One of the protagonists this weekend in the inaugural Sungai Menyala Forest Trail in Port Dickson, Malaysia, is the young and talented Filippino runner Sandi Menchi. While not exactly a new face in the Asian running world, Sandi has recently been moving up to longer distance endurance racing. With success: she won the Clark-Miyamit Falls Ultra last November, and a few weeks ago she crossed the finish line of the Cordillera Mountain Ultra together with Grandmaster Jan Nilsen! Sungai Menyala is a fast and different type of trail race, but Sandi will be a major challenger for unbeaten Asia Trail Master champion Tahira Najmunisaa on Sunday. In fact, Sandi has had the better of Tahira already in a climbing race on Sabah last year. Sandi, however, remains modest and highly respectful: " I honestly never expect to "defeat" others, cos i know that everyone has their own pains, weaknesses and past injuries, including myself. I always aim to beat myself, not others."

Sandi Menchi was born and raised in Baguio City, a famous place for adventurous travellers, trekkers and recently trail runners. Baguio is the gateway to the Cordillera Mountains and the perfect playground for any aspiring trail runner. "I was always an active or even hyperactive child, and my first race was when i was 15. I've been running since then," says the new star. "Actually, as of 2013 I wanted to explore and experience other sports so i tried triathlons and duathlons as well, and am still doing those now."

Day-to-day, she teaches tutorials to kids with special needs. She has also begun to organise and direct her own races in her local area. Sports is in Sandi's DNA, and her training plan also reflects that: "·  I try to make sure that every week i get to do speed endurance, cardio endurance, hill reps, stairs, running drills, stretching drills and a swim,  but I don't always get to follow it because of unpredictable circumstances at times :-). Previously, I was advised by my track-and-field coach to do things step by step, so I made sure to take care of myself and slowly increase the distance in the races i joined/am joining ". In the mean time, Sandi Menchi has a personal best time on the road marathon of 3:03. 

Running and trail running have become popular leisure activities in the Philippines, as in the rest of Asia. Sandi acknowledges: "I remember in the summer of 2014 when i joined a race and there were less than 20 participants.  Since then I've noticed that more and more people join trail races,  so it's good that we all somehow find peace in exercise. Yet,  i think that there's still a lot of room for improvement. Definitely, I hope trail running can become an Olympic sport one day!"

She considers Killian Jornet, Anna Frost and Sage Kennedy as very inspiring, and UTMB probably as the main ambition of her trail running career. "But ultimately, my goal is to inspire others to love the trails and mountains as i do," she emphasizes. 

After winning the Cordillera Mountain Ultra, and another great result expected in Port Dickson this Sunday, Sandi Menchi seems on track to be one of the leading contenders for the women's Asia Trail Master championship this year, following in the footsteps of her compatriot and male champion Manolito Divina. "The ATM championship would be a great achievement, but it is long way to go and I don't exactly have the rest of the year planned out yet.  Let's see!"

-KVDV

This weekend's fantastic Cordillera Mountain Ultra 50k race in Dalupirit, Benguet, Philippines is already the 7th points race in the 2017 Asia Trail Master Championship series and marks the end of Q1 - the first quarter. A hard-fought battle in both the male and female races is expected on Mount Ugo, the highlight of the race with a summit at nearly 2200m above sea level. Belgium's Gaspard Dessy is set to even take over the points lead from Arief Wismoyono in the championship, provided the Belgian finishes the race, of course. Dessy is currently only 50 points behind the Indonesian ATM champion of 2015 after two third place finishes in Tahura Trail and Coast To Coast Night Trail. Now venturing beyond his home base of Semarang, at CMU he will not only collect 100 finisher points but he is a race favourite and may thus score up to 400 performance points to boot! 

However, the competition on paper is tremendous. Starting with last year's winner Marcelino Sano-Oy, who knows the area like the inside of his pocket. Sano-Oy is often mentioned by local Filipinos in the same sentence with Asia Trail Master champion Manolito Divina, which says a lot even when the two have not yet squared off in a direct confrontation. An up-and-comer, it will be fascinating to see how Sano-Oy fares in his second ATM campaign. Divina, by the way, is not running this weekend. Last year's runner-up in CMU 50, Al Telias, is also back in the mix this weekend. He actually made life hard for Sano-Oy in the descent of Mt Ugo. Can he do it again, and what can his esteemed brother James Telias do in this race? 

After two third places earlier this year, Gaspard Dessy is set to take over the ATM championship points lead before the three-week-break to Q2. 

Last year's CMU winner Marcelino Sano Oy is ready to go for it again

And last but not least of the known top favourites is of course Grandmaster Jan Nilsen, who also makes his first appearance in an ATM points race this year. The Thailand-based Norwegian is always at his best when the elevation gain makes a difference in a race. However, the early part of 2017 has not been going as smoothly as he would have liked with an annoying foot injury plaguing him for several weeks. Just how fit is Nilsen to compete with Sano-Oy, Dessy, the Telias brothers and others in a 50k race that apart from Mt Ugo also has long runnable sections? 

To note and definitely a podium candidate in every race is also the participation of another Grandmaster, Aleksis Capili. Going faster race after race, Capili was sixth at UTKC two weeks ago and will certainly make a leap into the points championship top 10 going into Q2 in April. Another podium runner never to be underestimated is Aldean Lim. 

Gretchen Felipe won the women's race last year. Can she repeat that feat on Sunday? 

The women's race also promises to be huge with no certain winner at all! Defending CMU champion Gretchen Felipe will have pressure on her shoulders to repeat her accomplishment of last season. Felipe had a great run in the Cordillera and backed it up with an amazing second race victory at Merapoh Trail 60 in Malaysia - her first outing outside the Philippines. For sure, Felipe will enter this weekend's CMU 50 with the required confidence to compete with the already more established runners such as Majo Liao and a strong newcomer Sandi Menchi. Liao was third in this race last year, in fact, but it was the beginning of a difficult period for her as well as she sprained her ankle during the race. Majo Liao will be keen to forget that memory with a stellar performance on Sunday. But yes, what to think of Sandi Menchi? Hailed as a top talent, Menchi is making her debut on the A-race level in the Asia Trail Master series. Menchi knows the Cordillera area, as he won the shorter Cordillera Mountain Marathon two years ago. Another runner to watch out for is Croatia's Mateja Blazevic, who might as well cause an upset. Patricia Ann Morota, coming off a great second place in last month's Rizal Mountain Run, can also challenge for the podium, and score another good points haul as well for the ATM championship. 

As usual, the Cordillera Mountain Ultra will be tracked live via our social media channels. We look forward to another fantastic trail race! 

After suffering from a foot injury earlier this year, just what can we expect from Grandmaster Jan Nilsen? 

It is only end of February and this weekend we can already look forward to the sixth points race in the 2017 Asia Trail Master Championship series. The Beach Bunch Trail Challenge in Brunei was an exciting newcomer last year, and this time the event goes from marathon to ultra! The list of participants shows several big names, including the almost inevitable Asia Trail Master champion, Tahira Najmunisaa. Winner of the Beach Bunch race last season, the 26-year-old Malaysian will be going for the 50k barely a week after her stunning victory at UTKC in Thailand. She will not get her 8th ATM race win on a silver platter on Sunday, though, as Great Britain's Margaret Rait could give her a challenge coming off a win in another race on Borneo last weekend.

Sefli Ahar is back for the 100k

The 100 km in the men's will see last year's local running hero Sefli Ahar, winner of the marathon here twelve months ago, give it a shot on  the ultra distance! Interestingly, he will be up against, amongst others, Isaac Yuen Wan Ho again. The Hong Kong runner was chasing Ahar in the Beach Bunch Trail Marathon last year, and having had a wonderful time returns to Brunei this weekend. Yuen Wan Ho was third in the final 2016 Asia Trail Master championship ranking. Initially collecting podium placings, he finally got the well-deserved race victory at HK 168 last November - a 100 miler, no less. The BBTC will be his first of the 2017 campaign. 

Also in the field and a podium candidate, returning from Koh Chang, is Malaysia's Yim Heng Fatt. On the 50k, local runner Hj Saifullah is one to watch out for. 

Jessica Lintanga aka Jess Boubie

While Tahira Najmunisaa thus opts for the 50k, the 100k bursts with female trail running talent as well. Indonesia's Ruth Theresia is in prime shape this year and could be the top favourite. A COMPRESSPORT athlete, Theresia won the Coast to Coast Night Trail Ultra two weeks ago and has ambition for this year's ATM championship. The two Borneo sisters Adelinah and Jessica Lintanga could be her main competitors on Sunday, along with Singapore star Jeri Chua. Adelinah won the Penang Eco 100k last season, and her sister the MesaStila 4 Peaks Challenge in Indonesia. Jeri Chua of course does not need an introduction as one of the pioneers in Asian trail running. It will be her first start in an ATM points race, though. Other podium candidates are Mila Marlina and Filippino Cheryl Bihag, both already active this season with podium placings in Coast To Coast and Rizal Mountain Run, respectively. Local ultra star Melissa Woo will be trying to get herself in the mix, too. 

ATM Championship points seekers have a choice between 100 km and 50 km, and winners on each distance will be rewarded with 400 performance points along with 100 or 50 finisher points, respectively. The 100k will start at midnight on Sunday, and as usual you can follow all the action live on our social media channels. 

Ruth Theresia, 26,  came to the fore at MesaStila and BTS last autumn 

It's already the third racing weekend in the 2017 Asia Trail Master Championship Series and the second in Indonesia. All eyes are set on the Coast To Coast Night Trail Ultra in Central Java's cultural heritage city of Yogyakarta, where we are likely to end the weekend with new points leaders in the ATM championship ranking. After their great runs in Bandung last month, Gaspard Dessy (third) and Arief Wismoyono (fourth) will be competing with each other again in the hills behind Depok Beach, and Lily Suryani (fourth) can hop ahead of Tahira Najmunisaa and Diorella Cerujano in the women's. 

On the menu is a 70 km trail course with quite a bit of up and down for 2300 hm of elevation gain in total. Important as well is that the majority of the race will take place in the dark as the start of the 70 k will be given at 9 p.m. Organised by Trail Runners Yogyakarta, Coast To Coast has a very experienced team that will ensure everyone will enjoy a great time. The battle for the race victory will certainly involve the abovementioned Arief Wismoyono and Gaspard Dessy, but also Yohanis Hiareij will find a course that suits him very well. 

In the women's race it will be important to see the performance of Lily Suryani, and especially how she fares vis-a-vis Ruth Theresia, who has been in excellent form since the second part of last year. Theresia is also scheduled to run in Brunei at the end of the month and could be a contender for this year's championship title. Also in Yogyakarta, though, are Grandmaster Ina Budiyarni and Mila Marlina. 

As always, you can follow the action this weekend via our dedicated social media channels. 

COMPRESSPORT runner Ruth Theresia begins her 2017 Asia Trail Master campaign in Yogyakarta, but Lily Suryani could claim the top spot in the female ranking this weekend. 

Belgium's Gaspard Dessy was a surprise 3rd in Tahura Trail last month and could put himself on top of the ATM championship ranking this weekend

The course map of the 70k race

Just one week after the Tahura Trail, the 2017 Asia Trail Master tour already pitches its tents in the Philippines for the second points race. As last week's event in Indonesia, the Rizal Mountain Run is another Candidate Race that has moved up to our championship calendar this year. The 50 km in the Rizal mountains east of Manila is a tough rollercoaster with 2800 hm that seems to favour punchy runners. Kristian Joergensen, Danish but residing in the country, and Koi Grey fought a great battle last year and are back this weekend to open their 2017 campaign. However, one cannot look past Asia Trail Master champion Manolito Divina as top favourite for the men's race. Especially since Divina has something to make up. A DNF at Tahura by getting lost was an unexpected non-result last week! Instead of taking the new championship by the horns straightaway with two potential top points hauls, the pinoy star will have to make do with the Rizal Mountain Run this Sunday to get in the mix. At least one thing was obvious in Bandung: Manolito Divina is on the pace again. Race winner Abdoullah Mitiche was not finished with him yet, but that's trail running for you. 

The women's race will see Majo Liao competing more or less on home soil. Liao was second in the Asia Trail Master championship last year despite suffering from an injury for a large part of the season. Tahira Najmunisaa already showed everyone how strong she is again last week, can Liao do the same this weekend? Last year's winner Cheryl Bihag will also return to Rizal. 

Via our social media channels you can stay tuned to the race developments this weekend. 

A nice but tough 50 km loop in the Rizal Mountain area

2016 Asia Trail Master runner-up Majo Liao is the top favourite in the women's race

Kristian Joergensen won last year's edition after a splendid dual with Koi Grey

The new year's holiday has come to an end already, and for sure all of you are on fire to kick off your new trail racing campaign by now! The 2017 Asia Trail Master Championship   series begins this weekend in the most appropriate manner: a top event in an exciting location and a trail course that is perfectly designed to shake off that winter stiffness! The 5th Tahura Trail in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia is on this Sunday, and the highly popular event is honoured by the participation of the two defending Asia Trail Master champions: Manolito Divina (Philippines) and Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad Zaid (Malaysia)! 

Organised by the running division of Indonesia Biking Adventure, the Tahura Trail is arguabky the most popular trail event in Indonesia looking at pure participation numbers. The event of course caters for absolutely everybody: the experienced and top athletes have the 42k marathon distance, but less ambitious or beginning runners also have a wide range of options from 21k to 10k, family run or a new nocturnal race. For the Asia Trail Master championship, only the 42k provides finisher and performance points, 500 as maximum total for the male and female winners of the race. 

When one says Bandung, trail runners obviously think of The Bandung Explorers, the local trail running team that features a.o. 2015 Asia Trail Master champion Arief Wismoyono. Having home advantage, they will be the ones to beat. It will be interesting to see the dual between Wismoyono and Manolito Divina on Sunday. Divina had the Bandung ace in his pocket two months ago in his home territory in Clark, but the freshly married Wismoyono has seemed rejuvinated and might just as well equal the score on Sunday. 

Plenty of other race favourites this weekend, though. Not in the least Algeria-born Abdoullah Mitiche who won Tahura Trail last year. As Mitiche explained in our Talking Trail Running series this week, he just loves this race. Although primarily a long distance triathlete, Mitiche always makes a goal of Tahura and anyone who wants to win on Sunday will need to get passed him. Running speed is important in this race, as the distance of 42 km is obviously no 100 km long haul. It provides excellent runners with perhaps less technical trail wherewithal such as Mitiche with chances of upsetting the established trail elite. The relatively short distance should also play in the hands of Malaysia's Lim Wen Shan. And what to expect of Yohanis Hiareij and Margono, two other Indonesian runners known for their fast legs? 

Rhenaldi Firdaus, the youngster and winner of MesaStila 4 Peaks Challenge (65km) last October, is on the start list as well. Has he recovered from his fantastic efforts in Hong Kong last week during the UTWT race over there? Plenty of names, plenty of action to be expected on Sunday morning!

Moving over to the women, one cannot look past the presence of defending champion Tahira Najmunisaa. Unbeaten in five races on the Asia Trail Master tour, it is only logic she goes into Tahura Trail as the woman to beat. While admitting to being fatigued after the grueling Indonesia SuperTrail at MesaStila a few months ago, Tahira can be expected to be back at the top of her game this weekend. The local opposition will be there, though, as well. 

The first race of the 2017 Asia Trail Master season will be followed extensively on our usual social media channels as of the race briefing and champion's ceremony on Saturday afternoon. 

The second points race in this final weekend of the 2016 Asia Trail Master series takes place on a small island off the coast from Davao on Mindanao in the Philippines. The Punisher 50 may sound like very serious business, but actually this is the ideal kind of trail race to end your year with. Babak Samal Island is often described as a charming haven: an island, a garden and a metropolitan area all rolled into one. It has wildlife, stunning waterfalls, awe-inspiring caverns and scenic underwater sanctuaries, and is often dubbed as a region for wellness tourism. On this island, participants in the Punisher will run for 50 miles or 50 kilometres. The long distance runners will actually go all across the island before returning to the Sunset Beach Resort, which serves as the host venue and the start and finish of the race this Sunday. In total, there are 2250 metres of elevation gain to be conquered, which makes this a runnable course that should be completed in 20 hours. It is the second edition of the event, organised by Vertical 2 Sky. It is the second race in Mindanao after Ultra Trail Mapawa on the other side of the island last October. 

While the majority of the course suits fast runners, there are some steep bits and other technical sections in the rocky mountain area. There's also a few river crossings to slow down the pace. 

It will be an interesting race to follow without clear favourites in both the men's and women's field of participants. Several runners will be aiming especially to add a point to their tally for their Grandmaster Quest. 

Race organiser Doi Calbes with Jan Nilsen during course discovery earlier in the year

For the first time since the launch of the Asia Trail Master series in 2015, runners will score championship and Grandmaster Quest points in Thailand this weekend. The inaugural Ultra Trail Panoramic, organised by Teelakow - known of UTKC -, is a great new addition to the race calendar. It is not for beginners, though, as the programme consists of 100 miles and 100 km races only. Experienced trail runners, on the other hand, love the notion of running all the way from A to B. In the case of the 100 milers that implies running from Maehongson to Pai, whereas the 100k participants start their journey 60 km down the trail. It is a race in the Northwest of the country with lots of variety in terrain, and with the biggest obstacle coming at the end: Mieang Mountain! A long mountain climb with 1200 metres of elevation gain, before the big descent to the finish. Total elevation gain for the 100 miles is approx 7000 hm, and 4200 hm for the 100k. 

Asia Trail Grandmaster Aleksis Capili will be at the start in Maehongson, and of course for the long distance. Having just completed his seventh Grandmaster distance in Clark two weeks ago, Capili can claim his 8th point as he finishes in Pai, which would bring him within two points of the second level in the Grandmaster Quest: the two-stars shield. Moreover, the Thailand-based Filipino can still improve on his 2016 championship ranking as well. Currently sixth with 1147 points, a good result this weekend can eliminate his rather modest UTHK result of early this year and as such still jump ahead of Abdul Rahman and into the top 5. Also Brunei's Ali Ajis Rasil, currently 11th in the championship standings, will be trying to get into the top 10 still, as well as scoring his fourth Grandmaster Quest point

This weekend we will get to know a lot of local Thai runners entering the Asia Trail Master scene. Next year there will be several points races in Thailand, which has also fully embraced the sport of trail running. The first 2017 appointment will of course be UTKC, or Ultra Trail Unseen Koh Chang, on 17-18 February. That established event has been accredited with the Thailand SuperTrail label, which implies bonus points for the 2017 Asia Trail Master championship for all finishers! 

The trophy of the race!

The last SuperTrail race of the year is taking place in Clark, Philippines on Sunday, and it could be the decisive battle for the Asia Trail Master Championship. In pole position and holding all the cards is Thailand-based Norwegian Jan Nilsen, who after a tremendous season leads the points ranking having dominated all ultras in Indonesia. Only the best three results count, and so Nilsen currently has a 100-point bonus over home favourite Manolito Divina. And here's the catch: Divina won CM 50 in the past two years. If he repeats that feat and beats Nilsen on Sunday again, he will wipe out his rather disappointing 4th place result of UT Mapawa last month and finish the season with 1650 points, 50 more than Nilsen. Those 50 points are the difference between winning a SuperTrail and a standard race. Divina won Malaysia Eco 100 in May, Nilsen took MesaStila Peaks Challenge in October.  He who wins CM 50 is the 2016 Asia Trail Master champion. 

However, there are runners who can spoil the party for both Divina and Nilsen this weekend. Runners who have not yet given up on their own ambitions to become this year's ATM champion. CM 50 is not the final race of the year, there are still points and opportunities to be scored in UT Panoramic (Thailand) and The Punisher (Mindanao, Philippines) from 9 to 11 December. Indonesia's Arief Wismoyono and Xu Xiutao (China) in particular have both travelled to Clark this week with a clear mission: to beat the two protagonists and postpone the championship outcome. Wismoyono is of course the defending Asia Trail Master champion and won Ijen Trailrunning this season. Recently married, Wismoyono finds a trail course very much to his liking in Clark and is highly motivated to show to the Asian trail community he can also win outside his home country. Xu Xiutao has already done that: the young Chinese runner from Beijing was a strong winner at Korea 50K last April, and before that came second at UTHK 100 behind Tom Robertshaw. Xu has already pencilled in the 9-11 December long weekend in his diary... which says enough.

Fact is that if Wismoyono or Xu Xiutao win CM 50, the ATM championship will in theory not be over yet.

There's a number of other strong competitors this weekend who could also steal points away from the favourites. Isaac Yuen Wan Ho from Hong Kong is in great shape and could cause an upset still. Denmark's Kristian Joergensen is a real dangerman on the Pinoy trails, as he proved in the preparatory MF42 race two months ago. And of course, there's an entire armada of strong and experienced local runners at the starting line. In addition, there will be Aleksis Capili, the first Asia Trail Grandmaster, who just like Jan Nilsen will aim for a seventh finish on the way to the 2 stars shield (10 finishes). 

These are the four leading favourites for this year's Asia Trail Master championship

Majo Liao is the top favourite for the women's race again this weekend

Tahira Najmunisaa is already confirmed as the women's 2016 Asia Trail Master champion, and this weekend local star Majo Liao can assure herself of second spot. Also a double winner of CM 50 already, Majo can do a hattrick on Sunday. 

This weekend's CM 50 is already the sixth edition and therefore one of the pioneering races in the Philippines. Running from the Clark Freetrade Zone to the Miyamit Falls and back over 50 miles (82 kilometers). It is quite runnable, yet there are over 3000 metres of elevation gain to be conquered as well. Less ambitious participants can also opt for the slightly shorter distance of 60 km.  

The race starts at 1 a.m. and you can stay up to date on all the action throughout the weekend live from Clark. 

Link to Race summary 2015 edition

CM 50 Ultra - Just 1 more week to go to the final SuperTrail race of the 2016 Asia Trail Master season in Clark, Philippines!

It is going to be a make-or-break race for several top ranked men if they still want to become this year's Asia Trail Master champion. Their task is clear: beat Jan Nilsen in the 50 miles race to Miyamit Falls and back. The pressure will be pretty much on home favourite and already a double winner of this race, Manolito Divina. But last year's ATM champion Arief Wismoyono has not surrendered yet and is coming to defend his title in style. And what about dark horse Xu Xiutao, a fantastic winner in Korea 50k and determined to become champion! They are only a few names of the strong male line-up for next week's big event.

In the women's CM 50 race, all eyes will be cast on local favourite Majo Liao, who can consolidate her second place in this year's championship behind Tahira Najmunisaa. Expect a lot of changes to occur in the rest of the top 10 still by the end of the season. As you can see below, it is very tight for third place in the women's ranking at the moment with Patricia Shindy from Indonesia currently holding it. 

Take a look at the current top 15 going into the Philippines' SuperTrail:

2016 Asia Trail Master Championship Ranking - Men:
*Best 3 points result count

1. Jan Nilsen (NOR) 1650
2. Manolito Divina (PHI) 1500
3. Isaac Yuen Wan Ho (HKG) 1450
4. Abdul Rahman Abu Hassan (MAS) 1275
5. Arief Wismoyono (INA) 860
6. Lee Jeong Ho (KOR) 825
6. Nohui Seong (KOR) 825
8. Ali Ajis Rasif (BRU) 810
9. Xu Xiutao (CHN) 800
10.Aldean Lim (PHI) 775
11. Hendra Wijaya (INA) 755
12. Aleksis Capili (PHI) 737
13. Husnan Husin (MAS) 716
14. Marcelino Sano Oy (PHI) 710
15. Alan Toh (MAS) 690

2016 Asia Trail Master Chamionship Ranking - Women:

1. Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad Zaid (MAS) 1650
2. Majo Liao (PHI) 1450
3. Patricia Shindy (INA) 1110
4. Jassica Lintangga (MAS) 1015
5. Ruth Theresia (INA) 1000
6. Ina Budiyarni (INA) 990
7. Yuen Kit Shan (HKG) 950
8. Xiao Jing (CHN) 925
8. Sunghee Lee (KOR) 925
10.Faherina Mohd Esa (MAS) 850
11.Gyesook Lee (KOR) 825
11. Mila Marlina (INA) 825
13. Jocelyn Cheung (HKG) 800
14. Gretchen Felipe (PHI) 760
15. Hyonshim Chong (KOR) 720

Grandmasters in 2016 - 1 star:
Aleksis Capili (PHI)
Jan Nilsen (NOR) 
Ina Budiyarni (INA)

Check out the full ranking via the Race Timing Solutions page, where you can also filter by nationality to find out the best trail masters in your country. 

Jan Nilsen leads the 2016 Asia Trail Master ranking after 3 big wins in Indonesia

Majo Liao is second in the women's ranking and can assure that position at CM50

The second major ultra race on the Asia Trail Master scene this weekend takes place in the New Territories in Hong Kong. HK 168 has become one of the traditional events in Asia's trail running centre and the increase in race registrations reflect the growing relevance of the event, which has joined the Asia Trail Master series and points championship for the first time this year.  Many international participants and some key ATM-ranked athletes are competing here, too. Isaac Yuen Wan Ho, third in the current points ranking behind Jan Nilsen and Manolito Divina, will be trying to improve on his best-three points total and as such edge closer to the Pinoy runner ahead of him. In fact, Yuen Wan Ho can win HK 168 all together. 

HK 168 is actually a bit longer this year and starts at Shin Mun Reservoir. In total, more than 8000 metres of elevation gain need to be conquered, which is of course a significant amount. Also the 93km and 66km races are no walks in the park. 

In the women's race we will see Yuen Kit Shan, winner of UTHK earlier this year, compete in her second race of the year. Another victory, not unlikely, can boost her way up the women's ranking. In theory, she is the only runner who can still catch up in points with Tahira Najmunisaa, provided she wins HK 168 and CM 50. This weekend, Yuen Kit Shan will compete against other regulars in the Hong Kong/China area like Xiao Jing. 

You can follow the action at Hk 168 live this weekend via the Race Timings Solutions portal - partner of Asia Trail Master. Also on our social media pages, our representatives will keep you updated. 

Live Results HK 168

Race Timing Solutions

Yuen Kit Shan is aiming for her second victory of the season this weekend

The 4th edition of the Bromo Tengger Semeru Ultra in East Java, Indonesia, is on this weekend and the focus will pretty much be on two athletes: Asia Trail Master championship points leader Jan Nilsen is the big race favourite and, moreover, can become the second male Asia Trail Master Grandmaster, while Jakarta's Ina Budiyarni looks set to become the first female Asia Trail Grandmaster. The event probably has the most awesome backdrop of all in the series, but as those places go, tend to be vulnerable to the natural elements as well. The organisers were happy enough to announce that the original 170 and 100 routes to the Bromo volcano rim will be open, when a threatening weather forecast for the weekend dampened the euphoria. As at MesaStila Peaks Challenge last month, the participants will most likely have to cope with torrential rain showers, wind, and cold temperatures on the summits. Bad weather has been affecting many trail races of late, let's hope that BTS Ultra will be spared the worst.

This is also one of the toughest races of the season alongside Rinjani 100, and we all remember what happened there: only Jan Nilsen made it to the finish within the cut-off time. Nilsen has been outstanding all year in the toughest mountain races, and it is hard to see who can beat him now in normal circumstances. Then again, Muhammad Dzaki, second at MesaStila, is in prime shape and can put up a challenge to the Thailand-based Norwegian. Nilsen himself is keen for victory here, after he had to pull out of the race last year with blisters while running in the lead together with Ullas Narayana, who will not defend his title this weekend. In terms of Asia Trail Master championship points, Nilsen can maximise his points total for the final ranking in which the best three results of the year count. It would give added pressure to his rivals in the championship, such as Manolito Divina, Xu Xiutao, Yuen Wan Ho and Arief Wismoyono to name the most obvious challengers. Bandung runner Arief Wismoyono, who secured his 2015 Asia Trail Master champions with a gutsy run at Bromo last season, will not take the start on Friday afternoon. Wismoyono will be back in action at CM 50 Ultra, the Philippines' SuperTrail, on 27 November. While Nilsen and Dzaki are the main contenders for victory and the podium on the 170 km, the dark horse may well be Yohanes Hiareij. Second at Ijen Trailrunning behind Wismoyono, Hiareij DNFd at MesaStila and may be motivated to produce a strong performance at BTS. 

On the 100 km race distance, Rhenaldi Firdaus may be the one to watch. Firdaus won the MesaStila 4 Peaks last month, the 65k race over there. 

Jan Nilsen (in white) was running with eventual winner Ullas Narayana for a long time last year

As no women will take part in the grueling 170 km race, the 100 km distance has become the main event, or the A-distance. This implies that there will be a full bag of 400 ATM performance points on offer for the winner, instead of the usual 200 for a B-distance. We can look forward to a great competition, as most of Indonesia's leading ladies of trail running are present. Ruth Theresia was second in last month's MesaStila and may set the pace. But what about Patricia Shindy, only woman to finish the Rinjani 60 last July? Mila Mirlani is there as well, who can always rely on her experience in the long ultras. From Malaysia we have Faherina Mohd Esa, a solid second place finisher at the Magnificent Merapoh Trail 100 in July. And last but not least, Ina Budiyarni, who at MesaStila led most of the 65 k race to eventually finish second and for whom BTS is her favourite trail race. Budiyarni started her trail running career here three years ago, and it would be quite fitting if she indeed manages to complete her Grandmaster Quest in the race where it all began. Who knows, maybe a podium finish as icing on the cake?

The Grandmaster Quest results in a lifetime achievement award and entry into the Asia Trail Master Hall of Fame. To obtain the honorary Grandmaster title, runners must complete six races of minimum 70 km or 4500 Hm, within 24 months. Aleksis Capili was the first trail runner who managed this feat at the Malaysia Eco 100 last May, and this weekend Jan Nilsen and Ina Budiyarni can reach the level of six completed races. Both of them began their campaign at Borneo TMBT in August 2015, fifteen months ago. As evidence of the difficulty of the Grandmaster Quest, Nilsen (BTS 2015, Malaysia Eco 100) and Budiyarni (Merapoh 100) both suffered setbacks along the way with DNFs in races that could have given them additional points. Ultra running remains a serious challenge to everyone: to finish first, you need to finish first. 

Stay tuned this weekend via our social media channels to find out what is happening at the 2016 Bromo Tengger Semeru Ultra! 

If Ina Budiyarni finishes the 100km race she is the first female Asia Trail Grandmaster

Jan's Five Grandmaster Quest Steps so far:

• 08/2015 - Borneo TMBT (Malaysia) - 100 km
• 11/2015 - CM 50 Ultra (Philippines) - 82 km
• 02/2016 - UTHK (Hong Kong) - 156 km
• 07/2016 - Rinjani 100 (Indonesia) - 100 km
• 10/2016 - MesaStila 5 Peaks Challenge (Indonesia) - 100 km

Ina's Five Grandmaster Quest Steps so far:

• 08/2015 - Borneo TMBT (Malaysia) - 100 km
• 10/2015 - MesaStila 4 Peaks Challenge (Indonesia) - 65 km
• 11/2015 - Bromo Tengger Semeru Ultra (Indonesia) - 100 km
• 05/2016 - Ijen Trailrunning (Indonesia) - 70 km
• 10/2016 - MesaStila 4 Peaks Challenge (Indonesia) - 65 km

To learn more about the Asia Trail Grandmaster Quest, please refer to our dedicated webpage. 

A blue sky might be a rare sight this weekend during the race .. 

The brutal course of the 170 km BTS