After a successful stint as ATM Candidate in 2024, we are delighted to announce that Danao City International Ultra Trail has joined the Grandmaster Quest calendar for its third edition on 18/19 April 2026. It will be the first time trail runners can score ATM Grandmaster points on the popular island of Cebu in the Philippines. Focus hereby is of course on the 100km category, the only category of 70+ km at the event.

The Danao 100 km is a tough one with well over 6000 metres of elevation gain, accumulated via numerous ups & downs in a real rollercoaster of a course. Start and finish is in the city centre by the sea. A beautiful setting for a challenging trail run. Less ambitious runners can also choose for the 50km, 35km or 15km.

Danao is located roughly one hour north of Cebu City and its airport, which has several international connections within the region. Known as a popular tourist destination outright, this is certainly one of the easier events to get to. You will need to fly in on Friday as the 100km starts at 3 am on Saturday morning. The cut-off time is set at 33 hours. The official course for this edition will be revealed soon but is based on last year’s, which is pasted below.

Interested runners should follow the facebook page linked below to stay up-to-date on news and information about the event. Registration will open soon.

Running back in time

A bit later on the calendar in 2026 due to a rather late lunar new year in most parts of Asia, BUTM will celebrate its 10th anniversary edition on the weekend of 11/12 April. Taking place in Kiulu, Sabah, the event programme retains its 100km and 50km categories, which both offer points for the ATM Championship ranking. The 100 is of course also valid for the Grandmaster Quest.

Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon, in short BUTM, is really no longer the “little sister” of TMBT. Organised by the same team, BUTM is a wonderful event in itself taking place in a different part of Sabah, in and around Kiulu. For international runners the set-up is very similar: you fly into Kota Kinabalu and can base yourself in the city. Shuttle busses will take runners to the starting line at night. The 100km and 50km races start together at 6 am.

The overall layout of the race courses with start and finish area at Kiulu will be retained, but the actual location has been changed as the Riverside Park has been closed due to ongoing construction works for a road bridge. Having Kiulu as a central start/finish area works well logistically and is convenient for runners - in particular for those driving to the venue themselves. All race categories make single loops out from the start/finish area. The 100km is still kind of a figure 8 loop. The 50km keeps the redesign that was done last year. While the total elevation gain of 5270 hm for the 100km is not excessive (2315hm for the 50km), the heat and humidity can make it feel a lot more than that. Unless it rains like last year, turning some parts of the course into genuine mudfests. In general, BUTM is a pure jungle trail experience!

Registration for the event is open and can be done after checking the website with the necessary details to read. Pay attention to the mandatory gear list and requirements. The organisers here are very serious about it and for good reason. .

Last year’s fantastic Top 3 in the men’s 50km with the Sabahan Stars

Kadamaian Ultra, perhaps better known as KAR Ultra has redesigned its event in order to celebrate its 10-year-anniversary in style. Scheduled from 24 to 26 July, KAR offers a new 100 Miles category and 80km category - both providing ATM points for the Championship ranking and the Grandmaster Quest. KAR is organised out of Kota Belud in Sabah, Malaysia.

As the official event website reads: “Each category leads runners deep into Sabah’s wild landscapes through dense rainforests, across clear rivers, and up the steep slopes of Bukit Bogung, where the terrain demands both strength and determination. Along the way, participants will witness the natural wonder of Kadamaian Valley, framed by the towering majesty of Mount Kinabalu, axx UNESCO World Heritage Site.” As beautiful as it is tough, however. Sabah is on Borneo island, and runners not only need to conquer the rugged terrain, but also the high degree of heat and humidity.

The new 100 Miles category will be a serious test of strength and determination, as we also remember from the 2023 Borneo Miler, organised by the TMBT team in Sabah. The cut-off time has been set at a generous 52 hours, however. The 80km is tough in its own right and has a COT of 29 hours. KAR 2026 is a true long ultra edition. The precise course maps will be revealed in February, but the estimated elevation gain for the miler is 6500 to 7500 hm.

KAR has been a remarkably popular event over the past decade. According to the event organisation “ it’s a movement built on passion, perseverance, and people. The event continues to embody the spirit of Kota Belud, with the unwavering support of the local Kadamaian community, volunteers, and runners who return year after year to celebrate the trail-running spirit of Borneo. Recognized internationally for its challenging terrain, cultural warmth, and unmatched natural scenery, KAR Ultra stands as a symbol of endurance and unity among runners across Asia and beyond.”

To get to Kota Belud, you fly to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah. Details on the event shuttle busses can be found on the website and checkpointspot page, where you can also register for the races. Please note that the registration has been open for a while and has been a tremendous success. BE QUICK if you still wish to be part of the 100 Miles in particular.

Running back in time

Over the years V Trail has built up a reputation of being one of the - if not THE - most brutal trail running events in Southeast Asia. But now in 2026 things promise to be quite different! The event in Vang Vieng, organised by Green Step, has undergone a true face lift in order to make the races more digestible and fun, in line with modern trends in trail running. All races will take place on Sunday, 15 March with the flagship race the 50km starting at 5 am, i.e. more or less at sunrise. That’s correct: no more 85km jungle torture. At least not in 2026.

The 50km is an Asia Trail Master Championship qualifier and is also redesigned compared to last year’s course, won by Jeff Campbell (male) and Anna Turrini (female). Whereas in 2025 our reigning champion Campbell still required almost 8 hours and 40 minutes, expectation is that the new layout is much faster and runable. Still, Vang Vieng remains surrounded by hilly rainforest and nearly 1900 metres of elevation gain needs to be conquered. The start and finish is at the Vang Vieng lower secondary school, very close to the river that flows through the town. The cut-off time has been set at 12 hours, i.e. 5 pm at the finish back at the school.

Less ambitious runners can also opt for a 30km, 18km and 10km. Vang Vieng is a popular travel destination in Laos and connected on the high speed railway network between country capital Vientiane and China’s Kunming in Yunnan. From Vientiane airport, it takes a good hour to reach Vang Vieng by highway. Busses are available. Stay tuned for latest updates on the events’s facebook page.

International runners can get registration and accommodation information via whatsapp number +856 20 9221 1556 . You can also send an email to info@asiatrailmaster.com , our team can redirect to the event organising team in Laos.

One month later than usual due to upcoming elections, the popular Manjushree Trail Race in and around Nepal’s capital city of Kathmandu has been scheduled for 18 April 2026. No 100 Miler this year as the event can only go through on one single day, i.e. Saturday, due to the national elections in Nepal. For the same reason, the 100km will be reduced to 80km.

The event will neverthless again feature two categories offering Asia Trail Master championship points, the 80km and the 50km. Runners focusing on the Grandmaster Quest can of course also score a point on that 80km long ultra.

The longest distance of the event takes runners for a long way onto the Kathmandu Valley Rim, which is named after the god Manjushree. As part of this, the racecourse also crosses the two national park (Nagarjun and Shivapuri) that border the valley. Over 85% of the route is single track, where it sometimes takes hours before runners come across a little settlement. Even though you are technically still within the Kathmandu valley, you will feel like you are far away from urbanization many times during the race. The venue for start and finish is Single Tree, near the city centre.

The updated 80km course map will become available in due course.

The 50 km race will start from Badikhel, above Godavari. Participants will go to the start venue by shuttle bus from Kathmandu city in the morning to take flag off at 8 am. The cut-off time is 14 hours. The course is challenging and technical for a 50km, even though it is essentially a daytime race. Last year, Priya Rai and Man Kumar took the victories in the women’s and men’s categories.

Registration is open and can be accessed via the official website linked below. Please note that upon successful registration, you will receive an email from the event crew with details on travel and accommodation packages, should you require these. In any case, it is possible to stay in Kathmandu City and head out to the race start/finish venue from there by taxi/motorbike.

We are happy to announce that Zamboanguita Mountain Ultra Trail has been added to the Grandmaster Quest calendar on the weekend of 9/10 May 206. Organised by Happy Feet Events and Rhodel Sarande, ZMUT - as the event is called in brief - takes place on Negros Oriental, one of the southern islands in the Philippines. Previously in ATM, the company also organised the Mount Talinis Mountain Marathon.

The main race distance in which trail runners can score a Grandmaster point is the 70km category. It is a tough 70km with an estimated elevation gain of over 4000 hm. To note also is the maximum number of participants for the race, i.e. 300. The start is scheduled for 3 o'clock in the afternoon and runners have 24 hours of time to complete the course. Host of the event is the town of Zamboanguita and along the course runners will enjoy great scenery: waterfalls, lakes, dams and grassland ridges. Mount Talinis will also appear in view.

To reach Zamboanguita, you need to fly to Negros Oriental’s main airport city Dumaguete City, which is connected to Manila, Cebu, Davao etc.

Registration for the event will open very soon. You can stay tuned via its facebook page.

We are happy to announce that the 5th edition of Pahang Eco in peninsular Malaysia joins the ATM Grandmaster Quest calendar on the long weekend of 21 to 23 August 2026. Known as one of the toughest trail races in the country, Pahang Eco has gained a lot of prestige over the past four years. The event was an ATM Candidate back in 2023 as well.

Organised by Elpis Event Management, the race’s event blurb describes a journey that will take you across breathtaking landscapes, from pristine white sandy beaches and shady coastal pines to rugged cliffs and scenic trails through Bukit Pelindung Bukit Tokki and historical Bukit Galing. Along the way, you’ll experience the coastal charm of Pantai Pelindung, Pantai Beserah, and Pantai Batu Hitam. The start and finish venue is Teluk Cempedak. Trail runners should expect a good blend of tarmac, beach, and forest trails, featuring challenging hill sections designed to test your endurance and determination. Be sure to include hill training in your preparation so you can take on the climbs with confidence and maintain your strength throughout the race.

Also due to the typical Malaysian humidity and heat, Pahang Eco tends to have a high DNF rate on the longer distance, so proper preparation is indeed a must. Less ambitious runners can also go for the 50km, 23km or 12km - but note these obviously do not offer a GM point. Make sure you also check the mandatory gear list.

Pahang Eco takes place on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, in Kuantan. The town has plenty of accommodation options and is well-connected by highway to Kuala Lumpur.

Registration and all details can be found via the button below. You can also stay up to date via the event’s facebook and instagram pages.

The 2026 edition of BTR Ultra in Bali, Indonesia, has been scheduled for the weekend of 15-17 May and features again 100km and 60km distance categories offering points for the ATM Championship ranking. Being longer than 70km, the 100km of course also offers a Grandmaster Quest point for finishers. BTR Ultra is centred around the iconic Batur volcano in Kintamani and has quickly become one of the most popular destinations on the ATM calendar. Bali raises images of sun, beach and holidays, but make no mistake: this is a tough trail race!

The 100km actually measures 106km and has over 7200 metres of elevation gain. Runners start at 6 pm on Friday evening and has 34 hours of time to complete the course. The 60km has 3800 metres of elevation gain, starts at 4 am on Saturday and you have 19 hours to reach the finish line. Start and finish is located at the Batur lake.

Last year, the two main categories were won by non-Indonesian runners, Roberto Cain III (Philippines) and Man Yee Cheung (Hong Kong) took the men’s and women’s 100km. race, respectively. On the medium distance, it was Lodewijk Vriens (Netherlands/Hong Kong) and Vanja Cnops (Belgium/Singapore) who claimed the top step on the podium.

Registration is open and will go quickly. Click on the button below to reach the BTR website and information on how to register.

For those new to trail running and Bali, Kintamani lies towards the northeast of the island and is at least 2 hours driving from the airport (subject to traffic). Tourism hotspot Ubud is closer and an option to stay, but you will need organised transport (taxi, grab., motorbike) to reach Batur from there.

100km

Penang Sky Race is one of Malaysia’s qualifiers for the Asia Trail Master Championship and rapidly becoming a classic race on the calendar. The 2026 edition retains its end-of-April spot, with the event marked on 25/26 April. Co-organised by MMTF Consultant, Penang Sky Race not only saw a fantastic competition in 2025 in both the men’s and women’s categories, but also proved once more that you don’t always need a 100km to feel completely squeezed out like an orange. Penang is beautiful, but also hot and very humid.

As the event name suggests, Penang Sky Race is also part of the global Skyrunner series and in particular the 30km race, which almost has the same elevation gain as the 50km (approx 2300 hm vs 2700 hm). Please note that runners seeking points for the ATM Championship ranking need to focus on the 50km.

The 50km Sky Ultraks race category has start and finish at the Youth Park in Georgetown, main city in Penang. As such, this is a convenient event logistically with also an international airport to the south of Georgetown. Following the 3 am start, the course will take runners on ondulating terrain with Penang Hill as a highlight. The highest point of the course is Western Hill at 833m above sea level. Hills can be very rugged and technical, and then there’s the heat and humidity. But once you finished, the beach is also not far away and Georgetown is a UNESCO World Heritage Site do definitely worth your time to wander about. The Pearl of Orient State of Penang is also famous for its tantalizing local street food (specifically Peranakan cuisine) and for being one of the top tourist destinations in Malaysia. It is a place where cultural tradition and modernity blend seamlessly into one.

Last year, Godwin Mirar took his first major international win ahead of Wilsen Singgin, while Hau Ha managed to keep Priya Rai behind her.

Registration for the 50km is easy via the button below that links to the Checkpointspot website.

With regret we have to inform everyone of the confirmation that the return of Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths in Vietnam has been postponed from early April to the end of December 2026. The postponement is the result of a major survey conducted by the event organiser, Race Jungle. According to the statement linked below via facebook, the main consideration is the difficulty of the race at the end of the trail running season in Vietnam (which mirrors the Hong Kong season). Moreover, end of year is perceived to be a better and more beautiful fime to enjoy the Cuc Phuong primary forest.

A major implication for the Season 11 ATM Championship is that Cuc Phuong hereby also moves from Season 11 to Season 12. At present there’s therefore one less qualifier event for Vietnamese runners to score points in their attempt to qualify for the ATM Championship Final, which will take place in Vietnam - at Mu Cang Chai on 3 October. Previously this season, also Lam Dong Trail in Dalat got cancelled following the terrible weather in the region over the past months. The next ATM Championship qualifiers are Vietnam Trail Marathon next month and Brah Yang Trail Summit in March. Prenn Trail Summit, also coming up in January, offers Grandmaster points. We aim and hope another Vietnamese event can still be included on the Season 11 calendar.

Minamiaso Caldera Trail was the first ATM Candidate taking place on Kyushu, the southwesternmost island of Japan. Organised by the Local Gain group out of Kumamoto, Minamiaso has a winter and a summer edition, so participants can visit and enjoy the magnificent scenery along the trails in two completely different set-ups. The Winter Minamiaso took place in dry and good running conditions, albeit without snow this time. As such, it was a relatively fast race at the front, despite the significant elevation gain of 2500 hm for the 50km distance.

Tomohiro Machida proved to be quickest on the day in 5h53, winning the men’s race by some three-and-a-half minutes over Yohei Kawahara. The third spot on the podium was taken by Yuichiro Hayashi. Fastest female runner was Kyona Nonaka in 7h33, five minutes ahead of Seika Higashi. Sayo Matsuda claimed third place.

Minamiaso is one of the world’s largest volcanic calderas. You reach the area via Kumamoto, one of Kyushu’s main cities - the biggest is nearby Fukuoka. Kumamoto has an airport with even some international connections such as Hong Kong, and otherwise Fukuoka has more. Both cities are worth a visit, too.

The Summer Minamiaso is scheduled for early July 2026 and is expected to be officially announced in the course of January.

The last points race of 2025 saw two pre-race favourites live up to the expectations and take their second ATM race win of Season 11. Jomarc Ferrer and Kimberly Flores both ran a smart New Corella Trail Ultra race and underlined their growing reputation as young and upcoming trail talents in the Philippines.

After a neck-and-neck battle with Ulyses Esteva, Jomarc finally took the lead at around km50. Successfully navigating the more technical sections in the latter part of the race, he emerged victorious with a finishing time of 8:18 hours. Esteva did well to score second just 13 minutes later, with Prince Gabucay a great third place as well. Another top favourite, the experienced Yoyong Sacayle, managed to score useful ATM points for fifth place, but was still preceeded by Marlonette Esquierdo - yet another new name.

With this win, Jomarc again confirmed his current form and already looks like a near-certainty for Team Pilipinas in the Season 11 ATM Championship Final. Three weeks ago, he also emerged victorious in the 42 km of the Mount Apo Sky Race. Ferrer is also. qualified for the Season 10 Final. With his current form he might be a contender for minimum top 10.

Also Kimberly Flores scored her second win of the still young season, and in fact it is her third ATM race win in just four months. In August, she was also fastest female in the Punisher. After Shally Yuson’s and Shekinah Velasquez’ DNS, Flores was the clear woman to beat in New Corella. As such, she ran to another rather comfortable victory. Finishing in 11h50, she preceeded Luzon’s Krizia Bondad and Jenny Grace Padillo.

The next Filipino qualifier event for the ATM Championship Final of Season 11, which will end on 3 October 2026 with Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail in Vietnam, will be held near Manila with the Sierra Madre Trail Ultra in April.