The second edition, of MUT by UTMB, a UTMB World Series event, will see the race attract record fields when the trail running gets underway on May 24, 2024. Trail runners to take on the Outeniqua Mountains in search of MUT by UTMB glory and HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc qualification.
Around 2,000 trail runners are taking part across six distances and three days. Racing gets underway when the 100-miler starts on Friday afternoon; before Saturday, May 25, hosts the 100-, 60-, and 42-kilometre races ahead of Sunday’s 25- and 11-kilometre events.
Race destination, George in South Africa, is situated on the Garden Route half-way between Cape Town in the Western Cape and Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. The town is surrounded by the Outeniqua Mountains, forests, rivers and farmlands. With road, air and rail links to all major centres in South Africa, it is seen as a convenient base from which to explore the surrounding area.
Mountain Ultra Trail (MUT) has been running since 2018 and joined the UTMB World Series in 2022, with the 2023 edition the first one on UTMB’s international ultra running calendar. With almost 2,000 runners, the 2024 edition has also set a new record for female participation.
With female participation of more than 40% in 2023, and now 44% in 2024, MUT by UTMB ranks among the trail races with the highest female participation in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) region.
95% of participants are from South Africa. Among the runners heading to the Garden City of George are a number of highly touted international athletes and some of South Africa’s top competitors, including rising local star Rebecca Köhne.
“We’re really excited about the 2024 edition,” said Race Director Zane Schmahl. “The George trails community have put a massive amount of work in to get the routes ready to showcase why we believe our city is one of the world’s premier trail running destinations.
“On top of that we have the largest ever field of entrants registered to take part, a new start/finish venue, and a fantastic post-race celebration planned. Outeniqua Park has long been at the heart of sport in George and it’s an honour to stage the MUT by UTMB from the iconic stadium.”
