Team Geared Up

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) The entry requirements for the North Face Ultra Trail du Tour du Mont Blanc have just been announced. Up until now entry was first come, first served, until last year when you had to have completed at least a couple of ultras. But because the finisher level was still quite low (often about 30%) the organisers decided that they would introduce a scoring system in order for entrants to gain a place. Here’s how it works: each entrant has to have gained at least 4 points by completing in certain races which have been awarded points by the organisers. All of the races have at least 1 to 4 points and one must have completed the race in 2007/ 2008 (unless you’re a previous UTMB finisher).

For example, the 51k Trail Blanch Font Romeu gets you one point, while the Bob Graham Round gets you two. The list can be linked from here. There are no Irish events listed and if we were to suggest any to them I reckon it would have to be something like the Wicklow Way or the Wicklow Round. Any other races you’d think would be comparable to the ones listed?

I’m not sure they won’t end up completely changing the spirit of this race. Don’t you think it will end up as one of those races with just serious ultra-heads involved, and no first timers like I was?

-Aisling-

Image from UTMB gallery.