Running Stones Planner
The Mont-Blanc entry system takes a while to get your head around. Tell the planner where you are now and what you are willing to run, and it will lay out a path: how many stones you need, which races give them, and roughly what your chances look like.
Independent tool, not affiliated with UTMB. Rules checked September 18, 2026. Read the official registration conditions.
Your path into UTMB 2028
Not in the draw yet
- UTMB needs a valid UTMB Index in the 100K, 100M category. Finishing a race at one of those distances gives you one.
Entries in the draw today
2
2 stones
What selected runners held
8.9
average stones of UTMB runners picked in the 2025 lottery, against 6.4 for everyone who applied
Rough chance today
5 to 10%
our estimate, not an official number
To reach 9 stones, roughly what selected UTMB runners were carrying, you need 7 more. Here is one way to get there before the 2028 lottery.
| When | Race | Distance | Stones | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 8 to 11, 2027 | Desert RATS Trail Running Festival by UTMB Fruita, Colorado, United StatesEarns your index | 100K | +3 | 5 |
| June 4 to 6, 2027 | Ultra Trail Chattanooga by UTMB Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States | 100K | +3 | 8 |
| September 16 to 18, 2027 | Snowbasin by UTMB Huntsville, Utah, United States | 50K | +2 | 10 |
Where that leaves you
Finish all of those and you go into the 2028 lottery with 10 stones, for a rough chance of 21 to 42 percent, up from 5 to 10 percent today.
How we estimate: UTMB does not publish lottery odds, so we work them out from the numbers that are public, how many people applied, how many stones the average applicant held, and roughly how many places the draw fills. Every stone is one entry, and the travel commitment adds 30 percent. Treat the percentages as a ballpark, not a promise. The stone counts, index requirements and the travel bonus are the real rules, checked September 18, 2026.
How the system works
Two things get you into the Mont-Blanc lottery: a valid UTMB Index in a category the race accepts, and at least one Running Stone earned in the last 24 months. After that, every stone you hold is another entry in the draw. Stones do not have to be spent all at once and they keep piling up, but the moment the lottery picks you, the pile resets to zero.
You earn stones by finishing races in the UTMB World Series:
| Race category | World Series Event | World Series Major |
|---|---|---|
| 20K (short trail) | 1 stone | 2 stones |
| 50K | 2 stones | 4 stones |
| 100K | 3 stones | 6 stones |
| 100M (miler) | 4 stones | 8 stones |
There are four Majors, one per region: HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB, HOKA Val d'Aran by UTMB, HOKA Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB, HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB. They are the fastest way to build a pile of stones, because they pay double.
Your own balance lives in your UTMB account, two clicks deep in a menu most people never open. Here is how to find it, and what happens to your stones when the lottery picks you.
Index requirements
- UTMB needs a valid index in the 100K, 100M categories.
- CCC needs a valid index in the 50K, 100K, 100M categories.
- OCC needs a valid index in the 20K, 50K, 100K, 100M categories.
Common questions
How many Running Stones do I need for UTMB?
One stone earned in the last 24 months is the minimum to enter the lottery. In practice, runners who were selected for UTMB held about 8.9 stones on average, against 6.4 for everyone who applied. For CCC the selected average was 5.7, and for OCC 4.7.
Do Running Stones expire?
Your stones keep adding up, but you need at least one earned in the last 24 months to enter the draw. Keep racing at least once every two years and the pile stays live.
Do I lose my stones if I get picked?
Yes. When the lottery selects you, the stones you entered with reset to zero, so you start building again for the next race.
What is the low carbon travel bonus?
Runners who commit to reaching the Mont-Blanc valleys without flying the last leg, and by train or bus where that is realistic, get a 30 percent increase in their lottery chances. Proof is checked after selection, and an entry that does not match the commitment is cancelled without a refund, though the stones are returned.
Is this tool official?
No. Running for Views is an independent channel and this planner is not affiliated with UTMB or any race organizer. The odds shown are our own estimate from published numbers. Always check the official registration conditions before you plan a season around it.
Where these numbers come from
- UTMB World Series: how the sports system works
- HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc registration conditions
- UTMB low carbon mobility commitment
- UTMB 2025 lottery numbers and observations, Electric Cable Car
- UTMB transport lottery boost explained, Marathon Handbook
Race dates and distances last checked September 18, 2026. Race organizers change both, so confirm on the event site before you enter anything.
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