Kalaw Ultra Trail Run first Myanmar event in ATM

This Friday, the flag-off of the 80km at the Kalaw Ultra Trail Run event will mark the first ever points race in Myanmar in our ten year history. The large country bordering China, Thailand, Laos, India and Bangladesh has already been developing a road running scene since the inauguration of the Yangon Marathon in 2013, but in the context of trail running It’s the first year that an event is being promoted internationally. Organised by the Myanmar Ultra Trail Running Association, Kalaw Ultra Trail Run first of all gives local runners the opportunity to showcase their talents against a considerable number of ‘foreign’ runners. Both the 80km on Friday and the 50km categories on Saturday provide points for the ATM Championship ranking, which may lead to qualification for the ATM Season’s “Final” in early October.

Kalaw lies in Shan State and is quite well-known on the backpacker tourism circuit in Southeast Asia. The town has decent accommodation facilities and provides access to the majestic Inle Lake via a network of hiking trails. Some of these will be used this weekend for the run as well. It is dry season meaning most of the trails will be very runable, although there is of course some elevation gain to be conquered. The 80km category has nearly 2500 hm, and the 50km about 1700 hm. For competitive participants this implies a danger of running out of steam towards the end, especially given the 80k has a steep uphill part in the final section to the finish at the Kalaw Tower.

The races are probably wide open in terms of victory and podium contenders. No big names on the start list, as is usually the case for a first international edition in a new destination. We are therefore bound to get to know several new names and faces, including of local Myanmar runners. The 80k starts at 5am local time on Friday, with the 50k at 6am on Saturday.

Internet and mobile connectivity can be sketchy in Kalaw and Myanmar in general, with apps such as facebook and IG also not readily accessible. ATM will be reporting from the event on Friday and Saturday, but note that the livestream may therefore be restricted to our YouTube channel. Videos and other race updates will be uploaded to our Facebook and Instagram pages as soon as possible.