This weekend, 6-8 February, the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) Council met in person for the first time since the elections in Canfranc in September 2025. 

The meeting marked an important milestone for an organization, spending time to reflect and develop the organization’s strategy 2026-2030, building on the 42 years of service to the sport. Founded in 1984 as the ICMR (International Committee for Mountain Running), the Association formally became WMRA following the 1998 Congress in Île de la Réunion, recognising its growing global role and responsibilities.

The meeting brought together the WMRA Council for the 2025–2029 term:

• Sarah Rowell (Great Britain) — President
• Tito Tiberti (Italy) — Seretary
• Stéphane Sclavo (France) — Treasurer
• John Bowden (New Zealand) — Council Member
• Jason Bryant (United States) — Council Member
• Omar Hernández (Spain) — Council Member
• Marcel Matanin (Slovakia) — Council Member

Together, the Council brings experience across continents, competitive levels and organisational roles, reflecting the increasingly international scope of the discipline.

The in-person meeting spent time discussing and agreeing the revised Vison and Misson for WMRA, creating the new strategy for the Association for the next four years

which will be published in the coming period. 

Central to these deliberations remains the WMRA’s role:

• To promote and develop mountain running worldwide, supporting its development across continents, cultures, and competitive levels.
• To stage international mountain running events and Championships, including working with partners – World Athletics, the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) and the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) to deliver the biannual World Mountain and Trail Running Championships (WMTRC); and the World Masters Association to deliver the World Masters Mountain Running Championships.
• To act as the technical experts for mountain running, supporting the work of World Athletics and others in developing the discipline.

This strategic work reflects WMRA’s intention to align governance, competition delivery and technical expertise with the evolving needs of the sport.

Building on the momentum of the Council meeting, WMRA representatives will continue discussions this week in Monaco, with key meetings scheduled alongside World Athletics, ITRA, IAU, and the Athletics Integrity Unit.

These exchanges aim to strengthen institutional partnerships, explore new development pathways, and ensure that mountain and trail running continues to offer the highest standards of integrity, opportunity, and athlete support worldwide.

A timely moment to reconnect, align priorities, and continue building the next chapter of WMRA — together.