L'key takeaway: L'UTMB Index measures your trail running performance level based on your race results, not your ranking. A category remains valid if you have finished a race in it within the past 24 months. For the finals lottery, a valid index isn't enough: you also need a Running Stone earned within the past two years.
L'UTMB Index draws on more than 11.4 million individual results to measure your trail running level. Yet many runners don't know how it's calculated or how to check it. In this article, you'll learn how it's calculated, how to read your own or another runner's index, and what it means in practical terms for your race registrations.
Contents
- The UTMB Index for trail running: a score based on your race results
- How the score is calculated for each race
- Having a valid index: deadlines and categories to keep in mind
- Find your score or another runner's
- What a good Index is for when registering for races
- What the score doesn’t tell you, and how it differs from the ITRA score
- FAQ
The UTMB Index for trail running: a score based on your race results
L'UTMB Index measures a runner's performance level based on their trail results. It is used to compare performances, not to rank runners by finishing position. The calculation is based on more than 11.4 million individual results, making it a statistically robust tool.
L' general index covers all categories above 20 km of effort. The four category indexes, 20K, 50K, 100K, and 100M, include only their respective formats. Track the index for your format, not the general one. A race score stays fixed for that edition, but your index changes with each new result. To better understand what distance counts as an ultra, see our ultra-trail distance guidelines and the associated categories.
How the score is calculated for each race
A race score does not depend on your finishing position. It starts with your finish time and compares it with the performances of runners in events with similar distances and elevation gain. So what counts is your time, not the number of competitors you passed on the final climb.
L'index is a weighted average of your five best scores. Your best score carries the most weight, followed by the others, each a little less. Each race has its own score, based on a statistical model specific to each edition. Recent results carry more weight: after 12 months, a negative weighting reduces their value. L'index is recalculated daily and can drop even without a new race. That's the rule, so it's better to plan for it than be caught off guard.
Having a valid index: deadlines and categories to keep in mind
To keep a valid index in a category, finish at least one UTMB World Series or UTMB Index race in that category within the last 24 months. Make a note of the date in your calendar: a category with no recent race loses its validity without warning.
Once a category is activated, several factors contribute to your index:
- Results from the last 36 months can all count toward the calculation, not just your latest race.
- One result is enough to get an index. But with fewer than five results, it receives a slight negative weighting: the more races you accumulate, the better.
- UTMB Index races are organized by partners around the world. After the race, the organizer submits your official results. You can't add one yourself using a link.
Find your score or another runner's
View your own UTMB Index
Create a My UTMB account by verifying your email address, then complete your details using the same name as on your race registrations. Your results will then be linked automatically. If your index doesn't appear, search for your name in the UTMB Index, open the profile containing your results, and request to have it linked. Check your name before anything else: it's the most common reason for missing results.
Once your results are linked, your My UTMB account gives you access to four things:
- Your Index, the first thing to look at when you open your account.
- Detailed statistics for all your past races, so you can see where you're improving.
- A graphical comparison with other runners to see where you stand.
- Your number of Running Stones, worth keeping an eye on for the finals lottery.
View another runner's index
To view another runner’s public profile, go to Runner search, enter their name, and choose the category you want (20K, 50K, 100K, or 100M). Open their profile to see their Indexes by category and comparison chart, which you can filter by gender, age group, or country. If a result is missing, look for it in the race results and then request that it be linked to their profile. If the same runner has duplicate profiles, you can request that they be merged from your account.
What a good Index is for when registering for races
A valid Index gives you access to a 48-hour priority pre-registration window, before general registration opens for UTMB World Series races. When places go fast, that’s a real advantage. To make the most of it, sign in to My UTMB or create an account when you register.
This doesn’t guarantee you a place: each race has its own rules and participant limits. For a 100K or 100M race with experience requirements, you need a valid Index in the right category. For the finals lottery, you also need a Running Stone earned within the last two years. To prepare your registration, read our advice on how many Running Stones you need for the UTMB. Count your stones before entering the lottery: a valid Index without a Running Stone isn’t enough.
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What the score doesn’t tell you, and how it differs from the ITRA score
The limitations of the UTMB Index
A good Index doesn’t get you a place. It doesn’t tell you your ranking or your finishing position in a race. It’s an estimate of your level, nothing more. Another point that’s often overlooked: an UTMB Index race can raise your Index, but it doesn’t earn you any Running Stones. Only UTMB World Series events and Majors award them. Check the rules for each race before registering, and don’t rely on your Index alone to confirm your eligibility for the lottery.
For the lottery, you need a valid Index and at least one Running Stone earned within the two years before registration closes. Without both, you can’t enter the draw. Check your Running Stones before relying on your Index.
UTMB Index and ITRA rating
Both scores measure your level, but use different rules. To better understand the ITRA rating, see how it is calculated and how to improve it day to day.
| Criterion | ITRA rating | UTMB Index |
|---|---|---|
| Calculation | Finish time, distance, elevation gain, altitude, with an adjustment based on the field | UTMB World Series race results or UTMB Index |
| Categories | Overall, Vertical, 10K, half marathon, marathon, 50K, 50 miles, 100K, 100 miles, Endurance | 20K, 50K, 100K, 100M |
| Period | Up to five top scores over 36 months | A result from the last 24 months; results from the last 36 months can be used |
L'UTMB Index measures your level, not your ranking. For the Finals lottery, you also need a Running Stone earned within the past two years. Sign in to My UTMB, check that your name matches the one on your registrations, then check your Running Stones before getting started.
FAQ
How long after a race does the result appear in the UTMB Index?
Full results generally appear within an hour of being submitted by the organizer. If you don’t see them, allow one business day for manual verification first, then one to three days for score validation.
Can anyone view my UTMB Index without a My UTMB account?
Anyone can view your UTMB Index without a My UTMB account. Just use Runner search or public profiles. A My UTMB account adds more detailed personal statistics, which are useful if you want to track your progress.
Does a valid Index guarantee a spot in UTMB World Series races?
No. A valid Index gives you 48 hours of priority pre-registration, but each race’s rules and the number of available spots still apply. Those 48 hours matter when spots go fast: don’t let them pass you by.