The UTMB World Series Majors and the Finals
Six Majors, two of them new, and the Finals in Chamonix that they lead to. A page for each: dates, distances, the course and a fuel plan that fits the conditions.
Dates, distances and qualification rules change every year, so confirm on the official site before you plan.
Auburn, California, United States · New MajorHOKA Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMBApril. Warm spring days, sun and little shade. Heat is the main variable.
Katoomba, Blue Mountains, AustraliaHOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMBMay. Autumn: mild days, cold nights and a real chance of rain.
Vielha, Spanish Pyrenees, SpainHOKA Val d'Aran by UTMBJuly. High alpine: long climbs, hot valleys, cold and windy ridges.
Crans-Montana, Switzerland · New MajorWildstrubel by UTMBSeptember. September in the Alps: warm valleys, near-freezing passes and sometimes snow.
Big Bear Lake, California, United StatesHOKA Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMBOctober. Altitude above about 7,000 feet all the way, warm days and cold nights.
Chiang Mai, ThailandHOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMBNovember or December. Warm and humid days, cool nights. Sweat does not evaporate, so fluid and salt loss are high.
How do they compare?
| Race | Where | Month | Longest | Main fuelling factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canyons Endurance Runs | Auburn, California, United States | April | 161 km | Warm spring days, sun and little shade. Heat is the main variable. |
| Ultra-Trail Australia | Katoomba, Blue Mountains, Australia | May | 161.1 km | Autumn: mild days, cold nights and a real chance of rain. |
| Val d'Aran | Vielha, Spanish Pyrenees, Spain | July | 163 km | High alpine: long climbs, hot valleys, cold and windy ridges. |
| Wildstrubel | Crans-Montana, Switzerland | September | 113 km | September in the Alps: warm valleys, near-freezing passes and sometimes snow. |
| Kodiak Ultra Marathons | Big Bear Lake, California, United States | October | 100 mi | Altitude above about 7,000 feet all the way, warm days and cold nights. |
| Chiang Mai Thailand | Chiang Mai, Thailand | November or December | about 173 km | Warm and humid days, cool nights. Sweat does not evaporate, so fluid and salt loss are high. |
| UTMB Finals, Chamonix | Chamonix, France | August | about 174 km | High alpine, two nights for most UTMB runners, hot valleys and cold, snowy passes. |
What does a Major give you?
Majors award double Running Stones, the entries that go into the lottery for the UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix. The Majors no longer give direct age-group places. The automatic places go to the top 10 men and top 10 women in the 50K, 100K and 100 mile races. Ultra-Trail Australia has been the exception, so check its page. See the official Majors page for the rules.
Plan the fuel
Every course here needs the same inputs: weight, finishing time, effort and weather. Start with the ultra fuel plan calculator, add heat with the heat adjustment calculator, then split it by station with the aid station planner.