The ITRA Performance Index (PI) is a tool that estimates a runner's level of performance.

The performance index can be used to compare the level of different trail runners around the world and is built on a scale up to a maximum of 1000 points.

The ITRA Performance Index is calculated by obtaining the weighted mean of up to the 5 best scores achieved by a runner over the previous 36 months (for the general index or the index by category).

A weighted mean is used because we give more importance to the most recent results compared with older ones and we also give more importance to a runner’s best result, then to their second best, down to their 5 best ones.

Runners who do not have 5 results will still have a PI, which is calculated using their available results, but a runner with at least 5 results will have an advantage over someone with less results.

This period of 36 months is long enough to permit reliable statistical calculations and allow an injured runner to continue to appear in the performance index due to their previous performances.

We use a weighted average to calculate the Performance Index (PI), which gives more importance to:

• Recent race results over older ones
• A runner’s best races over their lower-scoring ones (up to their 5 best)

Even if a runner has fewer than 5 races, a PI is still calculated.
However, runners with 5 or more results may have an advantage because the calculation uses more data - the more races you run, the better we can estimate your real level!

Looking at races over the past 36 months helps ensure the PI is reliable while still including runners who may have missed some time due to injury.


Method of calculation:

• Overall Goal:

The process gives more importance to recent and better performances and adjusts for the runner’s racing experience.

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Collect Valid Race Scores

• Gather all race scores from the past 36 months.
• Select the top 5 best ITRA score performances
• Ignore any races where:
• The runner Did Not Finish (DNF).
• The score is 0.
  
  

Step 2: Apply Time Weighting

Assign a weight to each score based on how long ago the race took place:

• Multiply each race score by its corresponding time weight.
  
  
  

Step 3: Rank the Scores

• Sort the time-weighted scores from highest to lowest.
• Assign each result a rank based on its position in the list:
• Rank 1 = Best score, Rank 2 = 2nd best, ..., up to Rank 5.
  
  

Step 4: Apply Experience Weighting

Simulate different scenarios assuming the runner had:

• 1 result in the last 36 months
• 2 results in the last 36 months
• 3 results in the last 36 months
• 4 results in the last 36 months
• 5 results in the last 36 months

For each simulation, apply experience weights to the top scores:

• For each scenario, calculate the weighted average of the top scores using these experience weights.
  
  

Step 5: Select Best Simulation

• Out of the 5 simulations (1 to 5 top scores), choose the one that gives the highest overall PI.
• This PI becomes the runner’s final ITRA Performance Index level
  
  

Note on Distance Categories

• Repeat the entire process separately for each Distance Category (e.g., 5K, 10K, Marathon).
• In Step 1, only include races that belong to the relevant distance category.
  
  

The ITRA Performance Index is calculated by obtaining the weighted mean of up to the 5 best scores achieved by a runner over the previous 36 months (for the general index or the index by category).

As a result gets older, the value of the score is reduced when calculating the Performance Index.
For the first 12 months after a race, a result is given its full value in the PI calculation.
After the first 12 months, the value of this result in calculating the PI is progressively reduced each 6 months, until 36months when it is no longer used at all.

There can be two reasons why your PI is now lower : 

- A results got older and loss some weight into the calculation
- One results is now older than 36 months and is no longer counting for your PI.

As a result gets older, the value of this score is reduced when calculating the Performance Index.

For the first 12 months after a race, a result is given its full value in the PI calculation.

After the first 12 months, the value of this result in calculating the PI is progressively reduced each 6 months, until 36 months when it is no longer used at all.

 Time Weighting

To allow the performance index to be open to as many people as possible, as soon as a runner has completed one race, they appear in the performance index.

Runners who do not have 5 results will still have a PI, which is calculated using their available results. A runner with 5 or more results will have an advantage over someone with less results.

For the General Performance Index, the scores for every distance are decreased at the same rate.

For the Performance Index by distance category, the scores for shorter races are decreased at a faster rate than for long races. This is because ultra-distance runner will run far fewer races than a short-distance runner.

The general Performance Index uses the weighted mean of the 5 best results, regardless of distance, for each runner over the previous 36 months.

The Performance Index by category uses the weighted mean of the 5 best results, in one distance category, for each runner over the previous 36 months.

For calculation purposes and because the exact distance of a Trail race usually differs from the distances that are announced due to measurement inconsistencies (different GPS methodologies etc.) we’ve allowed for a wide enough distance gap when identifying each race category. This way all race results are considered in at least one category.

The distance categories are defined by the number of kilometres in the race.

*Vertical races need an up to down ratio of 10:1 and a minimum of 5km-effort.

An identical calculation is applied for men and for women. It is therefore possible to directly the compare the performances of men with those of women, just as you would compare finish times in our sports.

To compare the level of performance of men and women within categories please see the ITRA LEVEL CHART below. For example, elite men have a score above 825 and women above 700. This chart was created using statistical analysis of all the runners in our database.

The Performance Index is based on your results, race score obtained.
So as your performance level increases so will your ITRA scores, which will in turn increase your Performance Index.

Even if your highest score doesn’t increase, having more scores close to your maximum will reduce the simulated results and increase your score.
If you want to improve in one category, more races in that category will help to improve your score.

That said, you will perform better in races that suit your preferred style or races where you will be relatively faster than your competitors. If you are better at flat technical races, then you may score lower on hilly non-technical courses, if you are very good at single trail then you may be relatively slower on flat open trails.

The better / faster you are, the more your ITRA scores & Performance index will progress.