Six thoughts about the 2024 UTMB

By Henry Howard

The eyes of the trail and ultra world are once again focused on the UTMB series of races coming up this week. It will be the first time the races are held since the UTMB-Ironman collaboration stirred controversy by staging a coup of Gary Robbins’ Whistler Alpine Meadows race and then firing beloved and talented race commentator Corrine Malcolm.

I personally have real mixed emotions about UTMB this year after those aforementioned actions. The race is considered a championship of sorts for the sport and it’s a good way to see some of the top elites compete. Still, the aggressive nature of UTMB did not sit well when the incidents occurred and, quite frankly, still don’t.

A friend and fellow ultra runner had a perfect reply about UTMB when we were texting recently about this year’s event: “It’s the race we love to hate.”

More so than anything else the races should be about the athletes. Here are six thoughts about the 2024 UTMB going into the race.

1. Ladies first: The women’s UTMB is stacked, but Katie Schide appears to be the one to beat. Schide, who finished second to Courtney Dauwalter at Western States and UTMB last year, took the top spot at Western this year. To also win UTMB, she’ll need to fend off other elites including Fuzhao Xiang, Eszter Csillag, Emily Hawgood, Lucy Bartholomew and Claire Bannwarth.

2. Loaded: The men’s CCC race is just as interesting as the UTMB 100-miler, at least from an American perspective. UTMB should definitely be competitive with multi-time Western States winner and returning UTMB champion Jim Walmsley, 2022 UTMB runner-up Mathieu Blanchard, 2023 Western States runner-up Tom Evans and Hardrock Endurance Run winner Ludovic Pommeret. But check out the starting list of the men’s CCC: this year’s Western States runner-up Rod Farvard, previous Western States champ Adam Peterman, and others who have fared well in competitive ultras including Dakota Jones, Hayden Hawks and Cole Watson.

3. Look who’s back: Don’t overlook Marianne Hogan, who is back after healing from injury. Hogan, who is running the 100-miler, was runner-up in 2022 and has a bunch of podium, finishes in top races, including winning the Bandera 100K in 2021.

4. One to watch: Don’t overlook Drew Holmen in the 100-miler. He’s fared well at Western States, placed second at Canyons back in April and took fifth at CCC last year.   

5. Another to watch: The women’s CCC features Jazmine Lowther, who I see as the favorite. It will be interesting to see how Heather Jackson fares at the 100K distance after finishing in 20th at the 50K OCC in what appears to be her only previous international ultra race.

6. What's next?: At this time next week, the races will be completed, the winners congratulated and analysis offered. In what should be highly competitive races, will the anticipated media storm and conversation wipe away the stain from UTMB's transgressions from a year ago? And how would they use that goodwill to move the sport forward?