We are happy to announce that the Pacific Coast Mountain Trail Festival in General Nakar, Luzon, Philippines is joining the Asia Trail Master Grandmaster calendar in 2025. The event, a Candidate Race last year, will be held on the weekend of 26/27 July and features a 100km race that will provide a Grandmaster point to all finishers. The Pacific Coast Mountain Trail Festival is already open for registration.

Beginning and less ambitious runners can also opt for one of the several shorter distance categories. There is also a kids race. And in fact, this event is a great introduction to trail running. PCMTF is known for its (very) runable terrain and as such as bit of an outcast on the Filipino trail calendar. Last year, we saw several of the country’s marathon and road running scene take part and get a first taste of trail running. As the official event’s tagline reads: “Where the mountains literally meet the sea and everything in between fall nothing short on beauty and charm – from its crystalline streams to placid rivers, from rolling hills to the lush greenery of the forests, tiny hamlets and the exceptional warmth of its people - all these on a one-of-a-kind ultra marathon that is the Pacific Coast Mountain Trail Festival” .

The 100k Grandmaster course is not pancake flat neither, though. There is still 2000 metres of elevation gain to be conquered during the day. The race starts at 4 am on Saturday morning and everyone is expected to be back after 27 hours, i.e. 7 am on Sunday morning.

General Nakar is also relatively uncomplicated to get to from Manila. You can ride a bus or van frm Legarda in Manila going to Infanta Quezon. The fare is approximately Php 350-450. Travel time is 4-5 hours depending on traffic and time of the day. General Nakar lies on the east coast of Luzon island.

Via the facebook page below you can find all details on the event, and you can register online via the button below as well.

Malico Grand Ultra took place for the second time last weekend featuring a 75km race course with a Grandmaster point for all finishers on offer. Brought to you by Mark Caldez of Marcado Trail Quest and the Maharlika Series team of Sierra Madre Trail Ultra, the event took place in Santa Maria West, Pangasinan, in the West of Luzon a little south of Baguio. The 75km is a challenging course with four distinct peaks to conquer, for a total elevation gain of over 4000 hm. Conditions matter, but runners also always learn and this year’s winners were significantly faster than last year. Jordan Bugnay was the rather surprising man on the top step of the podium, winning in 12h32 - well ahead of established ATM competitors Sean Aying and Maynard Encornal. For Sean Aying, finishing Malico meant scoring his 15th GM point , which now makes him a 3-star Grandmaster!

Strongest woman was Ann Jilian Pulanco, who managed to outpace Julieann Morales and Julie Mae Marquez in 16h21. Whenever Grandmaster Pulanco decides to compete and race, she is always a victory contender. In 2023 she also won Sierra Madre. At Malico a year ago, she was preceeded by Michella Aradanas, however. Julieann Morales was 10th in last season’s ATM Championship with three wins inside the Philippines during the season. The first ATM Championship points race of Season 10 is coming up on the first weekend of March in Bukidnon, the Mount Kalatungan Trail Ultra’s 55km race.

We are delighted to announce that at the start of a new year we also have new Asia Trail Master “Forever Trail” merchandise released via our customisation partner Mude Sports! The Forever Trail line consists of high quality running shirts, both in male and female cut and design, plus running vests, caps, hats and belts!

In addition, we are introducing a new achievement token for our ATM Grandmasters, on top of the default GM caps. Every Grandmaster who completes the second, third and fourth level will receive a bronze, silver, or gold t shirt!

Mude Sports is the customisation company based in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and driving force behind the country’s top elite runner, Hau Ha - our 2022 ATM Champion. Over the past few seasons, many runners and fans have seen the ATM Team wearing the ‘Forever Trail’ crew shirts. Many have asked whether these were not on sale for the general public. Well, now they are! Albeit in a brand new trendy design with a subtle distnction between male and female colour scheme. The running shirts are ultra-light, ultra-breathable, and moisture-wicking. It will will keep you cool and dry in any condition. Plus, you’ll love the ecological benefits of using post-consumer recycled materials. Check out the Asia Trail Master merch store on the Mude website and order your items still today! You can go there via the button below. Definitely also take a look at the 8L trail run vest!

The new Grandmaster bronze, silver and gold shirts are obviously not for sale , and will only be handed out to runners who score their second, third and fourth stars. However, these people may request a personalised version of the tee, which can then be purchased in unlimited quantities. Grandmasters who wish to make use of this add-on, should contact ATM or Mude for details.

Forever Trail!

Still at the beginning of Season 10 in the Asia Trail Master series, there’s three runners who have completed the fourth and last level of the Grandmaster Quest. Japanese runners Hisashi Kitamura and Masafumi Yamamoto were joined by the first female 4-Star Grandmaster Rhea Batac from Manila in the Philippines in July 2024.

There’s 9 runners wearing the 3-star badge at the moment, with Tomohiro Mizukoshi (JPN) and Ruth Theresia (INA) both on the verge of scoring their final 4th star.

The full list of ATM Grandmasters has been updated following the Lam Dong Trail in Vietnam on 9 November 2024. SC 70 and Mt Apo Sky Race will be processed in the coming week. The Grandmaster list will now be updated every month. As previously mentioned, due to the fact that event organisers all use different time-keeping and results producers it is often difficult to keep track of each runner’s achievements. Please contact us on info@asiatrailmaster.com or via our facebook page messenger if your GM finisher result(s) have not been incorporated already. Thank you.

The Grandmaster Hall of Fame is also being updated , as we are changing systems. Furthermore, as of January 2025 there will be an extra token of achievement coming! Stay tuned..

Grandmaster Quest

Rhea Batac is the first female 4-star Grandmaster. She joined Japanese runners Hisashi KItamura and Masafumi Yamamoto as the only trail runners to have reached 20 ultra finishes.

Ever since the then-19-year-old Godwin Mirar finished fourth in The Punisher 80km, hot on the heels of Hisashi Kitamura, Arnie Macaneras and John Ellis, a great future in trail running was promised to him. The smart youngster from Bukidnon has kept his head cool in the past years and focused primarily on developing his pure running ability first, rather than aiming for as many kilometres and as much elevation gain as possible. Flashes of his great talent came out again after covid, for example when he battled with John Ray Onifa and Kristian Joergensen at VMM 2023’s 50km race., and again with Onifa earlier this year on a 30k short distance in Cebu. His youth and relative inexperience as a high-level competitor still costs him sometimes, but Godwin Mirar made another big step forward in his development last weekend at the 7th Mount Apo Sky Race. He came and conquered his first ever 100km race (what a choice for a 100k debut as well!) in 15h21 , a solid 40 minutes ahead of Jevie Cagatin , ATM Finalist at Borneo TMBT last September and already second on Mt Apo last year (behind Paraiso). Cagatin is also the last winner of the Mount Kalatungan Trail Ultra in March and the highest Filipino points scorer in ATM Season 9. Quite a performance by Mirar. Of course, this season’s edition was not a points race for the ATM Championship ranking, but still.

Rhod Axel Butac came third in the race and completed the podium in 19h10.

Fastest female runner was Rizalyn Lauron in 23h27, an hour and a half ahead of Jenny Grace Padillo. Cheryl Bihag completed the podium in third.

This year's Mt Apo Sky Race did not offer any points for the championship ranking, but gave all finishers a point for their Grandmaster Quest. That was the goal for Manila's Cheryl Bihag as well, and by finishing third in the race she even managed to underline her performance of becoming a 3-star Grandmaster! Cheryl has been active on the ATM circuit for many years and was one of the first female Grandmasters ever. Last weekend, she added a third star to her badge!

This weekend, Grandmaster point seekers again have an opportunity in Santa Cruz, Davao, with the 7th edition of the legendary Mount Apo Sky Race - our ATM Championship Final host in 2022. This is probably the race that really started things off for international trail running in Davao and it remains an icon. Running from the beach to the summit of the highest mountain of the Philippines at nearly 3000m above sea level and back still speaks to the imagination of many people, both runners and non-runners.

This season, the Mount Apo Sky Race is focused on the Grandmaster Quest and not the ATM Championship ranking. Host venue is still the Playa de Obuza Beach Resort in Santa Cruz and event organiser is still Vertical To Sky led by Doi Calbes, who also has another Davao classic in his trail portfolio: The Punisher, which will take place again mid-August 2025 as the last Filipino points race of the ATM Championship season before the big Final.

How sexy the Mount Apo Sky Race may look and sound, this remains a tough nut to crack, even for experienced trail runners. The 100km has approx 5000 metres of elevation gain , mostly but not exclusively thanks to the ascent of Mount Apo. On Apo, the final 8km to the summit are adventurous and runners need to make their way up and then down the ‘boulder face’ , also relying a bit on orientation skills to choose the right path up the huge boulders. It’s very technical and over the years participants either love the boulder face or hate it. It’s part of the allure of the race, and the winners certainly cherish this trophy. Runners such as Jevie Cagatin, Rexell Aguirre and - interestingly - Godwin Mirar will all be keen to add their name to the winners’ list this weekend.

From an ATM perspective, however, the main focus this edition is to finish the 100km and score a GM point. And, there is a runner from Manila who may score her 3rd Grandmaster star on Mount Apo. Cheryl Bihag has only just returned to the scene after a bit of a break with a solid finish in the SC 70 race last week. That was her 14th GM point in her ATM trail running journey that started back in 2016! What a great way it would be to collect her 3rd Grandmaster star on the highest mountain of her country. Malaysia’s recently crowned 2-star Grandmaster Munintaran Sundram is also continuing his Quest for a third star.

Live updates on the Mount Apo Sky Race can be found on our facebook page this weekend.

Last year’s winners : Isaiah Paraiso and Julieann Morales

SC 70 was the first Grandmaster-only event in Season 10, taking place in Santa Cruz, near Davao City in Mindanao, Philippines. “Grandmaster-only” means there’s only Grandmaster points to be scored, but no points for the Championship ranking. The 70km course had about 4000 metres of elevation gain and is considered tough, with Mount Dinor and Mount Loay as highlights. Moreover, the race had a long nighttime part. Organised by Team Jegol, the feedback from finishers afterwards was generally very positive.

No Championship points, but of course there was still a competition going on. Once again, Roberto Cain III proved to be the strongest of the bunch. Leading nearly throughout the race, he concluded in 11:27:39. That was twenty minutes faster than Marjones Abugan in 11:47:43. Eldy Bulod took third on the podium in 13:13:31.

In the women’s 70km race, there was a surprising winner in Julie Mae Marquez, who ran the best second half to overtake Julieann Morales and grab victory in 14:44:40. Morales was second and in third, also with a solid run, came Guia Cabigas.

This weekend SC 70, short for Santa Cruz 70, will test the endurance and technical abilities of runners looking to score an extra point on their Grandmaster Quest. The Filipino event organised by Team Jegol may only just qualify as a Grandmaster race with its 70km, but it’s a tough 70km. Elevation gain is estimated at over 4000 Hm and the course features some iconic places around Santa Cruz, such as Mt. Loay, Mt. Dinor, Tacub Laya Falls, Pilan River, Sinoron, Lipantod, Camotes Ridge, and Mt. 796. The course profile is actually quite distinct and interesting from a competitive point of view, too. Mount Dinor is the cornerstone and highest peak in the first half, Mount Loay in the second half. Runners should also be aware that after the final descent of Loay, there’s still a 10km flattish section to the finish back in Santa Cruz.

Plenty of solid runners will be taking part this weekend, including 2-star Grandmasters. Cheryl Bihag and Alfredo Reyes Jr. It is the first time SC 70 is on the calendar, so all finishers this weekend can score an additional GM point. The race does not offer points for the ATM Championship ranking, but will be interesting nonetheless with many competitive athletes on the start list, including last year’s winner Eldy Bulod. Marjones Abugan, Florencio Alave, Roberto Cain III, Isaiah Paraiso and others will be challenging him for the victory. In the women’s field we find Julieann Morales on the start list, as well Guia Cabigas, Dolly Joy Alonzo and Razzil Sumalinog to name a few.

Santa Cruz, just a half hour drive south of Davao City in Mindanao, has become a real trail running hub since the corona crisis and even more visibly so since the 2022 ATM Championship Final, the Mount Apo Sky Race. That event is how things started in Santa Cruz, which is now not only the main gateway for hikers to the highest mountain in the Philippines, but also the venue for several trail running events during the year.

Runners seeking more Grandmaster Quest points should draw a red circle around Saturday, 8 February 2025. That’s the date of the Santa Ines Mountain Adventure Run in the Rizal mountains east of Manila in the Philippines. Alternating with Bagtit Ultra on our ATM calendar, this event is organised by The Pace Republic and 4-star Grandmaster Rhea Batac herself. The main race category is the 80km , that’s also the Grandmaster race distance. Please note that this is a Grandmaster-only race, i.e. there are no points to be scored for the ATM Championship ranking.

Santa Ines is about a 2h drive from Manila City and therefore quite convenient. Grab cars will take you there. However, the race start is scheduled for 4 am so make sure you arrange accordingly. The event was a Candidate in 2022 and a points race in 2023. From both occasions, we learnt that the 80k should certainly not be underestimated. This is a race to come prepared for, with several technical sections and many river crossings, some narrow, some wide. Accoriding to Rhea Batac, the 2025 course will be amended here and there compared to 2023 and this is still work in progress. Below you can see the profile of back then with Mount Irid as the highest peak of the race at about 1500m above sea level. Total elevation gain is estimated at 4500 hm.

The winners in 2023 were Elmer Retolado and Elizabeth Dangadan.

It is recommended to follow the official facebook page - linked below- to stay up-to-date with the latest news about the Santa Ines Mountain Adventure. Registration is opening soon.

Brought to you by Mark Caldez of Marcado Trail Quest and the Maharlika Series team of Sierra Madre Trail Ultra, the second edition of Malico Grand Ultra in Santa Maria West, Pangasinan, in the West of Luzon a little south of Baguio, offers a Grandmaster point to all finishers of the 75km race on 18/19 January. The event was a Candidate Race in 2024.

As of the new Season 10 and following popular demand, a number of events on our calendar will only offer Grandmaster finisher points and no ATM Championship points. Malico Grand Ultra is the third of these.

Stunning panoramic views of Villa Verde ridges and pine forests, Malico Grand Ultra offers a unique blend of history, challenge, and natural beauty. Run through trails that were once significant battlegrounds during World War II. Immerse in the tranquil surroundings of Cabalisian River and move across the Andalasi hanging bridge to witness the crystal-clear waters of Ambayaoan River. Meanwhile, do not forget to take in the breathtaking mountain views of Mt. Ugo and Mt. Pigingan. One of the main highlights in the 75k category is the exhilarating downhill adventure at Mt. Valdez, that will undoubtedly challenge your skills and endurance. In fact, the 2024 edition showed this is a tough 75km that should not be underestimated. Miguel Carranza won the men’s race in 15h39’ and he is by no means mediocre! Carraza even preceeded other established technical trail runners such as Bhert Orpiada and Sai Tonog II. The women’s race had a surprising winner in Michella Aradanas, who managed to outpace Ann Jilian Pulanco.

Another element participants in the 75km GM distance should prepare for is the cold weather. It is January and close to Baguio, you will need more than just a running tee at night!

Registration for the event is open. Please go to RaceTech PHI to sign up. Event details can be obtained via the official facebook page.

Winners of the 2024 Candidate Race

The Mount Apo Sky Race has become a genuine classic over the years in the Asia Trail Master series and we are happy to announce that runners on the Grandmaster Quest can again highlight the event dark red in their agendas. The 7th edition of the event, which is basically a sea to summit race of 100km to the highest point of the Philippines and back, is scheduled for the weekend of 30 November/1 December 2024. Host venue is once again the beach resort Playa de Obuza in Santa Cruz, just 30 minutes’ drive outside of Davao City.

Organised by Vertical To Sky and one of Mindanao’s pioneering race directors in trail running, Doi Calbes, the Mount Apo Sky Race has built up a solid reputation for mountain trail lovers, looking for wild and even unspoilt trails. We were happy to have the event as the 2022 ATM Championship Final, won by Arnie Macaneras and Hau Ha, and continue its legacy in 2024. For one season, we skip the Championship label to give opportunity to another event, but Grandmaster-point seekers will find Mt Apo a very fulfilling race to have on your record. And of course, winning this 100k race still puts you in a very selected list of top runners.

Registration is open and as usual restricted to a fixed number to ensure the mountain area does not get overburdened. This is a protected nature area, after all. The link to the website and registration portal is below.

Last year, Isaiah Paraiso had his breakthrough moment winning the men’s race, while Julieann Morales established herself as the ‘Trail Queen’ of Davao by winning the women’s race.

Isaiah Paraiso was the fastest 100k runner on Mt Apo last year

Julieann Morales was the strongest woman on Apo last year

A successful Candidate a year ago, SC 70 in Santa Cruz, Davao in Philippines has now been rewarded with a spot on the new ATM Grandmaster Calendar for Season 10. The event organised by Team Jegol Runners will be held on 23/24 November and ‘70’ in the event name stands for the 70km long Grandmaster point distance.

SC70 will be the first Grandmaster-only event on our ATM calendar, following the announcement made last week (read it again here: http://www.asiatrailmaster.com/news/2024/8/30/grandmaster-quest)

Santa Cruz, just a half hour drive south of Davao City in Mindanao, has become a real trail running hub since the corona crisis and even more visibly so since the 2022 ATM Championship Final, the Mount Apo Sky Race. That event is how things started in Santa Cruz, which is now not only the main gateway for hikers to the highest mountain in the Philippines, but also the venue for several trail running events during the year.

The 70k ultramarathon trail has an elevation gain of about 4000hm, and will feature scenic and iconic places in Santa Cruz, namely, Mt. Loay, Mt. Dinor, Tacub Laya Falls, Pilan River, Sinoron, Lipantod, Camotes Ridge, and Mt. 796. The course profile is actually quite distinct and interesting from a competitive point of view. Mount Dinor is the cornerstone and highest peak in the first half, Mount Loay in the second half. Runners should also be aware that after the final descent of Loay, there’s still a 10km flattish section to the finish back in Santa Cruz. That could hurt for some, while be a tactical all-in section for others. The precise 2024 course map will be made available soon.

Last year, SC70 was the event were we got introduced to youngsters Shally Yuson and Eldy Bulod, two competitive runners whom we have gotten to know very well since then! Shally has just completed her Grandmaster Quest and is part of Team Pilipinas at the upcoming ATM Championship Final. Eldy Bulod was the joint-winner of The Punisher, together with Kik Suello, just a month ago. Bulod stated we will see more of him in Season 10.

It is highly recommended to follow the event’s Facebook page, as is common in Philippines, to receive the latest updates and links to the registration portal.

Last year’s winners of SC70 have since then become well-known: Eldy Bulod and Shally Yuson!