US Trail Running Conference 2026

The US Trail Running Conference is a trail and ultrarunning conference for those who organize, cover, sponsor, and participate in off-road events. Its mission centers on race directors, with brands, athletes, media, and outdoor industry leaders collaborating to discuss the practical future of the sport. A listed edition is set for Nashville, Tennessee, providing the gathering an urban setting instead of the mountain-town environment one might associate with trail running. Terry Chiplin founded the conference, now overseen by UltraSignup. The attendees are key: race directors can compare notes with colleagues, brands can learn about event needs, media can connect with individuals shaping the race calendar, and runners can gain insight into decisions behind trail and ultra races. Dale Garland of Hardrock 100 described it as a venue for exchanging ideas and mutual learning, while Shalini Bhajjan highlighted the diversity of peers present at a recent edition.