Like all of you, we are very much looking forward to the day when we can announce “the heat is back on!”, but sadly today we must announce another event cancellation. The Puncak Tanawan Mountain Ultra on Negros Oriental in the southern Philippines has been officially cancelled out of health safety precautions. The event was scheduled for the first week of June, but event director Rhodel Sarande and his team of Happy Feet are unable to guarantee a smooth organisation given the current ECQ (enhanced community quarantaine) and the uncertainty when this will be lifted. Even if this were to be lifted soon, local mountain communities are fragile and have expressed reasonable concerns, reflecting those in the Cordillera mountains up north. Happy Feet has therefore already decided to cancel this year’s third edition and look ahead to 2021 straightaway.

Puncak Tanawan Mountain Ultra was a newcomer in this year’s Asia Trail Master Championship following the unfortunate demise of the Mount Talinis Mountain Ultra at the end of last year.

It means the first points races on the ATM calendar have now become Dalat Ultra Trail, Moon 100 and Echigo Country Trail on 19-20-21 June.

Negros Oriental in the southern Philippines will once again play host to a points race in the Asia Trail Master Championship as the 3rd edition of Puncak Tanawan Mountain Run enters the race calendar on the weekend of 6/7 June. Puncak Tanawan, which will be held in conjunction with a local town fiesta celebration, thereby replaces the ill-fated Mt Talinis Mountain Ultra from last year.

Race Director Rhodel Sarande offers runners a beautiful 60 km race with scenic views of Puncak Tanawan Natural Park going up to the mossy forest of the Balinsasayao mountain range. The majestic Malindog waterfalls system "Tres Marias Waterfalls" awaits you as you run across the ridges of Puncak Tanawan. The town of Sibulan functions as the start/fnish venue. The event also has 42k and 15k options and even a Vertical Kilometre on Saturday morning. The main 60k race is scheduled to start at 2 am on Sunday early morning and has a cut-off time of 16 hours.

To get to Negros Oriental you can fly from Cebu, Manila or Davao domestically to Dumaguete, the main city on the island. As always in the Philippines, the races may not be that long but often have technical sections that require your attention. Stay tuned for a course recce of Puncak Tanawan at the end of February.

Registration opens on 15 January:

Puncak Tanawan online registration