ITRA Points: Everything You Need to Know About How It Works and How to Earn Them

How does it work? 🤔

No need to pull out the calculator, you're not facing a math test! 🧮 Here, you'll only need your trail running shoes, the mandatory equipment, and a good pair of poles to push up the hills 📈. The ITRA considers the distance and the positive elevation to assign a score of 0 to 6 points to each trail 🌲. To achieve this, the concept of "effort-km" is used, which involves adding the distance in kilometers to one hundredth of the positive elevation (100 mD+ = 1 effort-km) 📐. For example, if you complete a long trail of 50 km with 2,000 mD+, you're actually achieving a performance of 70 effort-km 📏.

The ITRA points define the overall difficulty of your adventure ⛰️. The higher the number, the more your calves will suffer, but the prettier your score will be 😇. It's an objective evaluation that tells you whether you ran a jog on tarmac or on a major construction site 🏗️. The performance index system then rates your speed on this course ⏱️. It's a bit like your general average at the finals, but with mud up to your knees 😅. This is calculated by comparing your time with the best theoretical time possible on that route ☝️. If you finish just behind a runner with the abilities of a mountain goat 🏃‍♂️, your score will skyrocket ⬆️. If you stop at every refreshment station to enjoy Beaufort cheese for twenty minutes, the check will be heftier 🧀.

What is it for specifically? 😅

Why bother with these numbers? 🤓 Firstly, for your ego, let's be honest 👀. It’s always nice to see your chart climb after months of interval training in the rain 🌧️. But mainly, it's your passport to enter legendary races like the "Diagonale des Fous" of the Grand Raid where they want to ensure you don't DNF, "did not finish", after two hours 🥵. Organizers need guarantees to send you onto trails where even goats hesitate to venture 🐐.

The biggest ultra-trail events use this ranking to balance levels and ensure your safety 🛡️. It’s proof of your experience accumulated on technical trails worldwide 🗺️. It also allows you to access priority starting grids to avoid getting stuck behind someone taking photos of the scenery 🌸. Imagine yourself on pole position, ready to leap at the starting gun without having to elbow your way through 🤩. In short, it's the pass from being a weekend runner to a respected trail runner 👑.

How to earn them? 🏆

The answer is simple: "Run, Forrest, run!". But not just anywhere 🏃. You need to pick a race labeled by the International Trail Running Association 🏷️. For that, check out our trail calendar to find races that bring the most points 💎: Trail du Cirque du Fer à Cheval, Trail de Haute Provence (THP), Swiss Canyon Trail, KAILAS FUGA Dolomiti Extreme Trail... In the mountains of France, around lakes, in the middle of forests, lost in the wild... 🍃 There are plenty of race options to fill up on ITRA points! 🤪 But don't believe that a small flat loop of 10 km will earn you 5 points, you'll need to climb a bit 🧗. The longer and steeper the course, the more precious points you accumulate for your profile 🆙.

Be careful, these points have a 36-month expiration date, so don't rest on your laurels 💤. If you stop running for two years, your score will melt away like snow in the sun ☀️. You need to regularly get back to the grind to maintain your level ⛏️. It's the perfect opportunity to diversify your pleasures and test your limits on varied terrains, from the humid forest to the rocky alpine paths 🏔️. Reserve your bib to plan your season and aim for the peaks 🎯. Also consider your race management: starting off like a bullet and crashing halfway could ruin your index, even if you cross the finish line 🏁. Consistency is key to becoming a powerhouse 😎.

The bosses of the game 💪

Today, aliens like Jim Walmsey 🇺🇸 and Remi Bonnet 🇨🇭 among men and Tove Alexandersson 🇸🇪, Courtney Dauwalter or Katie Schide 🇺🇸 among women, lead with scores that make us look like hikers 😂. They hover around 900 points, which is technically close to absolute perfection 🌌. But don't worry, the important thing is to progress at your own pace on your own path 👣. Trail running is, above all, you against yourself (and a bit against gravity) 🍏.

So, will we see you at the starting line to boost your stats? 🔥