00:00Ever wondered how your UTMB index is calculated? The UTMB index is a reference
00:05indicator used to measure and compare performances in trail running. More than
00:107,000 independent races worldwide use this shared methodology. Your UTMB
00:17index is calculated from your best scores achieved in races over the past
00:21three years. So, to understand the UTMB index, we first need to understand how
00:28race scores are calculated. Let's take the example of the CCC 2024. More than 1,600
00:37runners crossed the finish line that edition. First, for each runner, we look
00:43at all their past results in similar races and use our statistical model to
00:49predict their score on this race. For example, on this distance, we know that
00:55Bob usually scores around 700, well ahead of Lisa, who normally scores around 580.
01:04We then look at the actual race results of the CCC 2024. And this time, Lisa and Bob
01:12crossed the finish line at the same time. But how do we know whether Lisa delivered
01:17an outstanding performance or Bob simply had an off day? With just two runners, it's
01:24difficult to tell. But what if the comparison isn't made between only two
01:28athletes, but across all finishers at every performance level? With enough
01:34historical data, we can build a comprehensive and highly accurate picture
01:39of each athlete's expected performance on that specific day. This method takes into
01:45account external factors that influence the finishing times of all runners, such as weather
01:51or trail conditions. For example, at the CCC 2024, overall runner speeds were lower than
01:59in 2022, mostly due to the extreme heat on race day. That's why identical finishing times
02:07on two different editions of a race can produce different scores. And that's it. Using all the
02:13data points from all the runners, we can now convert these relative performances into a score.
02:20The analysis reveals that Lisa had an exceptional race. She earns a score of 660. It's her highest score
02:28ever, so it will contribute positively to her UTMB index. Congratulations, Lisa!
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