The 5th edition of Jumla Rara Ultra in the west of Nepal once again showed how much raw trail running talent is hiding in some remote parts of the world. Local runners set the 50k alight with spirited runs across three stunning mountain passes on the way to the beautiful finish area at Rara Lake. Dhir Bahadur Budha grabbed victory in the men’s race, reversing positions with last year’s winner Dal Bahadur Kunwar, in a time of 4h57. Considering the elevation gain and high altitude - Chuhemara Pass is over 4000m above sea level - that is astonishing. In the women’s race, another local runner, Rajya Laxmi Rawal , reached out to victory and reached the last summit first, but she was overtaken in the last kilometers of the descent to the finish by Priya Rai - the more experienced winner of Manjushree Trail 50k just a week ago. Rai finished in 6h07, a good seven minutes ahead of Rawal.

No fewer than 14 finishers of the Manjushree Trail in Kathmandu made the very long journey to Jumla by bus. For Nepalese runners, the doubleheader was the best opportunity to score two race finishes as a minimum requirement for potential selection for the ATM Championship Final in Malaysia on 14 September (Borneo TMBT Ultra). Obviously, having completed the 100 miles or 100km at MTR was no advantage going into a 50k with highly motivated locals. Arjun Rai Kulung, Dipesh Tamang, Furpa Singi Tamang, Bijay Rana Magar, Abinas Devkota and others all focused on finishing the race. Arjun, the great 100 miles winner a week ago, suffered from stomach problems to boot and crossed the line in 29th place - no extra championship points but at least a second finish. Milan Kulung Rai had the best recovery after MTR. Fourth on the 100k in Kathmandu, eighth in JRU. Lokendra Rai was 4th on the MTR 50k, and 12th in JRU. Important points for both of them!

The Karnali Sports Club has been doing great work in the Jumla and Rara region for some years already, and with 9 out of 10 male runners in the top 10, and 5 in the female top 10 they had big reasons to celebrate. Priya Rai had to dig deep to get her second victory in a week, using her racing craft and experience to make that happen. Rajya Laxmi Rawal finishing just seven minutes later was proof her incredible talent. Also third -placed Anita Budha raised eyebrows finishing some 25 minutes behind Priya. That was 25 minutes ahead of Chhoki Sherpa, for example. Priya Rai and Chhoki Sherpa also scored their qualification for the ATM Finals. And so did Padam Kumari Sunawar, winner of the 100k at MTR, and Ang Furba Sherpa, third on the 100 Miles at MTR!

Apart from the individual chances, Team Nepal could be a favourite for this season’s ATM Team Championship. Of course, getting everyone to actually run in Malaysia is a first major hurdle to overcome next.

One week after the successful MTR event in Kathmandu, several Nepalese runners have traveled across their country to the western towns of Jumla and Rara for the 5th edition of the Jumla Rara Ultra Marathon. Organised by Karnali Sports, JRU offers a mountainous 50k course that goes up to 4000m above sea level at Chuchemara Lekh before plunging down to the Rara Lake at 2990m and the finish line. It’s a pure mountain trail, going uphill and downhill, with three significant sections: Danphe (3500m), Kavra cave, Bhulbhule (2950m) and Chuchemara (4017m).

It is not easy and it requires time to reach Jumla, but participants are treated to amazing scenery even for Nepal’s high standards. Some of the runners who performed well in Manjushree last week will be back at the starting line. For the first time, competitive Nepalese runners have the chance to qualify for the ATM Championship Final and score two ATM race finishes within their own country. Last week’s 100 miles star Arjun Rai Kulung has reportedly also made the trip to JRU so will be back in action again! The same goes for the number 3 in the 100 miles last week, Bijay Rana Magar, Milan Rai Kulung, Abinas Devkota, Furpa Singi Tamang and others. But there’s top talent in the west of Nepal, too. Last year, JRU was won by Dal Bahadur Kuwar in a fantastic finish time of 4h54’10” after a great battle with Dhir Bahadur Budha, who came in just three minutes later. Fastest woman last year was Manju Rawot in 6:06:23. It will be interesting to see what last week’s 50k winner Priya Rai can do in JRU, as well as Chhoki Sherpa - third a week ago, and Ang Furba Sherpa - second on the 100k in MTR.

Mobile connectivity may be an issue to get live updates from the race, but we do have a reporter on-site, Jeevan, so it will be worthwile to check our socials on Saturday!

Dal Bdr Kunwar, winner of JRU a year ago

Dhir Bdr Budha, second place last year

Rajya Laxmi Rawal, one of the local favourites

Priya Rai: outstanding in Manjushree Trail 50k a week ago

Already twice on ATM race podiums: Chhoki Sherpa

Winner of the 100 Miles at MTR, now he’s on the 50 at JRU!

Padam Kumari Sunuwar won the 100km a week ago

The race course between Jumla and Rara reaches significant altitudes

We are very happy to announce that the 2024 Asia Trail Master Championship's ‘Season’s Final’ will be held in Malaysia at the classic and very popular Borneo TMBT Ultra event in Sabah! The event hardly needs an introduction. TMBT is the oldest trail event in Malaysia and one of the oldest in South East Asia overall. It has been a member of our Championship series for many seasons already and - in line with our calendar readjustment - is the perfect host for the conclusion of Season IX (9). Scheduled for Saturday, 14 September 2024, the ATM Championship Final race will take place on a special and dedicated course of approx 78km with qualified runners only. The event programme of course also features the traditional 100km, 50km, 30 km, 37 km Night Run, 12km and 7.5 km family run, and these are open for the general public.

It will be the second time the ATM Championship Final takes place in Malaysia. In 2019, the Malaysia Mountain Trail Festival (MMTF) in Taiping took the honours and did so in great style. John Ellis and Veronika Vadovicova crowned themselves as the last champions before the covid pandemic. Borneo TMBT Ultra is centred around Mount Kinabalu, a world heritage site with spectacular views to the mountain throughout the race course. Racepack collection is in Sabah’s capital Kota Kinabalu and the event is organised and managed by the well-established local team of Borneo Ultra Trails, led by Claus Pedersen and Aileen Yong.

The ATM Final will be held on a specifically designed course that brings together the best and most scenic parts of the traditional 100k and 50k courses, connected by some brand new trail sections. The (in)famous Pineapple Ridge is of course also included. The total race distance will - as usual - measure around 78km and the total elevation gain is estimated at over 4500 hm, which is significant. There are some technical jungle trail sections, but the majority of the trails are quite runable, so the main obstacle for many participants will likely be the heat and humidity of the region. The race will start in Lingkubang at 5 am, roughly one hour before sunrise. The finish line is at the Perkasa Hotel in Kundasang.

As in the past two years since covid, runners need to qualify for the ATM Championship Final by scoring ATM points throughout the season. Per Asian country, maximum five male and five female runners - the highest point scorers - will receive the invitation to join the final race. A minimum of 2 ATM race finishes is required for everyone.

The reigning ATM Champions are John Ray Onifa (Philippines) and Rashila Tamang (Nepal). Both have already qualified to defend their respective titles at TMBT. The defending team champion is Team Philippines. Host nation Malaysia last held the ATM Team title in 2022.

Below is the Borneo TMBT Ultra event website, where you can find all details on the event and also register for the open public races.. All specific information and details about the ATM Championship Final will also be published, as usual, on the ATM Website on our dedicated webpage here.

Of course, the event is also open for everyone else with several race categories on offer

A 3-time winner of his home race, including in his last 2 appearances in 2019 and 2022: Milton Amat. Can he become the 3rd Malaysian ATM Champion after Tahira Najmunisaa (2016) and Steven Ong (2017)?

Podium placers in last year’s ATM Final in Indonesia

Last year’s ATM Team Champions: Team Philippines!

Have a genuine Borneo experience at TMBT!

Always around during TMBT : Mount Kinabalu

Last year’s Team Malaysia.

Conditions for the third edition of Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths in Vietnam were very similar to last year: damp, moist, cloudy and humid but not that hot. 100k ultra runners were warned in advance and clearly were better prepared mentally for the task at hand. Last season’s ATM Finalist for Vietnam, Nguyen Tien Vo was quickest of all in 15h45 and scored his first ever race win in our series. Tien Vo was in a league of his own, finishing almost two hours ahead of Tran Van Bac and Trung Nguyen, a double ATM Finalist for Singapore in the past two seasons. Trung entered the race battered and bruised from a bad fall on training, but nevertheless scored a solid podium. Do Trung Kien had to settle for fourth just a few moments later. Then, it was American Tara Savage as fifth and winner of the female 100k. Based in Thailand and already fifth in VTM early this year, Savage lived up to her status as race favourite and kept main challenger, the experienced Vy Le Phuong, behind by some 45 minutes. For Savage, who has a background in martial arts and is also coaching track & field in schools, it is the second ATM race win after UTCR 125 last October. Third place went to Pham Thi Thu Thuy.

On the (much) more runable 42km medium distance points race, Nguyen Si Hieu more than beat his own expectations. The winner of last year’s 100km finished first in 3h45 - well under four hours and that for a trail marathon! A very impressive result and only six minutes slower than established marathon runner Hisashi Kitamura a year ago! Is Nguyen Si Hieu actually even more competitive on the medium than on the long ultras? With that speed, he can get very far in this year’s ATM Championship Final. Only 20 minutes later, Nguyen Xuan Tu came second - also a strong run. The final step on the podium went to Tokyo’s famous Roppongi Runner Tomohiro Mizukoshi. No longer the youngest in the field, but still fast and competitive. The 42km course was also perfectly suited for him. Tomohiro clocked 4h36. Another pre-race favourite, Tu Do, did not have the best of days with stomach issues, yet still managed to get fourth place.

The women’s 42km was hotly contested and the most exciting to follow from a competition point of view. Ho Chi Minh-based Japanese Mude Sports runner Akane Nemoto grabbed the victory after a tight battle with primarily Claire Berton and last year’s Lam Dong Trail winner and teammate Loi Luong. Nemoto, sixth in last season’s ATM Final in Indonesia, is typically very fast on runable trails and did not want to let this opportunity slide. She kept Berton behind by a mere two minutes and scored her second ATM race win after VMM 70 in 5h14.. However, the latter then got strangely disqualified by the race referees for not having a headlamp with her. Strange, because the race was held from sunrise to sunset in daytime. Loi Luong inherited second place in 5h21. Officially, third place went to Nguyen Phuong Van.

Nguyen Tien Vo scored his first ever ATM race win and did so impressively on the tough 100km

That’s 2 ATM race wins for Thailand-based American Tara Savage!

Also Akane Nemoto grabbed her 2nd ATM race win on the 42 km against great opposition!

Unbeatable in Cuc Phuong. Last year the 100, this year the 42: Nguyen Si Hieu

Great to be back on the overall podium: Tokyo’s Tomohiro Mizukoshi may no longer be the youngest in the field but remains a contender wherever he starts!

Last year’s winner in Lam Dong Trail, Loi Luong had to be content with 3rd place in Cuc Phuong, later upgraded to 2nd following the unfortunate DQ of Claire Berton

ATM double Finalist for Singapore, Trung Nguyen entered the race hurt and bruised from a fall, but still took a podium on the 100k!

The 3rd edition of The Manjushree Trail in Kathmandu, Nepal, was a great trail running festival with a bright future ahead. Part of the Asia Trail Master Championship series for the first time, MTR saw some amazing runs by especially local trail talents of whom we are bound to hear more in the forthcoming weeks and months. With three points race on the programme, 100miles, 100km and 50km, there were quite a lot of race protagonists. Arguably standing out were Arjun Rai Kulung as the faster-than-ever winner of the men’s 100 miles after a great battle with the UK’s surprising Alistair Masson, and Priya Rai winning and finishing ahead of reigning ATM Champion Rashila Tamang on the women’s 50km.

The 100 Miles started already on Friday morning at around sunrise. Last year’s winner Arjun Rai Kulung and his expected challenger Ramesh Limbu were quickest in the first few hours, with Alistair Masson and Roland Hunter chasing them. In the women’s competition, two runners immediately took command and would continue to do for the whole race: Anita Rai and Nirmala Rai. The very young (U24) Ang Furba Sherpa and UK’s Sally Moulds were the other two brave women on the Miler, and they would also finish as third and fourth. Saturday daytime turned out to be more hot and humid than anticipated, affecting many runners. Ramesh Limbu suffered the most, and would eventually even DNF with dehydration signs. Arjun appeared in control, but was probably also surprised when - after taking a nap at CP 12 on Saturday night - he found out that Alistair Masson was already quite a long way further up the trail around the Kathmandu Valley Rim. It added spice to the race, the more because as far as anyone could tell, Masson was an unknown entity on the 100 miles and even more so in Nepal. Arjun Rai Kulung kept his head cool and composed and managed to bridge the gap to Masson in the early morning at CP14. Moreover, Arjun felt he could still beat his best time set last year and pushed on to victory in 26h52. Masson was unable to follow that pace, yet finished a great second about one-and-a-half hours later. In the battle for third, Hunter still got caught by Bijay Magar and even lost the podium in the final kilometers by a mere two minutes. Next was Nirmala Rai, who outpaced Anita Rai towards the end to win the women’s race in 34h34’. The gap at the finish was just over one hour.

The 100km was dominated by Man Kumar Rokka Magar in 14h45. Furpa Singi Tamang took second two hours later, and Abinash Devkota third a few minutes afterwards. The women’s 100km went to Padam Kumari Sunwar in a narrow finish with (another) Anita Rai .

The medium distance of 50km had a tight race in the men’s, won eventually by Harilal Singh ahead of Nimsang Limboo in 7h17. Dipesh Tamang was the third man on the podium in 8h04.

The women’s 50km had a pleasant surprise before the start as reigning ATM Champion Rashila Tamang, who is also involved in the event management team of Manjushree Trail, decided to have a go at it. Rashila injured her thigh muscle in the dying moments of Lantau 70 in Hong Kong a few weeks ago and was still plastered up. Nevertheless, she had a more than decent run to secure her wild card for this season’s ATM Championship Final (former champions receive a wild card as soon as they finish 2 ATM races in the current season regardless of race results). Not being at her best level, she had to settle for second place, however, as Priya Rai turned out to be too powerful last weekend. Priya is not unknown on the international scene and was also a training mate of Hau Ha last year, but MTR 50 was her debut in our ATM series. A debut in great style, finishing fifth overall and 50 minutes ahead of Rashila Tamang and Chhoki Sherpa, the latter scoring her second ATM podium after Koboi Malaya Classic in Malaysia a year ago.

Several of Nepal’s competitive runners will now make the long transfer to the west of their country, in order to take part in the 50km race Jumla Rara Ultra next weekend. In order to qualify for the ATM Championship Final, runners must finish two ATM races as a minimum requirement.

Priya Rai made a fantastic ATM debut, winning the 50km ahead of Rashila Tamang and Chhoki Sherpa

Still visibly ‘damaged’ from Lantau 70, Rashila Tamang nevertheless managed to take 2nd place and obtain her wild card for this season’s ATM Championship Final as reigning champion

Arjun Rai Kulung had a bit of a challenge from Alistair Masson and initially Ramesh Limbu, but won the 100 miles in a new course record time

The surprise of the day on the 100 Miles: UK’s Alistair Masson

Anita Rai and Nirmala Rai dominated the female 100miles. Nirmala scored the win, eventually

Padam Kumari was a convincing winner of the female 100km race

Man Kumar won the men’s 100km

Bukidnon Province in the northcentral part of Mindanao in the southern Philippines is increasingly profiling itself as a trail running hub in the country and beyond. A few years ago, events such as MUSPO and Mt Kalatungan Ultra put the region on the map - also in ATM - and since then plenty of runners have emerged. Think of Yoyong Sacayle and Mary Joy Sumanda, just to name two competitive athletes in our ATM Championship circuit. More runners means more opportunities to set up new trail events, too. Hence, Point Trail on 8/9 June. Directed by the aforementioned ATM race winner and 2023 Finalist Yoyong Sacayle, Point Trail is centred around Bukidnon’s capital city Malaybalay and has applied for Candidate Race status. The event offers three race distances, of which the 50km is the main one. Less ambitious runners can also choose the 30km and 15km. The 50km course map and profile reveal a total elevation of 2360 hm and basically seven distinct ‘peaks’ , of which the second, third and fifth stand out. Along the way, runners will be treated to magnificent views across the area. Bukidnon means “highlander” or “mountain dweller” so you know what to expect. In fact, the province is one of the country’s leading rice, corn and pineapple producers, too, and is stated as one of the Philippines’ fastest growing economies.

To reach Malaybalay from outside Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro is arguably the easiest and closest as it is a main domestic flight hub.

Via the official facebook page you can stay up-to-date with the latest news about the new event. Registration can be done via the link below.

ATM race winner and Finalist Yoyong Sacayle is the RD of Point Trail Ultra

If last year’s edition showed anything it was that Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths near Ninh Binh in Vietnam is a trail event with two significantly different faces. On the one hand a borderline extreme 100km going deep into the old rainforest, and on the other hand a very runable and pleasant 42 km. No wonder the event attracts all kinds of trail runners to the oldest national park in Vietnam, 120km south of Hanoi. Also this weekend, runners score ATM Championship points in both the 100k and 42k races. Those only looking for a Grandmaster point can also opt for the 70km.

Plenty of runners hardly knew what happened a year ago. Cuc Phuong’s 100km has a total elevation gain of about 2600 hm, which is peanuts in Asian terms. The first half of the race until CP6 also reflected this. But not only is most of the elevation covered in the second half, those hills are also deep into the jungle of Cuc Phuong with continuously treacherous, slippery and dark single trails. Armies of leeches added even more to the flavour. Some runners felt it was more adventure than trail running and retired at the first logical opportunity to do so. Those who continued to the finish loved it and were truly excited about their achievement. Nguyen Si Hieu in the men’s and Shindy Patricia in the women’s were the greatest stars of the day. This year’s 100km is virtually a mirror copy. The difference is that runners have been warned and should be better prepared. Among the expected contenders for the race victory we have Nguyen Tien Vo, already 4th in VTM in January. In the women’s 100km, Thailand-based Tara Savage is no stranger to tough ultras and might be the one to look out for. Savage won UTCR 125 last year and was an ATM Finalist, too. At VTM earlier this season she finished 5th. Vietnam’s Vy le Phuong has the experience, too, to eye a strong result.

Nevertheless, ultra specialist Nguyen Si Hieu has decided the 42km is enough for this season. He will start as a race favourite in any case, with the likes of in-form Tu Do and Tomohiro Mizukoshi as other known contenders. Mizukoshi was also a survivor of the 100 last year, but the Japanese Grandmaster will find the 42km perfectly suited to his competitive ability. A year ago, Hisashi Kitamura took top honours. Can Mizukoshi step into his footsteps? Trinh Nam Phong was a strong local contender last season. Can he make it onto the podium this time? The women’s 42km will feature Loi Luong, winner of the Lam Dong Trail in Dalat last November and part of the Mude Sports Team, which also features Hau Ha and the aforementioned Tu Do. Loi Luong may find the path to victory obstructed by her own teammate Akane Nemoto, Japanese but based in Ho Chi Minh City. Nemoto was an ATM Finalist last year (6th) and particularly quick on a 42km distance. Phung Thi Trang was third last year and is back on the start list. Can she cause an upset?

ATM will be reporting live from Cuc Phuong with focus on the 42km and 100km race. Mobile connectivity is not guaranteed outside of start/finish, so we need to wait and see how much information comes through in real time.

Last year he won the 100km, this year he is going for the 42 km

Loi Luong burst onto the competitive trail scene last year, a.o. with a great victory in Lam Dong Trail

ATM Finalist last year, Tara Savage will be trying to follow into Shindy Patricia’s footsteps on the 100k

Starting on Friday morning, trail runners will be competing along the famous Kathmandu Valley ridge line during the third edition of the Manjushree Trail Race, an event that is quickly gaining reputation and developing itself as the main international trail event in Nepal. Riding the wave of Rashila Tamang’s popular victory in last year’s Asia Trail Master Championship, the ‘MTR’ is also the first Nepalese points race in ATM since 2018’s Ultra Trail Nepal. Participants can score points on the 100 Miles, 100km or 50km in their attempt to qualify for this year’s ATM Final in Malaysia on 14 September. Runners aiming for Grandmaster points of course need to focus on the 100km or 100 miles only.

The MTR 100 miler looks very appealing to ultra distance enthusiasts. As the official website says: ‘The race route takes runners along the famous Kathmandu valley rim ridge line and across the seven peaks that surround the valley. As part of this, the racecourse also crosses the two national park (Nagarjun and Shivapuri) that border the valley. Over 85% of the route is single track, where it sometimes takes hours before runners come across a little settlement. Even though you are technically still within the Kathmandu valley, you will feel like you are far away from urbanization many times during the race.’ Looking at the course map, you see one big natural loop that measures 175 kilometres (so it’s actually longer than 100 miles). The names of the seven peaks are Jamacho, Shivapuri, Nagarkot, Pulchowki, Champadevi, Basmandur and Chandragiri. It’s a clean oval loop, but with a total elevation gain of over 12000hm, this is a race runners need to be physically and mentally prepared for. The race starts on Friday early morning and the cut-off time at the finish will be reached after 52 hours.

There’s quite a few runners taking up this challenge, mostly Nepalese themselves. We are bound to get to know some new names this weekend. But also familiar ATM competitors such as 4-star Grandmaster Masafumi Yamamoto, 2022 ATM Final qualifier Thang Huu Hoang from Vietnam and Indonesia’s 2023 ATM Finalist Qheiza Wiranda Edelwise feature on the start list of the ‘miler’.

As always, more people consider the 100km or 50km enough for their liking and we will see larger fields with a number of well-known Asian and Asia-based runners. Hong Kong’s Fuk Cheung Tsang and USA’s Chris Miller have had great results in ATM races before. Singapore’s Vincere Zeng is a double ATM Finalist and Himalaya mountain lover per excellence. On the 50km she will be up against Priya Rai , who until recently was a teammate and training partner of 2022 ATM Champion Hau Ha. Being neighbours to Nepal, we also find a lot of runners from India on the start list, including those who did well in Malnad Ultra in Karnatika, the ATM points race near Bangalore in November.

As of Friday morning, you can follow the action with our multimedia coverage live from Kathmandu, provided to us by Adventure III. As usual, tune in to ATM Facebook for ‘first news’, highlights will also appear on our ATM Instagram and ATM YouTube.

Follow the action as of Friday via our usual channels, with live updates via ATM Facebook

This is a natural 100 Miles course

Indonesia’s Qheiza Wiranda Edelwise will be in action in Nepal this weekend

Singapore’s Vincere Zeng is no stranger to Nepal and the Himalaya. She climbed Everest last year

We are happy to announce the latest ATM Candidate Race event in the Philippines, scheduled for 27/28 April: the Altra 50 Amuyao Mountain Ultra. This is bound to be a very scenic trail run as it takes place through the great natural landscapes and heritage culture of the Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao, northeast of Baguio.

Runners can look forward to a 50 miles (approx 87km) race as the longest distance category. Less ambitious runners can also opt for the shorter varieties of 42k, 25km and 10km. The 50 miles race is serious business with 6700 metres of elevation gain. Ifugao is still part of the Cordillera mountain region. The highest peak in the province is Mount Amuyao at an altitude of 2702m above sea level. Views from the summit area are breathtaking.

The Banaue Rice Terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its breathtaking beauty and intricate agricultural engineering. The route typically winds through the terraces and the surrounding mountainous landscapes, offering participants a unique and challenging running experience. The event not only promotes physical fitness and sportsmanship but also serves as a platform to showcase the natural and cultural wonders of the region. The event is scheduled at the beginning of planting season, when the terrace fields are bursting with green and the weather is fairly predictable. The course features breathtaking sceneries, ancient rice paddies, forest trails, and steep mountains that will surely captivate and challenge outdoor sports enthusiasts from local and abroad.

The event aims to position the Banaue as being one of the prime destinations in the Philippines.

To get to the event, you first make your way from Manila or Clark to Baguio City.

Check all the details on the official event website, and register soon. The official number of participants is restricted so get your bib as soon as you can!

The third Malaysian points race of this Asia Trail Master Championship season is a newcomer on our calendar: Tioman Ultra 50. Organised by the MMTF Consultant crew on the weekend 1/2 June, this event was an attractive Candidate Race last year and takes place on a relatively small island 32km off the southeastern coast of peninsular Malaysia. The 50km is the only race distance for points, and so we can look forward to an exciting competition!

As stated on the official website of the island, “Tioman is a duty-free island off Peninsular Malaysia's east coast, acclaimed as a geological wonder, ecological paradise and one of Southeast Asia's most beautiful travel destinations.” Runners reach Tioman via ferry from Mersing in Johor, or Tanjung Gemuk in Pahang. There’s hotel resorts and chalets for tourists, nice beaches and great surfing and scuba diving options.

Malaysia and beach, sounds like it will be hot. True, but the 50k race course does have no fewer than 2670 metres of elevation gain with a peak of just over 1000m above sea level as one of three main hillclimbs. That is Gunung Kajang, the highest peak on the island. Participants will begin the ascent of the mountain already after about 9km. With the starting time scheduled for 3 am, this implies runners will witness sunrise on the mountain. Following Gunung Kajang, runners will continue on the “dragons back” ridge from Old Juara Road to Kampung Air Batang, start and finish venue of the event.

Logistics and accommodation are a little more complicated for this event, so early registration to ensure a bib and appropriate accommodation is a must. You can sign up via the button link below.

Last year’s male winner: Yusof Abdul Manan

Last year’s female race winner: Siokhar Lim

Since 2017, mountain runners who focus on Asia Trail Master have set their eyes on Mantra 116 in East Java’s Malang in Indonesia. It is the high mountain trail per excellence in our series with altitudes reaching way above 3000m and trails that remain mouthwatering for even the most technically-skilled trail runners. The event is set for 6/7 July this year and will again feature the 116km long ultra and the 68km medium distance as points races for the ATM Championship ranking and Grandmaster Quest. Registration is open.

The event will again start and finish at the Kaliandra Eco Resort, roughly two hours drive from Surabaya in East Java, the main international hub to get to the event. The 116km has a total elevation gain of 7400hm, but it will feel like more. Gunung Welirang and Arjuno remain the attraction, and runners will start climbing basically right after the start. Since 2023, the gruelling and by many disliked out-and-back section on Mahapena has been removed from the course, making the race a bit more manageable. Nevertheless, the Putuk Lesung climb will certainly test your mettle towards the end.

Participants need to be aware that it can get very cold on Welirang and Arjuno, especially if there’s rainfall. Even though it’s Indonesia, you need to be prepared for ‘northern’ conditions. The organisers are, rightfully, paying a lot of attention on safety and security and will not tolerate any infringements on the mandatory gear list. Mantra 116 is not a walk in the park.

Accommodation and food can be found in and around the race venue at Kaliandra, or nearby.

Watch our race recaps of the 2023 and 2022 races at Mantra below to get an idea of what will be awaiting you in July.

News reel Mantra 116:

Sierra Madre Trail Ultra proved itself once more as one of the Philippines’ marquee events for competitive runners. Kristian Joergensen dominated the men’s 75km race, while the women’s saw a great battle between five runners that remained exciting until the very end when the surprising Christine Muntoya opened up a decisive gap to Cecille Wael. The battle for ATM Championship points in order to qualify for Team Pilipinas in the ATM Final is still wide open!

Organised by the Maharlika Team led by Emman Manongsong, Sierra Madre is laying emphasis on a pure competition between top runners with great prizes as a reward. The 75km is the only distance category so runners cannot avoid each other. It was no surprise that Kristian Joergensen was far ahead in the men’s race, he stands his ground even in ‘global’ competitions and is the second runner-up in last year’s ATM Championship Final. But behind him, many Filipino runners were eyeing the remaining podium spots. Davao’s Jensen Pasaforte, Jomarc Ferrer and - initially - Henry Joe Cottilon were laying claims on that, with others like Bhert Orpiada and Florence Alave and youngster John Ivan Zonio, who finished 2nd in this race last year, not far back either. Sierra Madre is one of those races where you can blow up, even though moving the event from May to March was slightly better in terms of weather conditions. Cottilon in particular began to drop down the leaderboard, while Maynard Encormal suddenly moved up in rapid fashion. Encormal - winner of Bagtit Ultra 100 last month - came third last year, and clearly learnt from that experience. He needed a little bit of luck to take second, as Pasaforte went a wrong way for a while, but Encormal looked solid nonetheless - knowing in advance that Joergensen would be impossible to beat. Pasaforte held on to third place, which is a great result for him. Ferrer and Zonio came fourth and fifth. Jordan Bugnay was sixth not too much later.

Five women controlled proceedings in the women’s race. Last year’s race winner Ann Jilian Pulanco, Cecille Wael, Mary Joy Sumanda, Shally Yuson and Christine Muntoya. All of them very much in shape these months as their recent results have shown. Positions kept changing during the race and the gaps between them remained manageable. One imagined that the more experienced racers Wael and Pulanco were biding their time. Towards the end, Mary Joy Sumanda seemed to be going for her first ever ATM race win after several podium placings. But then Wael accelerated and so did Muntoya, the least expected among the front runners in this field. Kathleen Logan - winner in Danao City ahead of Wael last January - had already thrown in the towel by then. At the final checkpoint before the finish, Muntoya and Wael were leading. Sumanda was 12 minutes behind, herself just a few minutes ahead of Yuson and Pulanco. The last 8 km left no doubt about who the strongest of the day was: Muntoya ran away from Wael and put no fewer than 18 minutes between them at the finish! A fantastic maiden race win for her in ATM. Ces Wael was happy to settle for second, citing acid reflux in the final stint. Sumanda managed to hold on to third and another podium. She had to work for it because Pulanco came within three minutes. Yuson arrived in fifth place.

Another outstanding performance by Kristian Joergensen

Winner in Bagtit, 2nd in Sierra Madre: Maynard Encormal is going strong!

Fantastic achievement by Jensen Pasaforte. Third, but even had 2nd within his grasp

Another ATM podium for Cecille Wael, but Christine Muntoya was too strong for the win