At the end of another month, the official race registrations for two hot Asia Trail Master points races are coming to a close. First of all, the Malaysia SuperTrail race, Penang Eco 100, and also the unique Mt Apo Sky Race in Mindanao, Philippines. 

Both events are trail events pur sang. Penang Eco 100 features 100 miles, 100k and 50k races and 30k races and is for the second consecutive year credited with the Asia Trail Master SuperTrail label, which means all finishers on the 100 miles and 100k races get 50 bonus points for the points championship. 100 mile finishers even get an additional 25 as of this year.  However, remember the amount of performance points on both 100 miles and 100k is the same: 400 for the winners, which is a significant difference compared to last year, following feedback from multi-race participants. Several top contenders for the ATM championship have already signed up, underlining the importance of SuperTrails and its bonus points. 

Of course, the 100 miles and 100 k are also qualifiers for the Grandmaster Quest.  Please note that the cut off for the 100 miles is tight to very tight, while the 100k is slightly looser. 

Registration ends on Friday, 31 March. Click here to go directly to the reg page. More info on the event here. 

Two weeks earlier, a very special event takes place on Mount Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines at just below 3000m above sea level. The Mount Apo Sky Race is a technical 70 km virtually out-and-back race that is unique as the mountain park is currently closed for regular tourism. If you want to visit this pristine environment, you need to do this race! Total elevation gain is 4000 hm and the cut off is 22 hours. Less ambitious runners can also opt for 35k, but please note that no ATM points are awarded on that shorter distance. 

The 70 km is also a qualifier for the Grandmaster Quest, and rumour has it that Grandmaster Aleksis Capili will be aiming to score his 10th point at Mount Apo, which translates in a Grandmaster Shield featuring 2 stars! 

Registration ends on Friday, 31 march. You can sign up directly here. More event info is here. 

Trail running is developing in many countries nowadays and lots of people are picking up the sport. Trail enthusiasts and event organisers have set up some great initiatives to assist these newcomers in getting acquainted with the requirements and demands of trail running. In Indonesia, the GOAT RUN series are a prime example of this. As the second edition is about to begin in West Java this weekend, we are happy to announce the new promotional partnership between Asia Trail Master and Goat Run. 

Founded by Jefri Riccardo, the 2nd edition of the Goat Run begins this weekend in West Java with the Mount Guntur race. Textbook Goat Run, so to speak, as the event features two, essentially, short but crispy distances of 25 km and 10 km. Mount Guntur towers more than 2000m above sea level and is a technical and steep climb. The race is basically up and down for those who do 25 km. Exactly the kind of race that beginning trail runners can use to gain experience before tackling the stereotype Indonesian mountain bonanzas such as MesaStila Peaks Challenge or Bromo Tengger Semeru Ultra. On the other hand, the Guntur race also gives established runners a decent work out in preparation for their next big target. 

Winners of the main races in the Goat Run series will win vouchers for free race entries to Asia Trail Master events. Likewise, the 2016 winners of the overall Goat Run series have earned a ticket to Clark in the Philippines, for the ATM SuperTrail race this year on 26 November. 

We are delighted to announce the entry of the Tam Dao Mountain Trail in the 2017 Asia Trail Master Championship. It is the second event in Vietnam in our series and takes place on 24 and 25 June with start and finish at the Belvedere Resort in Tam Dao town, approximately 70 km from capital city Hanoi. The event is organised by the local running community BPM and features races for all levels of trail runners. The two longest races are 70 km and 42 km, on which all finishers will score points for the Asia Trail Master championship ranking. In addition, 70 km is of course also a Grandmaster Quest distance. 

The 70 km race features a great mix of technical trail and runnable terrain. Total elevation gain will be just above 2000 hm. The finale is exciting: the last 10k are virtually all the way up, which means potential race winners will need to time their final effort well! 

Tam Dao mountain town for long has been named the green oasis of the northern Vietnam. With the altitude of 900m, it is a popular tourist site with three summits poking out from the ocean of cloud above – Thach Ban, Thien Thi, Phu Nghia. Tam Dao mountain range also holds many famous cultural and historical sites like Tay Thien pagoda and Tay Thien temple (also known as Den Mau) worshiping Quoc Mau Tay Thien (the Queen) Lang Thi Tieu, Dia Nguc pagoda, television cable tower, stone church, and ancient villas built during the French colony of 1900s. Tam Dao national park of 36.883 ha land is wrapped around by these Tam Dao mountain range with a diverse biological ecosystem varying by the altitude. Many pinophyta species of the temperate forest also reside here in Tam Dao. 

Running among the cool shadow of old forest in Tam Dao national park, crossing the trails, or wading through clear creeks, and climbing the highest summits with amazing view, breathing in the crisp air – you can enjoy all that feeling of freedom and wildness nature brings. Tamdao Mountain Trail 2017 is honored to put aside a small part from registration fee to support Yen Duong commune, Tam Dao district – the poorest commune in Vinh Phuc province, in hope to help those families in need. 

To participate in the Tam dao Mountain Trail race, it only takes approximately 2 hours to drive from Hanoi.  More information on logistics can be found on the event website and on our cover page. 
 

The Asia Trail Master team is delighted to announce the entry of IZU TRAIL Journey, one of Japan's most popular trail running events, on our race calendar for 10 December. Taking place on the Izu peninsula, the 72 km scenic race from Matsuzaki to Shuzenji Sogo Kaikan is also marked as the Japan SuperTrail in the 2017 Asia Trail Master Championship, which means every finisher will score 50 bonus points for his ranking. 

The stunning course of the Izu Trail Journey, often referred to as "ITJ", takes runners from the edge of the ocean up and across the mountains of the peninsula. The expansive vistas of the Pacific Ocean below and the HUGE views of the majestic snow-topped Mt. Fuji you'll encounter while running along the trail are awesome and will absolutely blow you away! 

The IZU TRAIL Journey starts at 6 a.m. and has a 14-hour cut-off time. The 72 km are indeed not easy: not fewer than 4400 metres of elevation gain need to be conquered before the finish in Izu City. Extremely popular in Japan, this race sells all its 1500 spots effortlessly. However, Race Director Tatsuo Chiba highly welcomes at least 100 international runners to his event this year. 

The main gateway is Tokyo, which is not too far away and connected to the peninsula by shinkansen fast train. Airport-wise, Haneda Airport is closer than Narita. 

More details will become available on our cover page - as usual - where there is also the link to the official event website . Race registration will open on 1 June. 

The 19th Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset (MS2S) 42km and 100km trail run and holiday takes part from 29 July  to 5 August 2017 in the untouched nature of Northern Mongolia. Experience the unique nomadic culture and run in one of the world’s most pristine mountain areas. MS2S is one of the oldest and classic trail races in Asia, and for the third consecutive year, runners can score points there for the Asia Trail Master Championship and, if they do the 100k, for their individual Grandmaster Quest. 

Official press release (with small edits re Asia Trail Master) 

The Mighty Lake Hovsgol and the untouched forests, lowlands and mountains of Hovsgol National Park are the setting for one of the most beautiful runs on the planet: Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset (MS2S). It is more than a marathon and ultra-marathon race: Participants from all over the world spend one week in the untouched nature. They get in touch with the nomadic culture of the locals and learn about Mongolian traditions, beliefs, and way of life. All proceeds of the event are used to keep Hovsgol National Park pristine and clean as well as to support the culture of the local nomads via the “ecoLeap foundation”. “We want to keep this pristine mountain area as beautiful as it is now. That is why we fund a litter control project and its ongoing operation including hiring park rangers, providing eco-friendly garbage bags and raising awareness nation-wide through TV ads and education of local children and families”, explains race director Nicolas Musy.

Opening up new vistas

The MS2S is a unique opportunity for runners from all around the globe to discover spectacular views of the beautiful Mongolian landscapes from start to finish – be it on the lakeside single trail when the sun rises behind Lake Hovsgol, on the impressive mountain passes or in the marshy, remote forests. On their quest to complete this spectacular race, runners pass by wild horses and yaks, seas of wildflowers, the craggy mountains and windblown lowlands. MS2S opens up new perspectives.

The race is not only beautiful but also challenging: The accumulated elevation gain/loss in the marathon distance is more than 2.200 meters, in the 100km ultra run it is more than 3.300 meters. Still, everybody with a strong spirit and good training can complete the race. The cut-off time is 18 hours.

Reduced travel package prices are available until end of March. Register now on www.ms2s.org! 

Concise information is also available via our cover page. 

The 3rd edition of the Magnificent Merapoh Trail in Pahang, Malaysia, is now confirmed for 4/5 August. The event will again feature a 100 km as the main race, but the 60k has been upgraded to 70k to make it a Grandmaster Quest distance as well. The caves and the big river crossing - famous since last year - are  again the main features of the trail courses. The Magnificent Merapoh Trail is an important event for the region. Participants will effectively boost the local eco tourism sector and save the caves and the surrounding rainforest from a planned big-scale cement production project. 

The Merapoh caves are iconic for the event, which last year drew significant international attention. Overall, the course is fairly flat and not-so technical, allowing beginning and intermediate trail runners a glimpse of what longer distance races are about. Runners flying into Kuala Lumpur airport can make use of the shuttle bus to the Merapoh race venue. Please see the logistical section of our cover page for details. 

Last year's races were won by Jason Robinson and Asia Trail Master champion Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad Zaid on the 100k, and Shan Lim Wen and Gretchen Felipe on the 60k. As of today, it is possible to register yourself for the event. Please note that slots for the 100k are limited to 200 runners and that there is a cut-off time of 20 hours, which does not allow for much lingering at refreshment stations. 

Online registration:
https://event.howei.com/event/magnificent-merapoh-trail-2017

The first quarter of 2017 brought us no fewer than seven points races for the Asia Trail Master championship already. As a clear sign of the every increasing popularity and competitiveness, a number of trail runners have even completed up to three races of those! A great beginning is half the battle and earns you lots of media exposure. Of course, at the end of the year only the five best points results count for each runner. 

Defending female Asia Trail Master champion Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad Zaid is again on top of the standings following three race wins at Tahura Trail (Indonesia), UTKC (Thailand) and Beach Bunch Trail Challenge 50 (Brunei). The popular young Malaysian is unbeaten in 8 races on the Asia Trail Master circuit. Nevertheless, her second consecutive championship is not yet in the bag, as several up-and-coming talents seem ready to at least try and bridge the gap to Tahira in the next quarters of 2017. 

The men's ranking just saw Indonesia-based Belgian Gaspard Dessy hop ahead of Arief Wismoyono last Sunday. Dessy has been collecting places of honour in three races so far this season and looks ready to be genuine contender for this year's championship. So does 2015 champion Wismoyono, who seems refreshed and scored his 4th career ATM race victory in Yogyakarta's Coast To Coast Night Trail last month. 

TOP 15 MEN after 7 races

1. Gaspard Dessy (BEL) 1250
2. Arief Wismoyono (INA) 900
3. Yim Heng Fatt (MAS) 795
4. Yohanis Hiareij (INA) 730
4. Aleksis Capili (PHI) 730
6. Hendra Siswanto (INA) 640
7. Aris Sopiandi Muklis (INA) 620
8. Jeshryl De La Cruz Aranzaso (PHI) 600
9. Soonseng Ong (MAS) 550
9. Wataru IIno (JPN) 550
11.Mahdi Manshuri (INA) 540
12.Julian Baker (CAN) 520
12. Zack Reimer (CAN) 520
14.Abdoullah Mitiche (ALG) 500
14. Manolito Divina (PHI) 500
14. Wang Biao (CHN) 500
14. Sefli Ahar (BRU) 500
14. Arnold Lozano (PHI) 500

TOP 15 WOMEN after 7 races

1. Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad Zaid (MAS) 1500
2. Cheryl Bihag (PHI) 1100
3. Ruth Theresia (INA) 1000
4. Lily Suryani (INA) 825
5. Patricia Ann Morota (PHI) 790
5. Mila Marlina (INA) 790
7. Kim Matthews (AUS) 520
8. Diorella De La Cruz (PHI) 500
8. Sandi Menchi Catlona (PHI) 500
8. Joanna Kruk (AUS) 500
8. Xiong Fang (CHN) 500
12.Siawhua Lim (MAS) 475
13.Montha Sontornwit (THA) 470
14.Divine McBride (USA) 450
14. Gretchen Felipe (PHI) 450
14.Ninie Hauschild (INA) 450
14. Jessica Lintanga (MAS) 450
14. An Han (CHN) 450
 

TOTAL RANKING can be seen here via Race Timing Solutions. 

Gaspard Dessy and Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad Zaid

The 2nd edition of the Cordillera Mountain Ultra in Dalupirip, Benguet, Philippines, saw the first big surprise win of the season when Arnold Lozano - an established local mountainbiker - left everyone of a strong field in his wake. Lozano finished together with last year's winner Marcelino Sano-Oy, but only because he wanted to. The organisers did not accept a tie, and awarded the victory to Lozano as he was ahead at the latest checkpoints as well. Lozano is more known as a mountainbiker, having won a.o. the Cordillera Challenge already, as well as having competed in the Genghis Khan MTB Adventure in China's  Inner Mongolia region. Clearly, he is multi-talented, and if he can win Cordillera Mountain Ultra against a strong line-up of runners, what more can we expect from the man? 

Arnold Lozano from Baguio was the surprising winner of this year's CMU 50 trail race

Both Lozano and Sano-Oy set a blistering pace across Mount Ugo and broke last year's winning time by half an hour. This was emphasized even more by third-placed Al Telias, who in the previous edition was competing with Sano-Oy for the race victory and now had to concede 27 minutes. Telias did very well himself, however, to stay ahead of other class acts such as Gaspard Dessy, Grandmaster Jan Nilsen and his brother James Telias. Dessy finished 52 minutes behind Lozano and Sano-Oy in fourth place and claims the points lead in the 2017 Asia Trail Master Championship. The Indonesia-based Belgian also finished third in Tahura Trail and Coast To Coast Night Trail, and is the first male protagonist to finish three ATM points races this season. Dessy will see his name at the top of the standings until April at least, as Q1 has come to an end and the next race is scheduled only on 1/2 April in China. 

Gaspard Dessy is the new points leader in the men's Asia Trail Master championship

Shortly behind Dessy a duo arrived back in Dalupirip: Grandmaster Jan Nilsen and first woman Sandi Menchi. Nilsen still struggled with his foot injury and probably finds 50 km too short as well to compete with his younger competitors. Still, fifth is a good result. Menchi of course delivered more than what many had promised earlier. Previously mainly running shorter distances of events, CMU was the second time she went for the top prize in a big race after CM 50 Ultra last November. Menchi not only managed to come home a joint fifth overall together with Nilsen, but she was also 45 minutes faster than last year's winner Gretchen Felipe, who in turn did well by staying ahead of Majo Liao, proving that last year's victory was no fluke at all. The Philippines have a very strong trio of trail runners up in Luzon: all three podium placers managed to finish in the top 10 overall!  To note also is the 11th place of multi-race runner Cheryl Bihag, by which she claims the current second place in the ATM championship ranking with 3 points results already under her belt this season. 

Jael Wenceslao and Aldean Lim finished sixth and seventh in the men's, and Grandmaster Capili was eighth, putting him firmly in the top 10 of the ranking as well. James Telias, another pre-race favourite, suffered from stomach cramps and could not defend his chances. It was indeed a very hot day on and around Mt Ugo, which gave all participants an additional difficulty to cope with. 

Sandi Menchi was outstanding: finishing together with Jan Nilsen to claim the women's race

Koi Grey, Grandmaster Jan Nilsen, Marcelino Sano-Oy, JP Alipio and Grandmaster Aleksis Capili

While Al Telias scored 3rd place, James suffered from stomach cramps

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?