To help congestion on the course and ensure an enjoyable and safe race for everyone, we have a tried-and-tested start group process to match-up runners of similar abilities. You can select your start group during entry.
START GROUP SELECTION
During entry you will be able to request a start group. Your choice is based on one of the four different seeding options explained below, and depending on which start group you select, will be seeded or self-seeded.
If you select a seeded start group, race organisers will approve or amend your start group request in mid-March of event year based upon information provided.
UTA100 & UTA50
The first four start groups for the UTA100 and UTA50 are available by seeding only, meaning you must provide valid seeding information to be accepted.
The yellow, orange and purple groups are self seeded, meaning you can choose the one that best fits your ability without the need to provide seeding information.
UTA22
The first three start groups for the UTA22 are available by seeding only, meaning you must provide valid seeding information to be accepted.
For the UTA22, the blue, yellow and orange start groups are self seeded, meaning you can choose the one that best fits your ability without the need to provide seeding informaton.
UTA11
All start groups for the UTA11 are self seeded, meaning you can choose the one that best fits your ability without the need to provide seeding informaton.
HOW TO SELECT YOUR START GROUP
Information on choosing the best start group for you, and different seeding options, is available below.
If you wish to start in the same start group as your friends, you should all request the same start group based on your slowest friend.
You can amend your start group request by logging back into your entry via your Participant Dashboard anytime prior to 11:59pm 14 February 2025.
In April a finalised list of allocated start groups will be posted on the UTA Runner List page. Entry transfers will be allocated a suitable start group based upon the same seeding options.
Please ensure you start in your allocated start group on race day (this will be printed onto your race bib).
Whoops, skipped ahead to an earlier start group? You will automatically be disqualified. This cannot be contested.
Missed your start group? Your time will start from the start group you started in. You will not be disqualified.
START GROUP SEEDING OPTIONS
The UTMB World Series has a ranking system for runners – the UTMB Index. If you have completed an UTMB Index registered trail running race in the previous 36 months, you will have earned an UTMB Index Rating. Most major international and Australian races are now UTMB Index races, including all UTMB World Series races.
During registration, your UTMB Index will automatically allocate you the correct Start Group, according to the guidelines below.
To check if you have completed a UTMB Index registered race and to check your Index Rating, go to the UTMB runner search page. Type in your name and select your nationality. If a profile comes up for you, you will have an UTMB Index Rating if your last race result was within the past 36 months. Check you only have one profile. If your year of birth or nationality was incorrect or your name was spelt differently in any previous run, you may have more than one UTMB profile. It is important to get multiple profiles / incorrect profiles combined into one that matches your exact name, nationality and year of birth in your UTA entry. To do this, you can sign up for a free My UTMB account and then link your multiple profiles into one account.
As UTMB Index Ratings provide the most reliable, repeatable and simplest method to rank runners, it is the preferred method for start group seeding. Any trail running event can register with UTMB.
Note that it can take 1 to 3 weeks for a race to finalise results, send the results to UTMB and for UTMB to allocate performance index ratings. So if you don’t currently have a UTMB Index Rating but would like to use this option for your seeding, your chosen registered race needs to be possibly 3 weeks prior to the seeding cut-off date.
If you would like to be in an earlier start group to that which you are assigned by your UTMB Index, and you believe a previous UTA race result (between 2022 - 2024) will qualify you for this, you will be given the opportunity to opt for this as a seeding method.
You can opt into this seeding method and provide a URL directly to your individual online race result. You will then be able to select which start group you would prefer. Refer to the table below to help you choose a suitable start group request.
Our team will review your race result and assign you to the correct group. If your UTA race result qualifies you for an earlier start group, you will be assigned accordingly. Otherwise you will remain in the start group assigned by your UTMB Index.
If you have a race result in any official 42.2km road marathon or 21.1km road half-marathon from the past three years, you may select the option ‘Result in a road marathon or half-marathon’.
You can list the name of the race and provide a url directly to your online result certificate or directly to your result on the relevant official event website results page. Refer to the table below to help you choose a suitable start group request.
Please note that trail running results (UTMB Index Ratings) are given a higher statistical importance than marathon or half marathon results and therefore generally translate to a slightly higher start group seeding for a given runner.
GUIDELINE TO ESTIMATE SUITABLE START GROUP
Start Group | Half Marathon Time (HH:MM) | Marathon Time (HH:MM) |
---|---|---|
Pink Group | Sub 1:20 (M), Sub 1:30 (F) | Sub 2:45 (M), Sub 3:00 (F) |
Red Group | 1:21-1:40 (M), 1:31 - 1:30 (F) | 2:46 - 3:20 (M), 3:01-3:20 (F) |
Green Group | 1:41-1:52 | 3:21-3:40 |
Blue Group | 1:53-2:05 | 3:41-4:00 |
Yellow Group | 2:06-2:15 | 4:01-4:15 |
Orange Group | 2:16-2:25 | 4:16-4:30 |
Purple Group | 2:25+ | 4:30+ |
If your UTMB Index rating qualifies you for a self-seeded Start Group (or if you do not have a UTMB Index), you will be given the three self-seeded Start Groups to choose from upon entry.
START GROUP GUIDELINES
UTA100 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seeded / Self Seeded | Seeding Only | Seeding Only | Seeding Only | Seeding Only | Self Seeded | Self Seeded | Self Seeded |
UTMB Index | Male: >690 Female: >600 |
Male: 689 - 510 Female: 599 - 510 |
509 - 470 | 469 - 440 | 439 - 420 | 419 - 400 | 399 - 0 |
Previous UTA Race Result / Estimated Race Finish Time | Male: Sub 11:40 Female: Sub 13:55 |
Male 11:41 - 15:23 Female: 13:56 - 15:23 |
15:24 - 16:36 | 16:37 - 17:37 | 17:38 - 18:31 | 18:32 - 20:18 | 20:19 - 28:00 |
Marathon Equivalent | Male: Sub 2:45 Female: Sub 3:00 |
Male 2:46 - 3:20 Female: 3:01 - 3:20 |
3:21 - 3:40 | 3:41 - 4:00 | 4:01 - 4:15 | 4:16 - 4:40 | 4:40+ |
Half Marathon Equivalent | Male: Sub 1:20 Female: Sub 1:30 |
Male: 1:21 - 1:40 Female: 1:31 - 1:40 |
1:41 - 1:52 | 1:53 - 2:05 | 2:05 - 2:15 | 2:16 - 2:25 | 2:26+ |
UTA50 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seeded / Self Seeded | Seeding Only | Seeding Only | Seeding Only | Seeding Only | Self Seeded | Self Seeded | Self Seeded |
UTMB Index | Male: >690 Female: >600 |
Male: 689 - 510 Female: 599- 510 |
509 - 470 | 469 - 440 | 439 - 420 | 419 - 400 | 399 - 0 |
Previous UTA Race Result / Estimated Race Finish Time | Male: Sub 5:05 Female: Sub 6:05 |
Male: 5:06 - 7:15 Female : 6:06 - 7:15 |
7:16 - 7:47 | 7:47 - 8:17 | 8:17 - 8:48 | 8:48 - 9:54 | 9:54 - 13:30 |
Marathon Equivalent | Male: Sub 2:45 Female: Sub 3:00 |
Male: 2:46 - 3:20 Female: 3:01 - 3:20 |
3:21 - 3:40 | 3:41 - 4:00 | 4:01 - 4:15 | 4:16 - 4:40 | 4:31+ |
Half Marathon Equivalent | Male: Sub 1:20 Female: Sub 1:30 |
Male: 1:21 - 1:40 Female: 1:31 - 1:40 |
1:41 - 1:52 | 1:53 - 2:05 | 2:05 - 2:15 | 2:16 - 2:25 | 2:26+ |
UTA22 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seeded / Self Seeded | Seeding Only | Seeding Only | Seeding Only | Self Seeded | Self Seeded | Self Seeded |
UTMB Index | Male: >690 Female: >600 |
Male: 689 - 500 Female: 599- 500 |
499 - 440 | 439 - 400 | 399 - 301 | 0 - 300 |
Previous UTA Race Result / Estimated Race Finish Time | Male Sub: 2:10 Female: Sub 2:37 |
Male: 2:11 - 3:16 Female: 2:38 - 3:16 |
3:17 - 3:38 | 3:38 - 4:02 | 4:02 - 4:36 | 4:36 - 7:00 |
Half Marathon Equivalent | Male: Sub 1:20 Female: Sub 1:30 |
Male: 1:21 - 1:40 Female: 1:31 - 1:40 |
1:41 - 1:52 | 1:52 - 2:05 | 2:05 - 2:15 | 2:15+ |
UTA11 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seeded / Self Seeded | Self Seeded | Self Seeded | Self Seeded | Self Seeded | Self Seeded |
UTMB Index | Male: >600 Female: >550 |
549 - 420 | 419 - 400 | 399 - 301 | 300 - 0 |
Previous UTA Race Result / Estimated Race Finish Time | Male Sub: 1:25 Female: Sub 1:45 |
Male: 1:26 - 1:56 Female: 1:46 - 1:56 |
1:57 - 2:12 | 2:12 - 2:35 | 2:35 - 3:30 |
10km road equivalent | Male: Sub 0:30 Female: Sub 0:35 |
Male: 0:31 - 0:44 Female : 0:36- 0:44 |
0:45 - 0:50 | 0:51 - 1:00 | 1:00+ |