Our main reasons for the cancellation are:

• Essential organizations, such as the Red Cross and doctors, are and will continue to be highly stressed. We find it irresponsible to ask them for support at the event.
• We also find it irresponsible to ask the approx. 150 mountain rescuers to go up to the mountains for the GGUT and, under these circumstances, to rescue any injured participants.
• At least 25% of our other volunteers are over 60 and are therefore part of the Covid-19 risk group.
• The minimum distance of 1 m or more cannot be guaranteed on the trails (overtaking or supply stations in the mountains).
• We could provide hygiene standards under COVID-19, in particular at the supply stations only by a significant reduction of the supply in the aid stations and massive use of disposable packaging.
• Appropriate hygiene standards under COVID-19 in sanitary facilities (especially in the catering stations in the mountains) cannot be guaranteed, even with extreme effort because the infrastructure is lacking.
• With the extreme physical challenge in ultra-running, the risk of infection increases significantly.
• We expect that travel restrictions will remain in place during the summer and that many participants from more than 40 nations will not be able to travel.
• A shift to autumn is not possible due to high altitude and high likelihood of snow by September.

Finally, in times of such extraordinary burden for our society, we should all run and keep fit. We are hit hard by the crisis ourselves, but we consider it inappropriate to celebrate such an extreme event in such a situation.

We have no doubt that each of you can understand and accept this difficult decision. Economically, the cancellation means also economic damage for us and we would of course be grateful if you, the GGUT community, would like to support us in the future.

We have already directly contacted all registered runners and informed them directly about the possibility of transferring the bib to 2021 or the conditions for the refund of the entry fee.

We kindly thank you for your understanding and trust, whishing and hoping that this crisis will pass quickly for everyone and that we all stay healthy. We are already looking forward to a great GGUT 2021 from July 30th to August 1st, 2021 in Zell am See-Kaprun, Kals am Großglockner, Weissee-Uttendorf and Fusch on Glocknerstrasse.

Your GGUT Team