose to run a race their sponsor would prefer they ran, fully covered, meaning less implications on the athlete’s pocket”
100km mens team, Credit: Adrian Stott
Jasmin Paris also stands strong in her opinions on the change in funding and said;
“This amount of money will undoubtedly be a barrier for many excellent athletes. I am saddened to think that we will no longer be represented by runners with the greatest talent and chance of success, and instead by those who can best afford the fees involved. As such I would like to object officially to this development and urge the UKA Operations Team to reconsider this approach.
UKA should be aware that there is already effectively a ‘financial penalty’ for athletes competing at the Mountain and Trail Running World Championships – in such that they target their season to this event, foregoing other event – in which they would be representing their sponsors and thus likely be paid for- and the associated prize money, in order to train and be appropriately rested – potentially half a season.
I strongly urge for the decision makers to reconsider this approach, if we are to retain both running quality and social equality in the teams which represent us internationally going forwards.”
Jasmin Paris competing at Innsbruck, Credit: Kris Jones
Adrian Stott was assured that the UK Athletics selection process will remain standardised – athletes must reach a certain competitive level to qualify to compete in World Championships. He concluded,
“Despite the athlete contribution element, in all disciplines, Teams will still be selected on merit alone, according to selection policy guidelines, not on their ability to pay.”
This diminishes the worries that only those that can afford to enter will be provided with the chance of competing.
Damian Hall, our record breaking ultramarathon runner, sponsored by INOV8, represented GB at the Trail World Championships in 2016 when travel, accommodation, and kit were provided. He commented;
“The funding cut feels like a faceplant on a descent. Just when this sport feels like it’s coming of age, too. I am so glad I got to represent my country, at the age of 40. It was a life-changing experience I’ll have forever. I couldn’t have done that without funding assistance”.
Kris Jones is a competitor in both orienteering and athletics and has competed for Great Britain. The elite trail team describes him as ‘an elite British runner who has tried his hand at most distances and surfaces’ He has gained GB vests in several disciplines and represented GB at the World Trail and Mountain Running Championships twice as well as the European Off Road Running Championships.
Kris Jones competing at XC, Credit: Mark Shearman
Though Kris is extremely grateful for any support he has received in competitions, he remarks,
“Many of the competitions in which I have represented Great Britain will be self-funded under the new model, including the World Half Marathon Championships. This will have a huge impact on athletes, and the costs of going to a Championship to represent your country are much higher than other competitions. This is due to factors such as staffing, restrictions on travel, not to mention hotel options. I think this will lead to athletes choosing other high-level competitions instead”.
This supports Adrian and Jasmin’s opinions that the sponsored athletes support package will look even more appealing in the future.
In reference to the selection process, Kris commented;
“I understand the constraints that UK Athletics must operate with, but I think this is only going to result in weaker British teams. I have personally found much inspiration from athletes competing in ‘development’ competitions or competitions outside the Olympic pathways. Those athletes will be the ones affected but this policy and the opportunity for them to inspire future generations will be lessened”.
Funding
UK Athletics explained that funding has been cut due to a decrease in sponsorship revenue, which has the knock-on effect of a decrease in any money made available to support athletes. Off-road running is not the only sport to be affected by this, and other sports with a decreased funding include road running, orienteering and track teams.
UK Athletics stands for delivering a strategy based on fun, inspiration, integrity and inclusivity, valuing all sports. Goals include increasing participation in sports and creating world-class infrastructure from the grassroots up and having representation in all senior international events.
Ian Beattie (MBE), Chairman of UK Athletics was happy to discuss the change in funding and also admitted it’s a great shame, but not something that could be changed from a UK Athletics perspective due to the funding terms involved.
Ian is also the Race Director of the West Highland Way, and as a passionate ultra-runner himself, can understand the frustration but his comments are clear that UK Athletics “hands are tied on this”.
Kris Jones in Thailand race, Credit: Unknown
In 2023, UK Athletics made a loss of £3.7 million, which decreased to just £1.2 million in 2024. Ian said,
“What people don’t always realise is that UK Athletics receive no membership income, therefore there are no extra pounds for support that we would love to be able to give”.
Upon requesting a comment regarding why Nike couldn’t sponsor mountain, trail and ultra running as a separate discipline, Ian commented “It would be unrealistic to expect them to increase their commitment in this area, given what they already contribute” .
UK Sport gained over £40 million for major international sporting events, money which came from the National Lottery, with its primary role to use this money to support the competitive elements of the Olympic games. Mountain, trail and ultra running are not included, therefore not entitled to any lottery money or core UK Sport funding the organisation receives. In simple terms, the money can only go towards sports that are capable of winning medals of Olympic standard.
The subject in question has fired up many runners to have their say, and in April 2024, outdoor brand Merrell organized a campaign involving four runners from across the UK uniting in a trail run from London to Paris. The campaign aimed to highlight how important mountain, trail and ultra running is and that they should be included in future Olympic Games. An open letter to representatives of the International Olympic Committee, International Trail Running Association and Brisbane 2032 was sent, campaigning that they add trail running into the 2032 Brisbane Games, the next opportunity to include a new sport in the programme.
It must be noted that the Mountain and Trail committee is working on potential sponsors and partners who could protect the sports funding and allow these opportunities for mountain, trail and ultra running athletes.
A plea to sponsors or partners getting on board with this is a matter of urgency, to bring the sport back in the spotlight. Nike are the official sponsors of UK Athletics, therefore outdoor brands would not be able to sponsor the British team in the World Championships. But the sponsorship door for others is well and truly open, with the funding of this sport, and a whole host of supporters standing behind it. Previous sponsorships included Sainsburys and Muller, so the plea is real to save our sport, provide the best opportunity for athletes and to keep flying the flag of the world’s best sports disciples – Mountain, trail and ultra running.
References:
- Fundraiser to help GB team attend the IAU World 100km Champs: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-gb-travel-get-to-the-iau-world-100km-championships
- UK Sport: https://www.uksport.gov.uk/about-us/faqs
- UK Athletics Strategy: https://www.uka.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/UK-Wide-Strategy.pdf
- Public Campaign on Athletics Weekly: https://athleticsweekly.com/athletics-news/from-london-to-paris-runners-campaign-for-trail-running-in-olympics-1039977388/
- Jamin Paris Sports Personality of the year petition: https://www.change.org/p/jasmin-paris-should-be-on-the-shortlist-for-bbc-sports-personality-of-the-year
- European Athletics: https://www.european-athletics.com/news/european-athletics-and-amg-sa-sign-strategic-agreement-to-boost-running-across-europe-on-the-long-run
- Kris Jones- Elite Trail Team: https://www.elitetrailteam.com/kris-jones
Contributors:
Jasmin Paris
Adrian Stott
Damian Hall
Ian Beattie
Kristian Jones
British and Scottish 100km and 50km Road Champs
