The Garda Trentino Trail is much more than a competition, it is an expression of a passion and a project born from a group of friends. President Matteo Paternostro speaks
by Sara Canali
Within the rich calendar of events of the first European Outdoor & Running Week, scheduled in Riva del Garda from May 14 to 19, the eleventh edition of Garda Trentino Trail also finds its place, which is increasingly becoming a reference sporting event for the world of trail running. Thanks to the partnership between the race organization and MagNet, a limited number of free bibs will be made available to registered operators (by writing to info@mag-net.it until April 30, 2026). We asked Matteo Paternostro, president of Garda Trentino Trail a.s.d., to tell us about the genesis and evolution of a competition that is carving out an increasingly important space in the trail running landscape. 
How, when, and by whom was the idea of Garda Trentino Trail born?
In the years 2014/2015, in Arco there was a group called “Va Piam che te te strachi” (go slowly so you don’t get tired, in the local dialect), which organized monthly trail running outings. Among the participants was Manuel Peroni, who had a store selling shoes and sportswear. After many times he proposed to me to organize a race, one day I said to him: “If I find three other people besides the two of us, I’m in.” It was spring 2015 and in May, in a pizzeria in Torbole, there was the first informal meeting of these five people who, spreading a map on the table, roughly defined the race route. In August we organized what we called “edition 00”, because it preceded edition 0, which took place on November 1st. The two tests were different: in August a group of local friends participated, while in November we invited about ten experienced athletes, who gave us feedback from another point of view. The first edition took place on May 7, 2016, a year after the first meeting.
What type of competition did you initially imagine?
We didn’t have big goals in mind, just to create a race that would grow over time and that would have a not too technical route, so that it could be run by most people. In fact, we immediately understood that to “compete” with other internationally renowned events organized in Garda Trentino (such as the Bike Festival) we had to grow in numbers and in quality. 
After 11 years, what has changed and how much has the event grown?
After 11 years, GTT has more than tripled the number of participants (1,728 in 2025) and significantly increased the foreign presence, reaching about 30% (from the initial 17%), with athletes from over 40 countries. A weekend of races with six different distances (three of the initial ones, concentrated on Saturday) has also been created, distributed between Friday and Sunday. The turning point was 2020: we managed to organize the race anyway, moving it to September, and this gave us strong visibility, with positive effects in the following years. What has changed the most is the commitment required, in terms of time and professionalism. Today mine is a part-time job in every respect, while the group is made up of seven heads of service who manage the different areas. The organizing team consists of 14 members, to whom over 400 volunteers are added, the true architects of the event. While maintaining a voluntary spirit, increasing professionalism has become essential to manage an event of this level.
What territory does the Garda Trentino Trail cover?
It is one of the most beautiful and suitable territories for outdoor disciplines on the continent. A destination for millions of tourists every year, especially from Northern Europe, it offers water sports, mountain biking, climbing, and trekking. In recent years, trail running has also gained space, both due to the growing popularity of the discipline and the visibility brought by GTT. Furthermore, even in winter it is possible to run on trails at intermediate altitudes, often free of snow and with mild temperatures. This is also demonstrated by the Garda Trentino Xmas Trail, which every December brings over 1,300 athletes to the starting line in Torbole.
Has your event also helped in the development of a trail running culture in the area or does it rather represent the expression of this passion?
I would say more the former. We were not born 20 years ago, but 2015 is not so recent either. The race has helped to create a culture of trail running as an off-road alternative to road running. Furthermore, Garda Trentino is relatively far from areas like the Turin-Venice axis, where many races and self-managed trails were already found ten years ago. 
How is the trail running community in the area changing?
The data shows that many runners are moving from the road to the mountains, facing it in a faster and lighter way. Companies are also offering more shoes than boots, even for walkers. In Garda Trentino, it is now common to see runners leaving from lakeside hotels towards the trails. Even locals take advantage of the territory all year round. Arco, with its strong presence of outdoor shops, contributes to supporting this constant growth.
Looking to the future, what are your goals?
The goals are similar to those of 10 years ago: to grow gradually, consolidate the technical part, and improve the post-race experiences. The idea is to make the event attractive also for companions and families, offering collateral activities and moments of conviviality that entice them to return.
Would you like to be part of one of the national or international circuits of long-distance races?
We had a first approach, but it is a delicate choice. We feel GTT as our home and we fear that external entities may introduce critical issues, even though they bring advantages. For now, we have set aside the idea: GTT ASD is solid and does not need external interventions. In the future, it can be evaluated, perhaps with local support, but the goal remains to grow independently.
