LiveTrail: Innovation serving the UTMB World Series Circuit
The story of LiveTrail began in 2003, during the very first UTMB®, organized by Catherine and Michel Poletti, the parents of Isabelle Poletti. At the time, Isabelle created the race website, and very soon, together with her partner Mickaël Viseux, they came up with the idea of using the web to keep runners’ families informed in real time.
They developed an initial tracking system on a volunteer basis, refining it year after year until 2009. In 2011, Isabelle’s brother, David, joined the project to manage on-the-ground operations, and in 2013, LiveTrail was officially founded.
Since then, the company has grown but has always stayed true to its vision: combining technology, a passion for trail running, and real on-the-ground needs. Today, LiveTrail supports all the events in the UTMB World Series circuit and also works with other organizers in the industry.
Sebastien Robert, LiveTrail Manager shares his experience, his vision, and the bold ambitions that drive LiveTrail to keep innovating in the service of trail running.
In what ways is LiveTrail innovating to enhance the runner experience throughout the entire journey before, during, and after the race?
"Trail running is a highly unpredictable discipline: a runner’s condition, the weather, the field… everything can change in a very short time. Our core mission is to deliver a dynamic, personalized, and real-time updated experience. Thanks to our prediction system based on various checkpoints, we can estimate split times not only for the elites but also for all other runners in the field. These predictions are continuously recalculated as the race evolves. The runner knows their goals, their pace, and can visualize their upcoming performance, as well as that of their competitors. And once they cross the finish line, they can review their split times, their ranking, and even watch their finish-line video recorded by our livecams. This video will soon be available for download, with an option to share it on social media."
Supporting and connecting with runners’ friends and families is one of LiveTrail’s key values. How do you make this happen?
"The experience of supporters has always been a central part of our vision. We want them to feel like they’re part of the race by staying as close as possible to the runners. With LiveTrail, they can track their loved ones in real time, see where they are, know when they’ll arrive at each aid station, and receive notifications as soon as the runners they follow pass a checkpoint. The LiveTrail tool, integrated into the UTMB® Live platform, even provides transportation plans, for example, at the HOKA UTMB® Mont-Blanc, so they can plan their movements, be in the right place at the right time, and cheer on their favorite runners in the best possible way. We also offer predictions for the next checkpoint, integration with the phone’s GPS for direct navigation, and livecams at certain points along the course so supporters can watch their loved ones pass by."
How does LiveTrail support event organizers with logistics and safety on the ground?
"Integrating LiveTrail into race organization provides an almost instantaneous overview of everything happening on the ground. Thanks to our tracking system, organizers can visualize in real time the flow of runners, their distribution along the course, identify who has passed certain points, who is approaching, and detect areas where tensions might arise. This is a valuable tool for safety management. In cases of bad weather, incidents, or urgent logistical needs at aid stations, organizers have a comprehensive view that enables them to react quickly. LiveTrail doesn’t just provide data — it brings clarity, agility, and intelligence to race management. »
Innovation remains at the heart of your approach. What are your current areas of development? What is LiveTrail’s ambition for the coming years?
"Data processing is a key lever for us. Our goal is to transform data into actionable insights for both runners and organizers. Data thus becomes both a strategic and operational asset. Moreover, we are investing heavily in artificial intelligence to make our predictions even more accurate. This helps us test, refine, and improve our algorithms, allowing us—for example—to provide reliable live arrival time predictions right after the second checkpoint. It’s an exciting challenge because trail running remains an unpredictable sport, influenced by many variables such as the weather. One could imagine the algorithm, thanks to AI and its learning capabilities, adjusting estimates in real time based on weather changes, trail conditions, and even the runner’s profile. In a field where innovation moves fast, we are fully aware of the need to stay at the cutting edge to keep our solution relevant. We’re also exploring multimedia formats: finish-line videos that will soon be downloadable as soon as the runner crosses the line, enriched notifications, and shareable content. All this even under poor network conditions—we optimize data flows to work smoothly on Edge or 2G networks. We want the experience to remain seamless, even in the most remote areas. More broadly, our ambition is to continue offering a comprehensive platform that serves all stakeholders: runners, supporters, and organizers. To provide a versatile solution that is at once a tracking tool, a prediction engine, a safety aid, and a source of engagement and emotion. And above all, to maintain the ability to listen to the field, adapt quickly, and innovate without losing our DNA: a passion for trail running and a strong sense of service."
