Vision

The SMART Method

A man in a green sports jersey with yellow accents, crossing his arms, looking directly at the camera against a dark background.

Scientific modelling approach on racing and training

A circular logo with a mountain in white at the top, and silhouettes of a man and woman running below it. The background is dark teal. Text reads 'TRAIL RUNNING SMART' and 'Scientific Modelling Approach on Racing and Training'.

Coaching is my passion, my happy place. While it has been developed as a training and racing method, SMART is more than that. It is my vision about how we can improve our sport and reach our adventure goals by working smarter.

Don't forget - Trail Running is adventure. Let's keep it that way by focusing on what we can control and leave the rest to unfold on the trails. I don't believe I know it all, but for sure I do want to find out everything there is to know about the sport and the science behind training and racing efficiently.

Scenic view of snow-capped mountains with rugged rocky slopes and a partly cloudy sky.
Mountain trail signs indicating distances and estimated hiking times to Col Gran Ferret, Rifugio Elena, and La Fouly, with rugged mountain peaks in the background under a clear blue sky.
A black and white close-up image of a man with short dark hair, a beard, and a mustache, wearing a athletic shirt, looking directly at the camera.

Mission

I am passionate about understanding human performance so I can be able to convert my knowledge into helping more athletes rise up to their full potential in order to make the most of their trail running adventures.

Majestic mountain landscape with rocky slopes, patches of snow, a turquoise lake, and a bright sun in a clear blue sky.

Core Values

#PASSION #COMMITMENT #DEDICATION #DUTY #COMMUNITY #RESPONSABILITY

I am very passionate about our sport and commited in my work. I believe that I have the duty to give back to the community by dedicating focus to promoting trail running and the adventures it brings. This is a big responsibility but also a big emotional reward.

#KNOWLEDGE #LEARNING #EVOLUTION #TEAMWORK #OPEN-MINDED #CREATIVITY

I am constantly looking to evolve by improving my knowledge. By being open-minded, working together and learning everyday something new, we have the chance to engage in creativity, therefore being able to understand more about human performance.

#INDIVIDUALITY #RESPECT #CHALLENGE #ADAPTABILITY #TECHNOLOGY #SCIENCE

I believe in challenging the status-quo and in being adaptable to changes that take place around us. This is why I value science and technology but also acknowledge and respect what others contributed and/or are contributing to the sport in a more classical manner. No matter the amount, bringing more knowledge to the table can only enhance the level of individualization, a key aspect of my approach to training and racing.

My story.

"It all started back in 2017 when I first found out trail running is a sport. After training without a coach for some time, I approached Trail Running Academy, led by the best Romanian ultra-runner Robert Hajnal, in search for some help with my training. Right away I got what I needed from two of the most experienced Romanian athletes in this sport, Robert and Andrei Ivănescu-Gliga (with Andrei being my head coach and also a close friend). After some years of passionately following trail running and constantly improving my knowledge in order to understand more of our sport, I considered I had a few ideas of my own about how I could influence our sport in a somehow positive way, bringing in some newer perspectives on how training and racing should be approached. This is when I started to research more and more on the subject of human performance, training and optimal development in sports. Soon, with the help of Robert, Andrei and my thirst for knowledge I managed to get deeper into physiology and the relevant science, with the sole purpose of developing my own method of training and racing. I wanted to see, think, imagine and apply how things should be rather than how they are now in the sport of trailrunning, contemplating more deeply about developing a more holistic approach to this beautiful sport of ours. This is when the Trail Running SMART Project was brought to life, and also when I first started to coach my first athletes. As it all started as a passion for the sport of trail running and with the motivation of giving something back to the community and the environment we play in, I am continuously led by the desire of achieving more knowledge in order to help others discover our sport and also reach their goals while having an adventure that will last for a lifetime. Trail running is ADVENTURE! So.. log in memories, not miles. :) See you out there, on the trails."

- Vlad Jegan - founder of Trail Running SMART and current coach at Trail Running Academy

Logo for trail running smart with silhouette of man and woman running in front of a mountain.
Two men taking a selfie outdoors on a sunny day, with a wooden structure and mountainous landscape in the background.
Three men wearing jackets and beanies standing outdoors in front of a building with glass windows and a yellow grid structure. The man on the left is smiling, wearing a blue beanie, a blue jacket, and a black backpack. The man in the middle has a serious expression, wearing a green beanie and a black jacket. The third man on the right is partially visible.
Four men in athletic gear taking a selfie outdoors, surrounded by snow and trees, with a mountain and rocks in the background.
A man wearing a blue hooded jacket and black sunglasses taking a selfie outdoors under a blue sky with some clouds, with a small wooden house and trees in the background.
A person in outdoor gear taking a photo with a smartphone in a mountainous landscape with a lake, snow-capped peaks, and blue sky.
Group of four people outdoors on a dirt trail, one man in a green jacket flexing his arm, two men in black and yellow jackets watching, and a child partially visible wearing green on the right.
Scenic view of a city and river valley from a hilltop with mountains in the background, cloudy sky, and mist over the landscape during sunrise or sunset.
Mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks, green forested slopes, and a rushing stream in the foreground.

  • I'm passionate about trail running but also a data geek and a meticulous researcher on all the topics that generate interest for me.

    I am improvement driven and somehow faithful to understanding human performance - in sport in general but in trailrunning in particular.

    I also enjoy being out in the outdoors as much as I can, doing hiking, fishing, MTB, climbing and other things that keep me connected to nature.

  • Because I care about my athletes.

    Because your time is precious and you deserve to spend it wisely.

    Because you need someone who doesn't just copy/paste’s programmes but who adjusts everything day in day out.

    Because I don’t train everyone. I have limited spots so that I can focus entirely on our chosen athletes.

    Because coaching is personal. For me, communication is key, that’s why I am always in contact with my athletes 24/7.

  • You get reimbursed. No questions asked.

Trail running is adventure.

Trail running is adventure.