About us

Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB - Where the Ibex Spirit Stands Guard

I Feel Slovenia Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB® is the largest trail running event in Slovenia and the only one included in the globally renowned UTMB World Series. Each year, more than 5,000 runners from over 80 countries come to experience the raw, unspoiled wilderness of the** Julian Alps and the Karavanke Mountains. **

The event was born out of respect for this environment — for its rhythm, its silence, and its truth. Our routes do not seek shortcuts; they follow the honesty of the mountains and the natural logic of the terrain. That is why we run only where the mountains and nature truly welcome us.

Along these ridgelines, many runners feel something shift within themselves — something ancient, forgotten, and deeply authentic. When you step onto these trails, you do not merely step onto a path. You enter a space where, for millennia, the Spirit of the Ibex (Capra Ibex) has stood watch — the guardian of these mountains.

Before the mountains had names, and before humans walked among their shadows, the Julian Alps already had their guardian. Born of stone, wind, and eternal silence, the Spirit of the Alpine Ibex emerged — a being that stands between worlds. Its footsteps echo through the rock, where paths are born long before they are walked. Its presence holds the balance between sky and earth, between elevation and humility. When mist wraps itself around the ridges and the walls of Mount Triglav meet the first light of morning, the wilderness awakens. This is a place where you are tested, but never against the mountain — only against yourself. It has been so from the beginning. And so it remains. Here, a step is measured not in strength, but in respect. Here, courage is not loud, but a silence that does not break. Here, the challenge does not take place in the legs, but in the soul. Here, where the Ibex Spirit Stands Guard.

“What matters most to us is that our passion for the event is recognised by the local community, that our efforts are seen by local residents, and that we can always work hand in hand with agricultural communities, representatives of Triglav National Park, and others. This is what truly matters to us.

We deeply value the praise from runners and the growing interest in the event, which has been consistently sold out in recent years. However, for our long-term vision, what matters most is respectful coexistence with local communities and the awareness that, in the natural environment, we are merely guests — entering areas where the spirit of ibex, chamois, capercaillie, and other wildlife has reigned long before us.

Throughout its history, the event has experienced two key breakthrough moments. The first came immediately after the inaugural edition, when we significantly strengthened the team and laid the foundations for the event as it exists today. At that time, we joined forces with the teams behind Kranjska Gora Trail Run, Ultra Trail Vipava Valley, and the Soča Outdoor Festival. The second major breakthrough was undoubtedly the event’s inclusion in the UTMB World Series, of which we have been part since its inception in 2022. This marked the moment when the event stepped onto the global stage of the world’s leading trail running races.

Where do we hope the trails will lead us in the future? We remain committed to strong relationships with local communities, which are the very heart of the event. Year after year, we strive to enhance the experience for runners, so that it is not just another race, but the defining experience of the season — an experience for a lifetime. And we hope that through the event, you will feel ever more deeply the natural, local, and cultural heritage of the region, and merge with the Spirit of the Ibex along the trails.”

— A commitment by the event’s co-founder, Luka Hren, fully shared by the entire team.

2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

2019

1,000 runners
Distances: 10 / 15 / 30 / 60 km

2020

- Event cancelled due to COVID-19

2021

1,200 runners
Distances: 10 / 15 / 30 / 60 / 110 / 170 km

2022

2,300 runners
Distances: 10 / 15 / 30 / 60 / 110 / 170 km (170 km race cancelled due to floods and landslides)
Part of the UTMB World Series since its inception (2022)

2023

3,000 runners
Distances: 10 / 15 / 25 / 60 / 100 / 170 km
Part of the UTMB World Series
Runners from more than 80 countries worldwide

2024

3,600 runners
Distances: 10 / 15 / 25 / 50 / 80 / 120 km
Part of the UTMB World Series
Runners from more than 80 countries worldwide

2025

5,000 runners
Distances: 10 / 15 / 25 / 50 / 80 / 120 km
Part of the UTMB World Series
Runners from more than 80 countries worldwide

SUSTAINABILITY & NATURE

The event takes place in one of Europe’s most valuable natural areas — among the ridgelines of the Julian Alps, the slopes of the Karavanke Mountains, and within the protected areas of Triglav National Park.

We are committed to:

responsibly designed courses that follow existing trails and avoid sensitive areas,
minimising environmental impact through controlled logistics and the reduction of waste and noise,
close cooperation with local institutions and residents who know the mountain environment best and live within it,
educating runners on safe and responsible movement in nature,
respecting wildlife and alpine ecosystems to ensure that their natural rhythms and habitats remain undisturbed.

Enter the circle guarded by the Ibex. On these trails, two truths meet: yours, and the one carried by the mountains. The Ibex stands watch, the mountain puts you to the test, and with each step you become part of a story that has been unfolding for millennia. Welcome to the story of the Ibex, the runners, and the mountains — the story of I Feel Slovenia Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB, a race that chooses you.