Alex Tilley and Irish Glorioso came out on top of the 85km longest race leaderboard at the 3rd edition of the V Trail in Vang Vieng in Laos last weekend. The event made a comeback after more than three years following covid, and proved its reputation as one of Southeast Asia’s most technical trail races once again. Tilley, from Great Britain, crossed the line in 17h27 for the 85km. Thailand’s Sirisak Namyota finished second nearly five hours later, and Jumnok Taonak completed the podium. The women’s race was won by Philippines’ Irish Glorioso ahead of her compatriot Roan Gumangan. The first ATM race win for Glorioso, who was one of the exciting newcomers in Philippines last year. She crossed the finish line in 24h48.

The 55k saw pre-race favourite Narin Kongsiri from Thailand win it in 12h56, followed by Souksavanh Sychandone. Fastest woman was Sou Soulivanhthong in 14h22, who did very well and even finished third overall!

Alex Tilley wins the 2023 V Trail 85km in Laos

This weekend trail runners arrive in Laos for the first time since the covid crisis. Vang Vieng’s V Trail returns to the calendar as an early season event, as the traditional November slot was still not feasible in 2022. The 3rd edition is built on the foundation of the 2018 and 2019 experiences, with a technical and hilly jungle trail of 85km as the longest race category. New this year is the addition of the 55km category as a second points race for the ATM Championship alongside the aforementioned 85km.

Green Step as organiser of V Trail is confident that 2023 will finally see the return of several Laotian events. The Luang Prabang Trail has now also been scheduled for mid-September, giving especially local trail runners in Laos a golden opportunity to get involved in the ATM Championship and qualify for the finals in December.

Due to the shock last-minute cancellation of UTKC in Thailand two weeks ago, this weekend’s V Trail is the de facto ATM season VIII opener. An unexpected development, given that originally V Trail came third on the calendar. Sadly, Indonesia’s very popular Tahura Trail in Bandung has also been called off for the second year in a row in what can already now be regarded as yet another indicator of the current difficulties organisers in several countries in Asia face to make their events happen.

The Vang Vieng races will see quite an international mixture at the start line. On paper it looks like an open competition with several candidates in with a shot to win in the men’s race. Thai runners Amorn Kimnguan, Supeeraphan Sreeduangjan and Wasin Mongholmalee have scored podiums in ATM long ultras before. In the women’s race, Philippines’ Irish Glorioso, one of the ‘new faces’ on the ATM scene last year, could be the one to watch for the race victory.

On the 55km start list we see the names of Sawangjit Saengow and Narin Kongsiri as proven podium runners. We are looking forward to following the performances of many local Lao runners in the race. It’s been more than three years since they last had a chance to do so on home soil.

As previously announced, the V Trail in Laos is returning to the ATM Championship event calendar on 12/13 November. Registration for the event in Vang Vieng is now open as well. On the programme are the traditional race categories, of which the 85k is the targeted event for the points seekers.

This was the inaugural event in the country back in 2018 and quickly established itself as one of the more adventurous and technical races on the ATM circuit. While the 30K and shorter distance categories offer a great introduction to Southeast Asian trail running, the 85K main race is one to prepare yourself for - physically and mentally. You get to the event in Vang Vieng, a tourism hotspot, via the national capital Vientiane.

Organised by Green Step, a company with a lot of ambition in Laos, the V Trail relaunch post-pandemic is wonderful news for the Lao trail running community, which practically had just been building itself up when covid hit.

The inaugural trail running event in Laos is already entering it’s third edition this season on 21/22 November. The V Trail in Vang Vieng, in the south of the country, has quickly established a reputation for being one of the most technical and adventurous trail races on our Asia Trail Master Championship calendar. The 85 km long main points race has about 5100 metres of elevation gain through often thick mountain jungle. The 2020 recipe remains unchanged after an initial plan by organisers Green Step/Teelakow to boost the distance to 100k was shelved for another year. Sharp observers will of course have noticed that the event is now scheduled two weeks later than usual.

Vang Vieng is a small town north of Vientiane, sitting alone the banks of the Nam Song River. It's surrounded by striking limestone mountains and caves. Previously known for its controversial backpacker party culture, the local government a few years ago decided to improve the reputation of the town and has gambled all-in on developing ecologically-friendly adventure travel. The V Trail event is part of that plan.

The online registration for the event is open now. Asia Trail Master point-seekers need to focus on the 85 km race. Less ambitious runners can also opt for one of the shorter distances.

V Trail 2020 teaser video

The second edition of the V Trail in Vang Vien, Laos, saw the sudden appearance of three main protagonists in the Asia Trail Master Championship. Both Milton Amat and Koi Grey in the men’s, and Montha Suntornwit in the women’s, saw a great opportunity to boost their championship ambitions and took part in this very technical 85 km long race. Sabah’s Uglow Running Project runner Milton Amat and Thailand’s Siangpure runner Montha Suntornwit maximised on it by winning, while Filipino Koi Grey suffered an unfortunate DNF after km 60 due to serious digestive issues. In terms of the ATM Championship, it means Milton scores an extra 50 points and keeps his title-winning chances open. Montha moves up to fifth place in the women’s with this win - her fifth result of the 2019 season. Koi Grey stays fifth and will be competing in Taiping on 14 December to keep that Top 5 spot.

Second place in the men’s race went to Thailand’s Teerawat Kanjanasuttiyakorn, who last month became 10th in the Ultimate 230 in Chiang Rai and earlier in the year scored 4th in Ultra Trail Luang Prabang. Local Lao runner Duangpeng completed the podium. In the women’s Rhea Batac from Philippines took second.

Koi Grey was running in second place when he had to retire with serious digestion problems

All smiles: Montha Suntornwit from Thailand scores a solid race victory in Laos

The 2nd edition of V Trail in Vang Vien, southern Laos, promises to be a hotly contested race for some of the final Asia Trail Master Championship points on offer this season. Top contenders Milton Amat from Sabah and Koi Grey from Philippines will be attempting to boost their total points tally even a bit more before the final day in Taiping, Malaysia on 14 December.

Milton Amat is currently third in the Championship ranking with quite some margin still to improve on points. The Malaysian starts as the favourite in V Trail, given his credentials in the most technical of trail races in South-East Asia. The 85 km should suit him as much as Koi Grey, another technical runner who this year has shown great consistency in his running. Grey is 5th in the Championship ranking and could leapfrog Tomohiro Mizukoshi once again as the gap is only 26 points. Amat and Grey will get competition from Michael McLean - never to be underestimated - and a list of Thai and local runners.

Connectivity-permitting, we will be updating regularly about the action in Laos on Saturday.

Milton Amat is the dangerman in the ATM Championship for Ellis and Kitamura

Koi Grey is a solid fifth in the ATM Championship and keen on doing even better than that

This weekend it is finally happening: the first major international trail running event in Laos! The V Trail in Vang Vien is organised by the established crew of Teelakow in Thailand and is the first event of a scheduled four in 2019. The V Trail offers a very selective and technical course on most distances, not in the least the 85k ultra.

As this is a new sport in a new destination, most of the runners come from outside Laos. Quite impressive therefore that the start list features almost 800 names! Among them is also Asia Trail Master Championship leader Alessandro Sherpa. The Italian returns four weeks after struggling to a place of honour in the Plataran X Trail Bali with injury. Last week, Tomohiro Mizukoshi failed to hop ahead of him in the standings at Fifty Mapawa, but Sherpa is certainly hot home yet. The men’s championship remains open with several candidates remaining for the title. In fact, due to his many SuperTrail performances this season, Sabah’s Milton Amat is in a very strong position, although he still needs to deliver one big result this season to grab his option on the championship title.

At V Trail, Sherpa will be facing competition from amongst others Salva Rambla and Michael McLean. The former had a string of podium finishes in Indonesia before a DNF due to overheating at UT Chiang Rai 2 weeks ago. The Spaniard is keen to set that straight in Laos, although on paper the course might not be as suitable for him. McLean on the other hand does well on technical trails and has something to make up after a rather unexpected early DNF at UTCR 230. Also Thailand’s Wasin Mangkholmalee is a podium candidate this weekend, after finishing fifth in that same 230 km Ultra Trail Chiang Rai race.

In the women’s, we may have a Malaysian top favourite in Siokhar Lim, who was, amongst other results, second in Penang Eco 100 last May. Lim is also ranked 9th in the current ATM championship and can move into the top five if she delivers a good performance in Laos.

The first edition of the V Trail in Laos will open registration next week on 1 May. The event is the first major trail event in the country and technically organised by the teelakow team from Thailand that also brings you UT Koh Chang and UT Chiang Rai to name just two. The race courses for V Trail are now also 100% confirmed and it was decided to have a 85 km course as main race, and a 52 km as middle race. Shorter distances are also available, but the two longest matter for the Asia Trail Master Championship. 

Laos is a new destination on the trail map and of course will be characterised by jungle and mountains, and lots of technical single trail. The 85 km features nearly 5200 hm, but in the fine teelakow tradition you get 30 hours for that - which is still no walk in the park given the terrain, though. Runners should be prepared for a tough technical race in hot conditions. 

Participants can best get to the event via the international airport in Vientiane. From there it's a bus drive north to Vang Vien. 

Below are the profile maps for the 85 km and 52 km. 

Registration will be open via www.teelakow.com 

Vang Vieng Trail

Pencil in now: V-TRAIL in LAOS! We are happy to announce a brand new entry in the 2018 Asia Trail Master Championship, as well as a new destination: V-Trail will be taking place in Vang Vien, north of Vientiane, in Laos on the weekend of 3/4 November 2018! 

On the programme will be a 100K and a 60K with 4500 hm and 2400 Hm respectively. V-Trail will be run almost entirely on natural trails and will be a true adventure for all participants. Effectively, this will be the first high-profile trail race in Laos. The technical organisation is in the hands of Thai company Teelakow, known for several other ATM points races such as UTKC in February. 

Registration for the V-Trail will open soon.