Dreaming of running the UTMB®? Until 2021, you had to accumulate ITRA points by completing several qualifying races. Since 2022, that system has changed: the organisation introduced a new framework based on the UTMB Index and Running Stones. Here's what you need to know to enter.
Before 2022: the ITRA points system
Each qualifying race awarded a certain number of ITRA (International Trail Running Association) points, based on its distance and elevation gain. To register for the UTMB (170 km), you needed to accumulate 10 points across a maximum of two races within a 2-year window.
This system, well known among trail runners, was discontinued in 2022 in favour of a more integrated ecosystem.
New registration rules: UTMB Index and Running Stones
To enter the UTMB lottery, you now need to meet two requirements:
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Hold a valid UTMB Index in the relevant category or categories (100K or 100M for the flagship UTMB® race)
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Hold at least one Running Stone, earned by taking part in a race on the UTMB World Series circuit
The UTMB Index measures your performance level across different distances (20K, 50K, 100K, 100M). It is automatically generated upon completing UTMB Index-labelled races. Running Stones, meanwhile, act as entry tickets for the lottery.
How is the UTMB Index calculated?
The UTMB Index calculation uses the methodology originally developed for the ITRA rating, which was acquired by the UTMB® organisation in 2021. An Index is calculated independently for each of the 4 distance categories (20K, 50K, 100K, 100M): it activates as soon as a race in that category is completed within the last 24 months, then calculates based on the average of your 5 best results over the last 36 months in that category. An Overall Index, based on all your results across all categories, is also available once at least one category has been validated.
ITRA points and UTMB Index: what's the difference?
Both rankings still exist in parallel and are similar (both use a scale of 0 to 1000), but they are not identical. As ITRA lost the rights to the original algorithm taken over by UTMB®, it had to recalculate its own rating through reverse engineering: the two scores are therefore close, but may diverge slightly depending on the races and corrections applied. To register for UTMB®, only the UTMB Index is taken into account.
You can check your UTMB Index on the official UTMB World website, and your ITRA rating on the official ITRA rankings.
In summary:
ITRA points are no longer required. You need: 1 Running Stone + 1 valid UTMB Index.
Choose your races on the UTMB World Series circuit to qualify.
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