Sports
Depa Analyzes the Global Evolution and Future of Trail Running
On STEMMA na Trilha, Sidney Togumi speaks with the Spanish commentator on professionalization, circuits, and the sport's future.
Sidney Togumi hosts Spanish journalist and commentator José Antonio de Pablo, known as Depa, for an in-depth look at global trail running. The conversation explores the sport's growth, the local impact of major events, athlete professionalization, and the technical evolution of ultra-distance races.
Sidney Togumi hosted one of the most experienced voices in global trail running on STEMMA na Trilha: Spanish journalist and commentator José Antonio de Pablo, known as Depa. In a dialogue exploring the sport's recent transformations, the two discuss everything from infrastructure challenges driven by growing crowds to market demands on the new generation of high-performance athletes.
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Depa's journey in the sport and his trail projects
Depa looks back on his early involvement with sports in childhood, playing handball and competing in track and field before transitioning to mountain running in the late 1990s. With over two decades in sports media, he highlights his role as director of Revista Trail Run in Spain and the creation of Ribera Run, an event that pairs trail running across Valladolid with local wine tourism.
The global growth of trail running and local community impact
The sport's expansion has drawn thousands of participants to tourist towns and mountain villages. Depa and Togumi discuss each athlete's individual responsibility regarding the mindful use of public spaces, highlighting that municipal authorities and race organizers must structure local mobility and services to ensure balanced coexistence with residents.
The role of major circuits, global brands, and live broadcasts
The consolidation of circuits such as the Golden Trail World Series and the UTMB World Series has transformed the sport's visibility, attracting direct investment from major global athletic brands. Live streaming has reached television-level production standards, allowing fans worldwide to follow major Alpine races and events in small towns like Zegama in real time.
Trail running development in Latin America and international reach
With a history of announcing at South American events like El Cruce, Depa emphasizes the runners' passion and the high technical quality of regional race organizations. The discussion notes that while internationally sanctioned races attract overseas athletes to the continent, the Latin American scene is still working to establish more homegrown talent at the top of the European circuit.
Trail running at the Olympic Games and the doping issue
The prospect of including trail running in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic program is seen as a key catalyst to inspire youth participation and broaden institutional support. At the same time, growing prize purses and heightened performance demands highlight the need for stricter out-of-competition anti-doping testing outside official championships.
The future of the sport and path to athlete professionalization
Looking ahead at the coming years, Depa argues that full professionalization requires more than just race results. To attract and retain significant sponsors, an athlete must deliver communication value, engage promptly with media outlets, and build a close, inspiring relationship with the community and fans.
Record-breaking ultramarathons and the rise of women in trail
Finishing times in 100-mile races are regularly shattering historic marks, and expectations surrounding the consistent arrival of African runners promise to push the sport's pace even faster. Furthermore, the exceptional performance of women in ultra-distance events stands as a driving force for democratization and competitive depth across the international scene.
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