Trail School: Innovation for clubs and collective practice
The world of trail running is changing, and a number of initiatives are boldly embracing this change. Such is the case withÉcole de Traila structure that rethinks trail running training while offering a turnkey business model for clubs and coaches. This comprehensive approach, combining hands-on teaching, digital tools and scientific events, has earned the project a place in the "Service of the Year" category at the Trail Running Awards.
Photo : Ecole de Trail
A method that overturns codes: "Run less but better".
At the heart of the project is the method developed by Sébastien Cornette. A far cry from traditional, often monotonous, long-distance outings, École de Trail offers a novel approach to teaching. The key idea? To transform training into technical workshops integrating muscle strengthening, mobility and cardiovascular development.
This workshop structure breaks down the barrier of skill levels. In a single session, an experienced athlete will complete six loops, while a beginner will do three. The group remains close-knit, but the workload is individualized. The aim is clear: to enable healthy, sustainable exercise by focusing on quality rather than mileage.
Photo : Ecole de Trail
The shift to a licensing model inspired by sports giants
While the method has proved its worth, the structure has undergone a major transformation since the start of the 2025 school year. Initially quasi-associative, the entity has reinvented itself - supported by the arrival of new shareholders - to adopt a perennial affiliation model, in the image of global success stories such as CrossFit and Les Mills.
École de Trail now offers a complete label for coaches (physical trainers, health professionals, volunteers) and structures. This licensing system offers existing or newly-created clubs a strong brand, ongoing training and a professional framework. The network has already grown to 43 clubs in France and Switzerland, with over 1,200 active members.
Digital to the rescue of people: The management application
The project's technological innovation lies in the deployment of a web application designed to make life easier for associations. In a context where volunteerism can sometimes run out of steam, this digital tool takes over time-consuming tasks such as registration management, administration and communication.
For Laurent Lempereur, manager of École Terre de Trail (Pas-de-Calais), the tool is a lever for professionalization: "What do I like about the new formula? Lightening up on all the administrative tasks to achieve my professional dream and make a 100% living from coaching.
But the application doesn't just serve managers; it also builds customer loyalty through gamification. A cashback system rewards regular attendance at sessions. Members build up a kitty that can be used to purchase equipment or finance training courses.
More than a club, a strong social bond
At a time when individual coaching applications sometimes isolate runners, École de Trail takes the opposite approach by focusing on the collective. From the "Graines de Traileurs" program adapted to children's physiology, to heterogeneous adult groups, the structure recreates intergenerational links.
This reassuring environment enables people who are far removed from sport to get started. This is the case of Aurélie, 42, who found her place thanks to this inclusive approach: "The method gave me self-confidence. The collective, fun dimension enabled me to feel legitimate and to run my first trail."
Trail Summit: The new crossroads of expertise and health
École de Trail's ambitions extend beyond the weekly club activities to include scientific and educational reflection. On November 22 and 23, the organization will host the first Trail Summit at the Aix-les-Bains Convention Center (73).
This unprecedented event aims to become the essential meeting point for cutting-edge knowledge and field experience. Open to professionals (brands, health professionals, organizers) and the general public alike, the summit will address the essential pillars of performance and well-being: health, nutrition, mental preparation and training.
For this first edition, École de Trail brought together an exceptional line-up of speakers:
Athletes committed to healthy practice: The line-up combines performance and resilience, with the likes of Ludovic Pommeret (double winner of the Hardrock 100), Camille Bruyas (athlete and physiotherapist), and Diego Pazos. Inclusion is also in the spotlight, with Boris Ghirardi (tibial amputee, Team Adaptive UTMB) and Paul Fontaine (traileur suffering from cystic fibrosis). Also taking part are Erik Clavery, Marion Delespierre, Théo Détienne and Anne-Lise Rousset.
Science at the service of sport: world-renowned experts such as Guillaume Millet (endurance science), Anthony Berthou (nutrition) and Samuel Vergès (altitude physiology). They will be joined by experts in sports psychology (Sandrine Isoard, Noémie Lienhart) and physiology (Stéphane Doutreleau, Lilian Lacourpaille, Sébastien Rattel).
Coaching expertise: Adrien Séguret (coach of the French Trail Running team), Cyril Blanchard (mental coach) and of course Sébastien Cornette.
It's not too late to get your tickets and attend the event on November 22 and 23 in Aix-les-Bains/ France.
