In the past few months we have received a lot of interest from India in our Asia Trail Master Championship series, which is a clear sign that the trail running sport has taken off in the large South Asian country. Today we are happy to announce Deccan Ultra as a 2021 ATM Candidate Race, scheduled for the weekend 8/9 February. The second edition of the event features four race categories of which the longest measures 115k and 4850 hm ascent. There’s also an 80km (3500 hm), 55km (2100 hm) and 30km (1370hm).

Deccan Ultra is set up by Grand Indian Trails and with Nupur Singh and Sandeep Kumar has two directors who know what distance and trail running is about. The races are on trails nestled deep within the Sahyadri Range, offering mesmerizing views of the Deccan Plateau. The Deccan Ultra route includes the highest peak of Maharashtra, Kalsubai at an altitude of 1646m and also the toughest triple-trouble forts in Sahyadri; Alanggad, Madangad and Kulanggad, commonly called the AMK.

The route is a mix of easy-ascent slopes as well as treacherous rocky outcrops overlooking the valley below. To climb the near-vertical slopes there are iron ladders along the course. The 115km and 80km category circulates around the Bhandardhara dam and involves climbing 5 forts and the Kalsubai peak

To get to the event, the easiest international connection is Mumbai - 165km away , which translates in a 4h car drive. A shuttle bus service from Mumbai is available in the early morning of 8 February. Local event accommodation is centred around the Akolemaza basecamp, which is a campsite. Please take a look at the event website for further details on logistics. The button link is below, as well as the race registration, which is still open.