New Trail Running Events in USA Added to UTMB Line-Up

The UTMB World Series organizers have confirmed that two long-standing events in the USA will be added to the global UTMB World Series circuit in 2023, with a calendar of 34 events now confirmed.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary on the trails of Fruita, Colorado, Desert RATS Trail Running Festival by UTMB will run across five distances from the April 14-16, 2023. Meanwhile, from September 22-24, Grindstone Trail Running Festival by UTMB will a tough challenge on the east coast of the Shenandoah Valley in Staunton, Virginia.

Registrations for Desert RATS Trail Running Festival by UTMB are open at desertrats.utmb.world, and runners can register for pre-sale entries to Grindstone Trail Running Festival by UTMB at grindstone.utmb.world beginning on, December 21, for a limited time.

The announcement follows the news last week that The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB was selected as the UTMB World Series Major in the Americas for 2023.

Runners in North America now have six UTMB events across the continent confirmed for next year. Other races include in the region: Puerto Vallarta Mexico by UTMB, Speedgoat Mountain Races by UTMB and Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run.

In the UTMB World Series’ second year, runners will be able to choose from 34 events in total across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania to start their journey to the UTMB World Series Finals, held in the UTMB (100M), CCC (100K), and OCC (50K) races of UTMB Mont-Blanc.

“We are so excited for the opportunity to become part of the UTMB World Series,” said Kyla Claudell and Reid Delman, Desert RATS Race Directors.

“The Desert Rats Festival has always been a way for our trail running community to connect and celebrate the spring running season on the epic desert trails in Fruita, Colorado, and now we can offer even more festival fun, including a new 100K distance. We can’t wait to see everyone out there crushing their goals at the 20th anniversary Desert Rats in 2023.”

Dr Clark Zealand, Grindstone Trail Running Festival UTMB Race Director, said “I’m absolutely thrilled to see Grindstone become part of the UTMB World Series.

“For me, it’s truly an honour to welcome runners from all over the world to experience some of the best trails on the US East Coast. By adding 100km and half-marathon distances, we have amazing options for those not quite ready to tackle the full 100-mile version.”

After 25 events this year in 2022, the inaugural UTMB World Series concluded last weekend with the Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB in Australia.

In total, 56,097 runners took to the trails around the world at a UTMB World Series event in 2022, with 103,315 Running Stones awarded for their efforts as part of the quest to reach the UTMB World Series Finals at the home of trail running, UTMB Mont-Blanc.

In 2023, the UTMB World Series is going to be even bigger, welcoming more runners across the globe to join the UTMB experience – with new events in the USA, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

UTMB World Series 2023 Event Schedule

• Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB (New Zealand), 11-12 February
• Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB (Thailand), 17-19 February
• Istria 100 by UTMB (Croatia), 13-16 April
• Desert RATS Trail Running Festival by UTMB (USA), 15-16 April
• AMERICAN MAJOR: The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB (USA), 28-29 April
• Transvulcania by UTMB (Spain), 4-6 May
• Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB (Australia), 11-14 May
• Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB (Wales), 12-14 May
• Valhöll Argentina by UTMB (Argentina), 12-14 May
• Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB (France), 18-21 May
• Mountain Ultra-Trail by UTMB (South Africa), 26-28 May
• Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB (France), 3-4 June
• mozart 100 by UTMB (Austria), 17-18 June
• La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra-Trail by UTMB (Italy), 22-25 June
• Trail 100 Andorra by UTMB (Andorra), 24-25 June
• Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run (USA), 24-25 June
• EUROPEAN MAJOR: Val d’Aran by UTMB (Spain), 6-9 July
• Restonica Trail by UTMB (France), 6-8 July
• Trail Verbier Saint-Bernard by UTMB (Switzerland), 7-9 July
• Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB (Switzerland), 12-16 July
• Speedgoat Mountain Races by UTMB (USA), 21-22 July
• KAT100 by UTMB (Austria), 3-5 August
• UTMB WORLD SERIES FINALS: UTMB Mont-Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland), 28 August to 3 September
• Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB (Slovenia), 8-10 September
• Wildstrubel by UTMB (Switzerland), 14-17 September
• Paraty Brazil by UTMB (Brazil), 22-24 September
• Grindstone Trail Running Festival by UTMB (USA) 22-24 September
• Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB (France), 28 September to 1 October
• TransJeju by UTMB (South Korea), 7-8 October
• Puerto Vallarta México by UTMB (Mexico), 3-4 November
• Kullamannen by UTMB (Sweden), 3-4 November
• TransLantau by UTMB (Hong Kong), November
• ASIA-PACIFIC MAJOR: Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB (Thailand), 8-10 December
• Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB (Australia), December TBC

www.utmb.world