A wet Saturday is forecast for the many runners taking part in South Korea’s trail classic Korea 50k, with temperatures probably staying below 15 degrees all day. That is probably not the worst news for Koken Ogasawara, the Japanese star from Sapporo who launches his 2023 ATM campaign and squares off against the likes of Alessandro Sherpa, Hisashi Kitamura and Jay Jantaraboon.

Ogasawara is arguably unknown for many following the Asia Trall Master series, but if we mention he was second in last year’s Izu Trail Journey a loud bell may be ringing already. Apparently inspired by fellow-Sapporo runner Moeko Yasugahira, who won the women’s Seoul 50k last October on the way to 6th place in the ATM Championship Final on Mt Apo, Ogasawara has a few ATM points races lined up for this season. At Korea 50k, he may find a course and conditions that suit him very well, and it will be exciting to see how the battle with ATM regulars Sherpa and Kitamura unfolds. Sherpa started the new season in great style, winning Dalat Ultra Trail 85 and placing second behind Jeff Campbell in Lantau 70 after giving the Canadian a stern challenge. Already in Seoul for a week, Sherpa is motivated to give it his best again this Saturday. Hisashi Kitamura has already demonstrated his form this season as well, easily grabbing victory in Cuc Phuong 42km four weeks ago, and beating Milton Amat in BUTM 100 in March. However, ‘Karate Kit’ has just moved from Kuala Lumpur back to Tokyo with his family and we can imagine that is not the best physical and mental preparation for a highly competitive race. There’s certainly one other serious contender on the start list in Thailand’s Jay Jantaraboon. Around for many years, not running in ATM often, but when he does he wins (eg UTKC 100 in 2017, UTCR 120 in 2018). Wet conditions won’t hamper him too much normally, as Jay has always considered himself an adventure racer first, and a trail runner second.

At the time of writing we have not yet seen the start list, but there’s certainly one more contender for podium if the dice rolls in his favour: Jose Luis Alvelais. The Hong Kong-based Mexican was 3rd in his comeback race following injury at Cuc Phuong last month. There was a considerable time gap between him and Kitamura, but that was a fast and dry course. Korea 50k has 3300 metres of elevation gain, and when it’s really wet, there’s only so much speed anyone can develop. Korea’s leading trail runner since many years, Kim Jisub, won’t be running as he competed in Japan just a week ago. The same for Sim Jaeduk.

In the women’s race we have the previously mentioned Moeko Yasugahira on the start list. She was the winner of last year’s Seoul 50k race and on paper the one-to-beat as a result.

We will be reporting live from the race on our usual ATM channels starting at 5:30 am Korea time.

Korea 50k: tough battle ahead in wet conditions!