Family trail running: an adventure for all ages

Trail running often brings to mind long distances, steep climbs and hours spent in the mountains. However, there is another way to approach this sport. One that can start much earlier, where sharing the experience matters more than watching the clock.

Family trail running turns exercise into a shared adventure. Walking, running, discovering new landscapes and tackling small challenges can introduce children to sport through play, nature and quality time with their family.

You do not need to begin with a long distance, either.

Sometimes, that first kilometre matters most.

Why introduce children to trail running?

Movement is central to a child’s development. Running, jumping, walking and playing help make physical activity a natural part of everyday life. The World Health Organization recommends that children and adolescents aged between 5 and 17 should engage in an average of at least 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity. At this age, staying active supports physical fitness, bone health, cardiometabolic health and mental wellbeing.

Encouraging an active lifestyle, however, does not mean turning every outing into a training session.

For children especially, sport should also be about play, discovery and fun. That is where outdoor activities such as trail running come into their own.

Why exercising together matters

Children do not discover sport solely through PE lessons or after-school clubs. Family life can shape their relationship with physical activity too.

Various scientific reviews have found a positive link between parents’ and children’s activity levels, suggesting that family involvement can help children lead more active lives.

That makes a trip to the mountains more than just a weekend outing.

When adults walk, run and enjoy the outdoors with younger family members, sport stops feeling like a chore. Instead, it becomes part of the time they enjoy together.

Every challenge is different

Five kilometres may feel short to an experienced runner. For a child taking their first steps in trail running, it can be a genuine adventure.

Matching the distance and difficulty to each person’s age and ability is key to making the experience a positive one.

On those first outings, the aim need not be to run faster or finish ahead of everyone else. It can simply be to keep moving, explore the route and enjoy the journey.

Stop.

Start running again.

Encourage one another.

And finish together.

That is how children begin to associate sport with positive feelings and moments shared with others.

Family Race: the thrill of racing together

The Family Race is Tenerife Bluetrail by UTMB®’s invitation to experience the buzz of race day together.

The event follows a route of around five kilometres and is open to family teams of up to five, with at least one adult and one child.

It gives children and adults the chance to experience Tenerife Bluetrail by UTMB® side by side.

Starting in the San Felipe ravine in Puerto de la Cruz, the route leads families to a memorable finish on Playa de Martiánez beach.

Five kilometres to run, walk, cheer each other on and keep moving together.

When the whole family gets involved, the finish line becomes more than one runner’s achievement; it becomes a memory everyone shares.

Peque Race: a first taste of trail running

What about the little ones?

They have their own race too.

The Peque Race is for children under seven, who take part with an adult. Its route of around one kilometre lets young runners soak up the Tenerife Bluetrail by UTMB® atmosphere and cross the same finish line on Playa de Martiánez beach.

It might only be a kilometre.

But for a child lacing up their running shoes for the first time, it can feel like a huge adventure.

The Peque Race is a fun, friendly introduction to sport, giving parents and children the chance to share the pre-race butterflies, enjoy the course and celebrate at the finish.

Much more than running

Trail running with children is also a chance to connect with the natural world in a new way.

The mountains encourage us to watch our step, recognise different types of terrain, pace ourselves and realise that we don’t always have to rush.

A family outing can be a chance to explore a footpath, have a chat whilst walking, or simply spend a few hours away from more sedentary routines.

Introducing children to trail running is not about producing the mountain runners of tomorrow.

The real aim may be much simpler: to help them discover that being active can be fun.

If they want to carry on running afterwards, there will be time to clock up some kilometres.

The memories matter too

Research into family physical activity suggests that doing things together can encourage children to be more active while strengthening family bonds.

Any family that has crossed a finish line together will recognise the feeling.

Getting ready together.

Waiting for the start.

Cheering one another on along the route.

Celebrating when someone is tired but keeps going.

Taking the finish-line photo that, years later, will mean far more than the time on the clock.

Sport creates memories. When the whole family joins in, those memories belong to everyone.

Tenerife Bluetrail by UTMB®: a race for every generation

The Tenerife Bluetrail by UTMB® 2027 will take place from 8 to 10 April, with races across a range of distances and formats.

And there is much more to the event than its headline races.

With the Family Race and Peque Race, Saturday 10 April will also put families and young runners centre stage.

The Family Race will offer a five-kilometre experience to enjoy as a group, while the Peque Race will allow children under the age of seven to run one kilometre accompanied by an adult.

Two ways to show that you do not have to wait until you are older or cover dozens of kilometres to experience the thrill of a trail race.

Because a passion for being active, discovering new trails and enjoying nature can also begin as a family.

And perhaps the memory of that first finish line will be the start of many more.

The Family Race and Peque Race will return as part of Tenerife Bluetrail by UTMB® 2027. Discover the routes and get ready to experience "La Mágica" as a family.