‘Arc of Attrition’ Joins UTMB

UTMB’s first event acquisition announcement (I believe Mallorca is a new event) for 2024 and the first UTMB event in England (Ultra-Trail Snowdonia is in Wales):

For the new 2025 season, the not-to-be-missed trail event in the UK, Arc of Attrition joins UTMB^® World Series calendar on January 24-26, 2025, to become Arc of Attrition by UTMB^®.

Snowdonia has been a highly shought-after event even before the UTMB partnership, and since joining UTMB has been selling out very fast, so it makes to offer folks “on the island” another chance to collect stones.

One notable piece in the press announcement is the highlighting of the local race directors who’d build up the race:

Founded by the visionary MudCrew trio Jane Stephens, Andy Trudgian, and Andrew Ferguson, known as Andy, Jane, and Fergy, Arc of Attrition by UTMB has become a legendary fixture in the UK winter ultra-trail running calendar. MudCrew, a company renowned for its meticulously planned and well-executed events which have brought to Arc of Attrition by UTMB its success, will continue to organise and run the race to ensure the inaugural edition’s success. Their decision to join forces with the UTMB World Series originates from a shared commitment to delivering an exceptional and challenging running experience with strong identity and history.

The announcement even includes a quote from the RD’s:

“We are thrilled to be working with the team at UTMB World Series. The local running community is really important to us and the Arc Angels are key to the success of the event. We will endeavour to maintain the Cornish culture and deep community spirit that the Arc of Attrition is known for with our continued involvement during these exciting times.”

For all the grief we’ve been giving UTMB’s press strategy in the past, this clearly shows that they are listening. Overlooking the local connection and buy-in when “UTMB comes to town” has been one the biggest issues over the past years where it has felt more like a corporate takeover than a mutually agreed and appreciated partnership. Highlighting the real people still putting on these events is key to future and longterm success, not just for UTMB but for the local communities supporting these events – more of this, please.

‘Arc of Attrition’ will offer 3 distances, a 100M (4 Stones), 100K (3 Stones) , and 50K (2 Stones) and registration will open April 30th.

This event I won’t be adding to the Global Race Series right away as it is happening in January of 2025.