How to qualify for UTMB, CCC or OCC

Now that the entry process has changed for UTMB, CCC and OCC I get asked about qualification more than ever by the runners I coach and on social media.

In this video, I do my best to break down exactly how you can get to the UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix.

If you think I have missed anything please let me know in the comments!

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[GaryHouseCoaching]

I tried my best to understand and explain but any comments welcome you be trying to make it to UTMB finals weekend in future?

[snickersthingz]

I landed a CCC spot for 2024 with the only qualifying run was in 2022

[themightyoaks]

Before UTMB partnered with Iron Man, points from several independent races could offer qualifying stones which meant that runners could acquire qualifying stones without the extra cost of traveling out of the country. This meant independent and community event organisers would also attract new entrants into the races and local area. Ironman now own the main Ultras in New Zealand & Australia. The new process is having a detrimental impact on none UTMB qualifying races and encourages a bigger carbon footprint with one qualifying race per country so those looking for points will fly more. John Kelly Tweeted when the news was made on the UTMB partnership with IRONMAN ‘In my time as a triathlete I did 8 Ironmans (plus a handful of half IMs... sorry, I mean 70.3s), went to Kona twice, and even went pro for a race. And I can't even begin to put into words all the horrible thoughts I have on this.” and I like many agree with him.

[MoiseCoulon]

Some case-studies or examples would be useful, with a table showing how stones and index adds-up for various scenarios. My main 2 questions though remain 1)if you complete one 100k world series race, do you get both 3 stones and an index in the 100k category ? 2)for the index looks like you just need to complete 1 single 100k "valid" race to have a 100k index for UTMB and it does not matter how high or low the index is when entering the ballot, so I guess the most important will be to get as many stones as possible for more chance in the draw?

[FlyandFeather]

Finally someone made sense of all this!

[KelpandFern]

After watching two other explainer videos and looking through UTMB World Series races on/off for the past few months I was still confused. No more, thanks Gary!

I was still lost on the index (There is literally zero context to what that number means unless you go look at an elite and realise your number is much smaller) and thought i had to hit a specific number, like 450 (arbitrary number) to hit the "level required" to do the CCC and after only doing 50K World Series races to get 2 stones was still unsure whether I qualified. But the explanation you gave was easily the clearest I have seen and I know exactly where I am now in the pursuit of racing in Chamonix one year.

[_ChrisHayes]

Perfect 👍 A mate was asking me how you get an entry for UTMB yesterday but I didn’t have a clue. Shared this with him 👌

[GirlsCanRun]

Thanks for that Gary, still thinking ‘24 might be on the Logie wishlist!! 3 stones in the bag, maybe 2 or 3 more next year depending on what you think of those races I sent you the link to 🤔

[markcarrington]

Thanks Gary, your summary of the qualification process was really helpful and I have signed up for next years UTS50 as part of the stone collecting. I do think a lot of the changes are mostly a money making exercise and will lead to a quite elitist field but there is nothing much that can be done about it and just have to get on with it. Great video

[jamstaa]

Did you include? I think I’ve read this… the stones are returned to you if you are unsuccessful in the lottery to use again.. but all stones only have a two year expiry.
I definitely want to do the occ one day, and once I’ve successfully done a 100k, I’d like to do the ccc.. depending on how I fair in the occ with the real mountain trail and elevation.. it’ll be interesting to see how much of a chance we really get at getting a place when the average person only has access to one stone presenting race a year. I mean look at the s*it show the London marathon has become, people try for five and more years without getting a place… could I be looking at the same issue with my only two or even four stones doing UTS50 each year. 🤷🏽 Great video.. thanks for simplifying it.

[js]

Well if you missed anything out Gary, and anyone noticed, they deserve an immediate qualifying place. If you didn't miss anything out, then you definitely deserve a qualifying place.

[stuartholmes]

Thanks Gary really helpful. A couple of things I'm not clear about; 1. If I run UTS in 2023 would the acquired stone count for UTMB 2025 even though they are more than two years apart (in other words is the limit 2 years before race day or the lottery). 2. Am I right in thinking your actual Index value doesn't matter.
Would be really interested in knowing what/where the 2nd UK event will be!

[MrBlixton]

Nice video. I thought it was the index that expired after 2 years and stones last until they’re successfully used? I have a 100k index from MdS this year but pretty sure it’ll have expired before my target of UTMB’24. Cheers!

[danthacker]

Thanks for the info Gary, looking at entry for next year 2024 but can't find anyway what date the pre-registration is, any ideas?

[kankick]

What do you think is there any advantages of participating in lottery as a group? For example, we are 4 friends and each of us has 2 stones. How does it work? Our group is like one unit or let's say if only one of my friends wins a lottery, so all of us will go to UTMB as a group?

[jorgemoura]

What happens to your stones if you get a place? Loose all of them?
Let say I collected 8 stones over 2 years. Got into CCC. Will I loose all 8 stones?

[markphilpottultra]

Hi Gary, thank you for taking the time to make this video. Question: Does age come into it at all. I am 57 years young, and are trying to make it to UTMB, so, are you saying I am up against some 20/ 30 year olds wanting the same goal?

[kevinstrangway]

Things may have changed since this came out. RUNNING STONES DO NOT EXPIRE. BUT you require 1 running stone acquired within the last 2 years to enter the draw.

[spoons]

Its like a degree into Quantum Physics 😅 😂 🤣

[mikehall]

I've entered UTMB and CCC with out any luck. It used to be a guarantee that you would get in on your third attempt. Do you know if failed attempts are still taken into consideration. 🤔