UTMB: Bagaimana Gamification Mengubah Trail Running Menjadi Global Journey

Home Services Our Works Gamification 101 Gamification Case Studies Turnkey Product Game Based Assessment Potentia Level Up RCD Contact English Bahasa Indonesia English Home Services Our Works Gamification 101 Gamification Case Studies Turnkey Product Game Based Assessment Potentia Level Up RCD Contact English Bahasa Indonesia English Home Services Our Works Gamification 101 Gamification Case Studies Turnkey Product Game Based Assessment Potentia Level Up RCD Contact English Bahasa Indonesia English Home Services Our Works Gamification 101 Gamification Case Studies Turnkey Product Game Based Assessment Potentia Level Up RCD Contact English Bahasa Indonesia English Edit Template UTMB: Bagaimana Gamification Mengubah Trail Running Menjadi Global Journey Trail running identik dengan medan ekstrem, jarak panjang, dan ketahanan fisik. Namun, jika dilihat lebih dekat, UTMB World Series memiliki sistem yang menarik dari perspektif gamification. UTMB tidak hanya menyelenggarakan satu lomba, tetapi membangun sebuah ekosistem global yang membuat pelari dapat mengikuti berbagai event, mengumpulkan Running Stones, meningkatkan performa melalui UTMB Index, dan mengejar kesempatan untuk berlomba di panggung terbesar, yaitu UTMB World Series Finals di Chamonix, Prancis. Jika diterjemahkan ke dalam bahasa gamification, perjalanan tersebut memiliki struktur yang mirip dengan sebuah game: Explore → Participate → Earn → Progress → Qualify → Compete. Setiap tahap memberikan tujuan dan motivasi baru bagi peserta. Inilah yang membuat UTMB menarik bukan hanya sebagai event olahraga, tetapi juga sebagai contoh bagaimana gamification dapat digunakan untuk membangun long-term engagement. Mengenal UTMB World Series Untuk memahami sisi gamification-nya, kita perlu melihat UTMB sebagai sebuah series, bukan hanya satu race. UTMB World Series terdiri dari berbagai event trail running di berbagai wilayah dunia, dengan struktur yang mencakup UTMB World Series Events, UTMB World Series Majors, dan UTMB World Series Finals. Struktur ini menciptakan sebuah journey bagi pelari. Mereka dapat memulai dari event yang lebih dekat dengan lokasi mereka, mendapatkan pengalaman, mengumpulkan Running Stones, meningkatkan performa, dan mengejar kesempatan untuk mencapai Finals. Sementara itu, puncak perjalanan berada di HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc di Chamonix, yang menjadi lokasi UTMB World Series Finals dengan tiga flagship races: OCC, CCC, dan UTMB. Jika menggunakan analogi game, Chamonix dapat dilihat sebagai final level. Peserta tidak hanya mengikuti satu pertandingan, tetapi menjalani perjalanan panjang untuk membuka kesempatan mencapai level tersebut. Seorang pelari berhasil mencapai garis finis di ajang Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc di Chamonix  UTMB Gamification Framework Jika sistem UTMB diterjemahkan ke dalam gamification framework, strukturnya dapat dilihat seperti berikut: Gamification Element UTMB Implementation Progression UTMB World Series Challenge Races from 20K, 50K, 100K, up to 100M Gamification Currency Running Stones Performance Score UTMB Score & UTMB Index Competition Ranking & performance qualification Ranking & performance qualification Achievement Finishing races & qualifying Unlockable Goal Entry opportunity to Finals Final Level UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix Community Global trail running community Status & Recognition Qualification & race achievements Framework ini menunjukkan bahwa setiap elemen memiliki fungsi dalam membentuk motivasi peserta. Jadi, gamification UTMB bukan hanya tentang satu mekanisme, tetapi tentang bagaimana seluruh sistem tersebut bekerja sebagai satu experience journey. World Series sebagai Progression System Salah satu prinsip utama dalam gamification adalah progression. Dalam game, pemain biasanya tidak langsung diberikan akses ke level terakhir. Mereka perlu menyelesaikan berbagai tantangan terlebih dahulu sebelum dapat membuka level berikutnya. Konsep serupa dapat ditemukan dalam UTMB. Alih-alih hanya memiliki satu event utama, UTMB membangun global series yang memungkinkan pelari mengikuti berbagai event dan secara bertahap mengejar level berikutnya. Struktur World Series Event → World Series Major → World Series Finals menciptakan sebuah progression path yang jelas. Bagi peserta, race berikutnya bukan lagi sekadar lomba baru. Race tersebut menjadi bagian dari perjalanan yang lebih besar. Pertanyaannya berubah dari “Race apa yang ingin saya ikuti?” menjadi “Seberapa jauh saya bisa melangkah dalam UTMB World Series?” Sekelompok pelari melintasi jalur teknis berbatu di pegunungan  Race Distance sebagai Challenge Level Gamification membutuhkan challenge yang memberikan rasa perkembangan. UTMB menerapkannya melalui empat kategori utama, yaitu 20K, 50K, 100K, dan 100M. Perbedaan kategori tersebut menciptakan semacam difficulty level. Semakin tinggi kategorinya, semakin besar tantangan yang harus dihadapi peserta. Jarak, elevasi, medan, cuaca, stamina, dan cut-off time menjadi bagian dari challenge yang harus diselesaikan. Menariknya, peserta dapat menentukan sendiri level yang ingin mereka kejar. Bagi seorang pemula, menyelesaikan 20K dapat menjadi achievement besar. Bagi pelari berpengalaman, tantangannya mungkin 100K atau bahkan 100M. Dengan begitu, challenge dapat disesuaikan dengan kemampuan dan motivasi masing-masing peserta. Peta rute yang menampilkan berbagai kategori lomba (UTMB, CCC, OCC, dll.) di sekitar wilayah Mont-Blanc  Running Stones sebagai Gamification Currency Salah satu elemen paling menarik dari sistem UTMB adalah Running Stones. Running Stones dapat dianalogikan sebagai semacam gamification currency dalam ekosistem UTMB. Namun, Running Stones bukan poin yang dapat ditukarkan dengan hadiah. Running Stones memberikan kesempatan bagi peserta untuk mengikuti lottery menuju UTMB World Series Finals. Setiap Running Stone memberikan satu kesempatan tambahan dalam lottery, sehingga semakin banyak Stones yang dikumpulkan, semakin banyak pula kesempatan yang dimiliki. Jumlah Running Stones yang diperoleh bergantung pada kategori race: Race Category World Series Event World Series Major 20K 1 2 50K 2 4 100K 3 6 100M 4 8 Hal ini menciptakan reward loop yang jelas: Participate → Finish → Earn Running Stones → Increase Chances → Potentially Reach Finals Dari perspektif gamification, mekanisme ini menarik karena reward tidak mengakhiri engagement. Justru reward tersebut menjadi alasan untuk melakukan aktivitas berikutnya. Infografis yang merinci sistem perolehan “Running Stones” berdasarkan kategori jarak lomba dan jenis event  Lottery sebagai Chance-Based Reward Running Stones juga menciptakan elemen chance-based reward. Peserta mengetahui bahwa mereka memiliki kesempatan untuk masuk ke Finals, tetapi hasil akhirnya tidak sepenuhnya pasti karena terdapat sistem lottery. Semakin banyak Running Stones yang dimiliki, semakin banyak kesempatan yang diperoleh. Mekanisme ini menciptakan anticipation dan excitement yang berbeda dari sistem qualification biasa. Menariknya, UTMB juga memiliki jalur performance qualification. Artinya, peserta tidak hanya mengandalkan lottery. Pelari dengan performa tertentu dapat memperoleh akses melalui jalur qualification berdasarkan hasil dan performa mereka. Dari perspektif gamification, UTMB menggabungkan dua bentuk motivasi: chance-based progression melalui lottery dan skill-based progression melalui performa. Chamonix sebagai “Final Level” Seluruh progression tersebut pada akhirnya mengarah pada satu tujuan utama: UTMB World Series Finals di

UTMB: How Gamification Transforms Trail Running Into a Global Journey

Home Services Our Works Gamification 101 Gamification Case Studies Turnkey Product Game Based Assessment Potentia Level Up RCD Contact English Bahasa Indonesia English Home Services Our Works Gamification 101 Gamification Case Studies Turnkey Product Game Based Assessment Potentia Level Up RCD Contact English Bahasa Indonesia English Home Services Our Works Gamification 101 Gamification Case Studies Turnkey Product Game Based Assessment Potentia Level Up RCD Contact English Bahasa Indonesia English Home Services Our Works Gamification 101 Gamification Case Studies Turnkey Product Game Based Assessment Potentia Level Up RCD Contact English Bahasa Indonesia English Edit Template UTMB: How Gamification Transforms Trail Running Into a Global Journey Trail running is synonymous with extreme terrain, long distances, and physical endurance. However, if viewed more closely, the UTMB World Series has an interesting system from a gamification perspective. UTMB does not just organize a single race, but builds a global ecosystem that allows runners to participate in various events, collect Running Stones, improve performance through the UTMB Index, and pursue the opportunity to race on the biggest stage: the UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix, France. Translated into gamification language, this journey has a structure similar to a game: Explore → Participate → Earn → Progress → Qualify → Compete. Each stage provides new goals and motivation for participants. This is what makes UTMB interesting not just as an sporting event, but also as an example of how gamification can be used to build long-term engagement. Getting to Know the UTMB World Series To understand its gamification side, we need to view UTMB as a series, not just one race. The UTMB World Series consists of various trail running events in different regions of the world, with a structure that includes UTMB World Series Events, UTMB World Series Majors, and UTMB World Series Finals. This structure creates a journey for runners. They can start from events closer to their location, gain experience, collect Running Stones, improve performance, and pursue the opportunity to reach the Finals. Meanwhile, the peak of the journey is at the HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc in Chamonix, which serves as the location for the UTMB World Series Finals with three flagship races: OCC, CCC, and UTMB. Using a game analogy, Chamonix can be seen as the final level. Participants do not just enter one match, but undergo a long journey to unlock the opportunity to reach that level. A runner successfully reaches the finish line at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in Chamonix  UTMB Gamification Framework If the UTMB system is translated into a gamification framework, the structure can be seen as follows: Gamification Element UTMB Implementation Progression UTMB World Series Challenge Races from 20K, 50K, 100K, up to 100M Gamification Currency Running Stones Performance Score UTMB Score & UTMB Index Competition Ranking & performance qualification Ranking & performance qualification Achievement Finishing races & qualifying Unlockable Goal Entry opportunity to Finals Final Level UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix Community Global trail running community Status & Recognition Qualification & race achievements This framework shows that each element has a function in shaping participant motivation. Thus, UTMB gamification is not just about one mechanism, but about how the entire system works as a single experience journey. World Series as a Progression System One of the main principles in gamification is progression. In a game, players usually are not immediately given access to the final level. They need to complete various challenges first before they can unlock the next level. A similar concept can be found in UTMB. Instead of just having one main event, UTMB builds a global series that allows runners to participate in various events and gradually pursue the next level. The structure World Series Event → World Series Major → World Series Finals creates a clear progression path. For participants, the next race is no longer just a new competition. That race becomes part of a larger journey. The question changes from “What race do I want to join?” to “How far can I go in the UTMB World Series?” A group of runners traverses a technical rocky path in the mountains  Race Distance as Challenge Level Gamification requires challenges that provide a sense of development. UTMB applies this through four main categories, namely 20K, 50K, 100K, and 100M. The differences in these categories create a sort of difficulty level. The higher the category, the greater the challenge participants must face. Distance, elevation, terrain, weather, stamina, and cut-off times become part of the challenge to be solved. Interestingly, participants can determine for themselves the level they want to pursue. For a beginner, finishing a 20K can be a major achievement. For an experienced runner, the challenge might be 100K or even 100M. Thus, the challenge can be adjusted to the abilities and motivation of each participant. A route map displaying various race categories (UTMB, CCC, OCC, etc.) around the Mont-Blanc region Running Stones as Gamification Currency One of the most interesting elements of the UTMB system is the Running Stones. Running Stones can be analogized as a kind of gamification currency within the UTMB ecosystem. However, Running Stones are not points that can be exchanged for prizes. Running Stones provide participants the chance to enter the lottery for the UTMB World Series Finals. Each Running Stone provides one additional chance in the lottery, so the more Stones collected, the more chances one has. The number of Running Stones obtained depends on the race category: Race Category World Series Event World Series Major 20K 1 2 50K 2 4 100K 3 6 100M 4 8 This creates a clear reward loop: Participate → Finish → Earn Running Stones → Increase Chances → Potentially Reach Finals From a gamification perspective, this mechanism is interesting because the reward does not end the engagement. Instead, that reward becomes the reason for the next activity. An infographic detailing the “Running Stones” earning system based on race distance categories and event types  Lottery as a Chance-Based Reward Running Stones also create a chance-based reward element. Participants know