RACC Trail launched in 2022 to build the first 100% trail running club in Nantes. Three years later, they’ve reached 200 members—a fast-growing community powered by Epeak.
From Grassroots to Nearly 200 Runners in 3 Years
The RACC Trail story is a familiar one in trail running: a few runners identify a gap in the local community and build a club from scratch. But what makes RACC Trail stand out is the speed and strategy with which it scaled.
- Recruited high-level coach Théo Rageot from day one
- Hired a part-time communications manager in Season 2
- Offered affordable FFA licenses at just €80
- Partnered with JHO to equip all female runners with menstrual shorties
- Invested in pro photoshoots for their apparel line
In short, RACC Trail ran their club like a startup. But this approach came with one major challenge.
The Problem: WhatsApp Chaos
As RACC grew, the club’s original setup—a single WhatsApp group—quickly turned into a mess.
“When you have dozens of people trying to organize runs, share updates, and ask questions in one thread, it becomes impossible to follow,” says Maxime Coutant, president of RACC Trail.
Important updates got buried. New members felt lost. Managing weekly sessions became a full-time job. RACC needed a platform that could keep up with their growth—without compromising the community vibe.
The Solution: Epeak
That’s when RACC Trail turned to Epeak, a mobile-first platform built for endurance sports communities.
Why Epeak? For Maxime, two things sealed the deal:
- It’s built by a team of trail runners from Nantes.
- The product team actually listened and adapted quickly to feedback.
Built for Trail Running Communities
RACC Trail now uses Epeak to:
- Manage training sign-ups with limited spots
- Share race-day info only with registered runners
- Keep chats focused around each session or event
- Empower every member to post and lead their own runs
Favorite Feature? Limited Sign-Ups
"The ability to cap sign-ups is key for us. It helps manage coach availability and safety on the trails as our numbers grow," Maxime explains.
No more last-minute scrambling. No more overbooked sessions. Just a smooth, predictable experience for everyone involved.
Better for Members, Easier for Organizers
With Epeak, members can browse upcoming sessions, claim a spot, ask questions, or chat with the group—without wading through endless messages.
For organizers, the benefits are huge:
- Less time answering DMs
- Better planning
- Higher turnout
- More time for what matters: coaching and community
"The time saved is enormous," says Maxime. "It’s a no-brainer for a volunteer-run club like ours."
Making Trail Running More Accessible
RACC Trail isn’t just growing fast—it’s growing smart. The club has made a point to be inclusive and community-first:
- Low entry cost
- Equity-focused partnerships
- A welcoming, injury-conscious training philosophy
And with Epeak, they’re scaling all of it—without the chaos.
Trail running is booming. But many clubs still struggle to manage logistics and communication as they grow.
Maxime’s advice to them?
“Just do it. The return on investment is huge.”
A Model for the Future of Trail Running Communities
RACC Trail is proof that trail running communities are evolving. They’re faster-growing, more connected, more inclusive—and they need tools built for today.
Epeak is becoming that tool.
Whether you’re organizing 10 runners or 200, you don’t need to rely on group chats and scattered spreadsheets. Epeak offers a clean, simple way to manage real-world sports communities.
