Has anyone else had the email or seen the changes that the UTMB organisers are making to their entry system?
https://utmbmontblanc.com/en/blog/103
From 2020, the lottery will become more flexible....The probability of being selected is therefore proportional to the number of times a runner has failed to gain entry in the previous years.
In addition [to the lottery]... the organization will introduce a parallel system offering faster access to its races, starting from January 2020... based on the concept of the “Running Stones", which will only be awarded to the Finishers of a limited number of races, carefully selected by the UTMB®.
If the runner doesn’t have enough Running Stones, he/she will be able to trade them for additional tickets in the lottery thus improving the probability of being selected.
From January 2020 .... it will be possible to collect Running Stones by participating in ... existing "by UTMB®" events (Gaoligong, Ushuaia, Oman, etc.) as well as, and this is a first - the 2020 Ultra-Trail® World Tour events. UTMB® and Ultra-Trail® World Tour.
Also, they're reducing the entry requirements for the 2020 lottery (eg. 10 points in 2 races for UTMB).
What this seems to do is make it easier for people to gain a UTMB place if they've paid to run (and complete) one of the new UTMB races like Oman. The current system of accumulating ITRA points (and the cost involved for race organisers to provide these for their races) was something that got lots of people's backs up so I think this is only going to make it worse. I especially don't like the concept of trading Running Stones for an additional lottery chance.
It also feels like those of us who are just happy to accumulate points by doing races we like at a leisurely pace are going to stand less chance in the lottery due to the number of 'Running Stones' (what a stupid name) entrants.
I've currently got enough points to enter UTMB on the old system but didn't make it through the lottery for this year and can try again next year. I'd quite like to complete the triptych of CCC, TDS and UTMB and so just want to tick the last one off. Whatever your thoughts about the commercialisation of the event, there's no getting away from the fact that it's a fantastic experience as a runner.
I don't have a problem with commercialisation as such and the genie is out of the bottle with UTMB, it will never be low key again - events like that cost a considerable amount to host and the logistics are immense, but this new system feels a bit unfair to the spirit of the runners and will likely only further alienate an already cynical base.
Anyway, that's my opinion - anyone else got a perspective?
