Ultra Running isn't cool anymore...
...so what?
I had an interesting conversation with my wife Lisa the other night. We were talking about the commercialization and growth of trail running, and ultra trail running in particular. It is obvious that it has become a trend sport, and that more and more people approach it every year. Latest, with the fusion of the UTMB and the Ironman group, the fate of this sport has been sealed. Or maybe not?
The UTMB juggernaut
It cannot be denied, that the professionalization of ultra and trail running has progressed tremendously over the past few years. Big sports brands have jumped on the bandwagon, races got bigger sponsors and more participants, and the media coverage of the largest events has become omnipresent.
At the heart of this hustle and bustle, the biggest player, the UTMB group, has turned into a pyramid-like event colossus, making their highly sought-after prime races, the UTMB (100 miles), the CCC (100 km) and the OCC (55 km) only accessible through their own, more or less complicated, qualifying system.
Most runners have to collect so-called “running stones” and keep their “UTMB index” in place, if they want to enter one of the in high-demand races named above. On the other end of the spectrum, elite athletes have the chance to get direct access to UTMB, CCC and OCC (for the books: these races are called “finals”) by finishing top ten, if it’s one of five “major” races, or top three at one of the many “by UTMB” events.
Either way, you’re basically staying within the UTMB microcosmos all season long, if you want to participate in one of the much celebrated finals in Chamonix. However, with absolutely amazing races like the Eiger Ultra Trail, Transvulcania, Lavaredo Ultra Trail, Istria 100 and even the Western States Endurance Run joining the UTMB qualifying system, you’re most likely having a great time collecting those running stones or hunting your place on the podium.
It isn’t cool anymore…
Everything ok? Not quite. There’s a certain kind of “It used to be cool, but now it isn’t anymore” vibe present. I have seen this happening in music thousands of times. Whenever a band or a genre got popular, the early adopters (in this case “fans”) turned their backs and shouted “Sellout!”.
Especially in the hardcore-scene, the subculture I grew up with, this “self-purification-process” played an important role, though. Whenever hardcore music got too big, a certain “hard core” separated from the mass and declared a new band or sub-genre would define hardcore from now on. The true hardcore, so to speak. This continuous reinvention is absolutely crucial for any sub- or counterculture.
But my point is, that it was never the bands’ fault, that they got big. They just did what they believed was right and continuously professionalized their art. So, what’s the point in turning your back on a band, only because they attract a higher number of people? They seem to be doing something right, after all.
…so what?
Transferring this analogy to ultra trail running, one could say that it was never the UTMB group’s fault that they got big. They just organize a bunch of wholly amazing races and the demand from runners from all over the world to participate, was and is increasing every year. The UTMB simply had to make a move in due time.
I am not saying that everything the UTMB group does is great. A good number of their decisions and policies, especially regarding media coverage of female elite runners or pregnancy deferrals, or the overall pressure on athletes to do too many races over the year, are complete and utter BS. Even the process of diehard capitalist commercialization could be done with a little more sensitivity and style. Although the UTMB group is working on fixes for these massive flaws, it’s definitely not everything great.
But simply stepping away and boycotting everything that has the name “UTMB” on it, can’t be a proper solution. Or even worse: Still participating in the UTMB circus, but complaining all the time how terrible everything is. It’s a type of gatekeeping, which is not only bad for your enjoyment of this sport, but particularly destructive for all the new kids who are discovering trail and ultra running these days.
My point as an ultra and trail runner is, that an “Everything was better in the old days” kind of attitude will get you nowhere. Things are changing, not only in our sport. You surely don’t have to find everything that happens great, but it certainly helps to stay open-minded, form your opinion based on facts and experiences, and then decide to adapt to the new realities, or not. And who knows, maybe you’ll be standing under the starting arch of the UTMB in Chamonix (again) and will enjoy yourself a bit. Simply because it’s one of the most amazing races in the world, and you know it.
Yes, but…
There’s one more often overlooked side fact to all this. Although Salomon shoes are already present on the dance floor of your local discotheque, and running vests have been spotted on the catwalks of big fashion brands, trail and especially ultra running is still an incredibly tough sport. No matter how appealing the advertisements of good-looking runners on beautiful mountain tops may be, everyone who has ever been caught in a thunderstorm at high altitude, ran for hours and hours through the night, or got attacked by a grizzly bear while taking a dump in the woods, knows how demanding and dangerous trail and ultra running can be.
With that being said, let’s all relax a bit. I conclude that no one has to be afraid that trail and ultra running will become a true mass phenomenon like inline skating or soccer. However, if there’s ever going to be a trail running collection at Lidl or Aldi, you can surely send me hate mail.
Everything not running
Alright, you’re going to hate this topic.
Why are we spending so much time on social media?
Yes yes yes… I know. We’re showing off how cool we are, and we are hunting likes and comments for instant gratification and self-affirmation. But why are we really spending so many hours scrolling through our socials?
Why are we checking the instagram stories of people we don’t like?
Why are we trying to catch up with the latest scandal by a band we don’t even listen to?
Why do we read comment columns of news magazines, after all?
Be honest! We all do this.
All this is totally irrational and far away from the desired instant gratification and self-affirmation mentioned above. It is pure negativity, invoking the worst in us: anger, gloat and envy. Absolutely pointless for our harmonious coexistence on this plant and our own personal well-being.
If any of you hobby or professional psychologists can explain this phenomenon to me, please, I’d be thankful.
Sprachnachricht
Wie immer gibt es zu diesem New Z Letter eine deutschsprachige Audio-Version, die auf den Namen SPRACHNACHRICHT hört. Auch auf Spotify und Apple Podcasts.
Professional psychologist here: Evolutionär gesehen ist es für unser Gehirn essenziell zu wissen, was so los ist in unserem sozialen Umfeld, da ein Ausschluss aus der sozialen Gruppe vor wenigen tausend Jahren noch den (fast) sicheren Tod für uns bedeutet hätte. Weil die biologische Evolution wesentlich langsamer voranschreitet als die kulturelle, funktioniert unser Gehirn weiterhin nach solchen alten Mechanismen, obwohl eigentlich keine reale Bedrohung mehr besteht. Hinzu kommt noch das Prinzip der intermittierenden Verstärkung: der unkalkulierbare Dopaminkick, wenn man zufällig mal was wirklich Interessantes/Witziges entdeckt hat oder eben Likes bekommt.