For the first time in over 3,5 years runners will flock to Baguio and the smaller mountain village of Tinongdan for the Cordillera Mountain Ultra, a classic on the Filipino trail calendar that has also acquired a very positive reputation in the rest of Asia and even beyond. Event organiser JP Alipio has indeed managed to put together a unique ‘boutique-style’ trail weekend in the splendid scenery the area has to offer, including homestay accommodation and local culture. The main race, the 50km, features the ascent and descent of Mount Ugo, and is natural loop without any unnecessary or artifical switchbacks to add distance. CMU, as the event is now commonly called, is living proof that 50k trail races can be very attractive, fun and challenging, too.

Normally taking place in March, the covid-19 situation early this year made that impossible and so CMU is a late-season race for the first time. While tricky for many international trail runners, the local Filipino runners do not seem to bother as the start list looks filled with the nation’s top runners, especially those with ambition to be part of Team Pilipinas at the ATM Championship Final in two weeks’s time in…. Philippines, albeit on the other side in Mindanao: the Mount Apo Sky Race. Indeed, the male and female teams, consisting of maxium five each, is not yet fully confirmed today. In the men’s Larry Apolinario and Sean Aying performed well-enough at MMTF last weekend to be safe, but the remaining three spots are still quite open for a number of runners - even John Ray Onifa. The latter does not feature on the CMU start list, however, the race he won back in 2019 ahead of Kristian Joergensen (!) and Koi Grey. Joergensen is back this weekend, following-up after his joint victory with Milton Amat last week on the 90km of MMTF. Reportedly not in a position to race Mt Apo, Joergensen might influence the others’ chances by taking points away from them this weekend. But when all is said and done, we might find Davao’s Arnie Macaneras on the #1 spot after the weekend. After a difficult start of his ATM season with the DNF at MUSPO 100, Macaneras rebounded with second place behind Kitamura at The Punisher, and a solid 3rd place at MMTF 50 last week. He is doing CMU as well now, to make sure he can don the Team Pilipinas shirt for the Final at his home in Davao. Of all the ATM finalists in the men’s race, nobody will know the terrain better than Arnie Macaneras. That makes him a very dangerous outsider and certainly a podium contender.

In the women’s race, we can expect a battle between Angelie Cabalo and Aggy Sabanal, both of them keen to get into the Top 5 of the ranking as well. Mathematically difficult given Emily Raga, Ces Wael, Irish Glorioso and Rhea Batac are safe already. Remains Julie Ann Morales, but she is running CMU to make sure she stays in, being from Davao also. Morales, by the way, could challenge for the CMU victory outright, having shown competitive improvement all season. Sabanal has been selective in her races and might be the freshest of all contenders, especially as Caballo just won MMTF a week ago. Or will eternal podium placer Ces Wael finally get that big victory that has escaped her for so long?

The ATM team will be present at CMU and reporting live on the usual channels, connectivity permitting.

ATM Team pilipinas ranking

CMU: classic 50k race decisive for Team Pilipinas