Women of JAT - supported by I feel Slovenia
Building a Trail Running Experience Where Women Truly Belong
At I feel Slovenia Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB, the conversation around women in trail running goes beyond participation. In collaboration with I feel Slovenia and elite Slovenian trail runner Lucija Krkoč, the Women of JAT 2026 project highlights a simple but often overlooked idea: inclusion of women in trail running events.
Through a series of videos with Lucija Krkoč, the project opens up topics that shape many women’s journeys in sport: balancing performance and family life, returning after pregnancy, representation in trail running, and the practical conditions that make a difference.
Who is Lucija Krkoč?
Lucija Krkoč is one of the leading names in Slovenian trail running, with years of international racing experience and a UTMB Index of 749. In 2025, she won the 25 km race at I feel Slovenia Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB. She is also a mother of two — an eight-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son — which makes her perspective on performance, family life and women’s experience in sport especially relevant to the Women of JAT project.
Sport and family: performance within real life
Lucija’s story reflects a reality familiar to many women in sport: performance is often built alongside everyday responsibilities, not separately from them. Training, recovery and racing are often shaped by a wider life context, where ambition and family life exist side by side. This perspective is central to the Women of JAT project. Watch the video to hear Lucija’s perspective on balancing performance, motherhood and elite trail running.
Returning after pregnancy: creating conditions for comeback
Returning to sport after pregnancy can involve physical recovery, rebuilding confidence and adjusting to a new daily rhythm. For many women, the challenge is not only whether they can return, but whether the environment around them supports that return.
At I feel Slovenia Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB, this is addressed through concrete measures, including the UTMB Path to Parenthood policy and race cut-off times designed to be realistically achievable.
Watch Lucija speak about her return to running after pregnancy in the video below.
Representation and visibility
While women’s participation in trail running continues to grow, the numbers remain lower in longer race formats such as 100K and 100M. Visibility plays an important role in that. When women see themselves represented in a sport — in its athletes, stories and race environments — it becomes easier to imagine themselves as part of it. The Women of JAT project brings those stories more clearly to the forefront.
Discover Lucija’s thoughts on why representation matters in trail running.
What does support look like in practice
At I feel Slovenia Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB, supporting women in trail running is reflected in practical decisions across the event experience. This includes:
- Adoption of the UTMB Path to Parenthood policy, supporting athletes through pregnancy and return
- Women starting first, ensuring equal visibility and positioning at the race
- Separate women-only toilets at start areas and aid stations
- Hygiene products available throughout the course
- A dedicated women-only space at the Žirovnica transition aid station
- Race cut-off times designed to be realistically achievable for women
- Continued efforts to prioritise women in visual communication, helping normalise their presence in the sport
See what stood out for Lucija in the next video.
Looking ahead
The Women of JAT project is part of a broader effort to help create a more supportive future for women in trail running. Together with I feel Slovenia, the ambition is to position the Julian Alps not only as a world-class trail running destination, but also as an environment where women can participate, return, develop and feel part of the sport across different stages of life. Every woman arrives at the start line with a different story. At I feel Slovenia Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB, the goal is to make sure those journeys are recognised and supported in the structure of the event itself.
