One year after the fantastic return of The 9 Dragons it’s time for the fifth anniversary of the Hong Kong event. The renowned 2-day stage race, with 50 Miles on Saturday and 50km on Sunday, is a challenge for even the toughest elite runners and it won’t be any different this weekend as temperatures are expected to rise to the mid-twenties despite still being so early in the year. 2023 ATM Champion John Ray Onifa is giving the 50/50 a go, having already won the 50k single day race last year. His main challengers for the victory will be Ukranian Oleksii Melnyk, KC Chan, Chun Kit Tsang and Shoma Maruyama. Of those, Melnyk can count on his experience from last year: he finished second behind the brilliant Kristian Joergensen.

The women’s 50/50 appears wide open with several runners who can realistically dream of victory and podium. Japan’s Kanako Edamoto, Hong Kong’s Man Yee Cheung and Cornelia Oswald, but also proven tough cookies such as Tara Savage, Rachel Chan, Chamelia Suhra and Cecille Wael. Resilience and coping with the weather conditions will be key.

As always, people could also choose to register for just the 50 Miles on Saturday or just the 50km on Sunday. The former is over 70km so there’s a Grandmaster point to be scored, but for Championship point seekers it’s the 50km that matters. On Sunday, many eyes will be fixed on 2019 ATM Champion John Ellis. Winner of the 9 Dragons 50/50 in 2018, the now 46-year-old is returning to racing these months after a long break while recovering from injuries including surgery. Ellis has always been more competitive on the longer ultras, but it will be a good indication of where he stands in terms of pure running pace. He’s up against other victory contenders such as Randolf Gonzales, Wai Hei Ng and Kieren Dsouza.

The women’s 50km promises to be a highlight in this year’s edition of The 9 Dragons with world level star Eszter Csillag beginning her 2025 campaign. The Hong Kong-based Hungarian won’t get the race win presented on a silver platter, however, as France’s Aurore Dacier will be keen to show her progress as an up-and-coming trail athlete. Dacier, based in Singapore, was the surprise winner of Lantau 70 last year and also took the win in Bali Ultra 50 in August. Since then she has been training a lot in Hong Kong and has familiarised herself with its specific trails and its many ‘stairs’. This could be an exciting race to follow on Sunday. Last year’s 50k winner Naomi Fung is also in it, and so is Kimmy Leung, Trisha Reyes and Meg Sterling.

ATM will be reporting live from Hong Kong on both days and on the usual channels (facebook, youtube, instagram), with the start of the 50 Miles scheduled at midnight on Friday night.

2023 ATM Champion John Ray Onifa tackles the 50/50 stage race this weekend

Also Ezster Csillag will make another appearance on the ATM circuit: 50km on Sunday

Victories in Lantau 70 and Bali Ultra for Aurore Dacier last year in ATM. Can she add the 50k 9 Dragons?

Also Cecille Wael returns to the scene this weekend after a prolonged absence

We are delighted to announce that the Ijen Green Trail event in Indonesia is joining the Asia Trail Master Championship calendar on 6/7 September with the Ijen Mountain Marathon race. This race is 50km in distance and includes the ascent of the fantastic Ijen volcano. The event has been organised successfully for several years already out of Banyuwangi in East Java. Ijen Mountain Marathon will be the last points race in Season 10, and thus the last chance for runners seeking last-minute qualification for the Championship Final one month later in early October.

The Ijen volcano has a long history in ATM. From 2015 to 2019 inclusive, Ijen Trail Running was one of the more remote yet more popular races on our calendar for international runners especially. That event, however, was by a different organiser and held out of Bondowoso, which is the regency to the west of Banyuwangi. The covid crisis meant the end of that event, but Ijen Green Trail has managed to survive - also because Banyuwangi is one of Indonesia’s hot spots in tourism development. You cannot go further east on Java island, and Banyuwangi City is just a short ferry ride away from Bali. As such, international runners can also consider flying into Bali and travel by bus/car/ferry to the event. Or by domestic flight. Banyuwangi has a small airport with connections to Jakarta, Denpasar and Surabaya as well.

The 50km on the programme is new and the precise course map and details will be made available soon. Those familiar with Ijen volcano mountain and the surrounding trails know that one should expect runable terrain, unlike many other big mountain ultras in Indonesia.

Indonesia is very fond of Instagram, so most event information can be found there on the Ijen Green Trail page (link below).

Great vibes all around in the 6th edition of the Kalaw Ultra Train Run last weekend, the first ever Asia Trail Master points race event in Myanmar. Almost 900 runners signed up for the various race distance categories, showcasing the great potential of trail running in the country. Aung Thiha, better known as Jack Speed, put the cherry on the pie for the home crowd by convincingly winning the 80k ultra on Friday. A day later, Wunna Lin managed the same on the 50k.

Kalaw has been a well-known venue on the backpacker tourist trail for a long time. The beautiful forested hills around the town remind some of the Cordilleras in the Philippines, and nearby Inle Lake is a magnificent drawcard even for laidback travel. The running event has been organised since 2016, but was promoted internationally for the first time this year. It exceeded expectations and we can see a bright future for Kalaw Ultra Train Run going forward.

The race courses are runable, but do have sufficient elevation and technical bits to keep the more adventurous and technically-skilled trail runner interested. It’s an event where marathon and road specialists can get a good first taste of trail. A good pacing strategy is nevertheless key if one wishes to end up on the podium.

Aung Thiha, or Jack Speed, is one of the more experienced of Myanmar’s trail runners, even though he has also only started running a year or two ago after having had to move to Mandalay from the conflict-ridden north of the country. Following the start a good hour before sunrise, he set the pace straightaway and was initially joined by a newbie runner who would later blow up and DNF. Behind Jack Speed, for a long time, was a duo consisting of Hong Kong’s Tyler Pun and cyclist-runner Thet Paeng Oo. While it was chilly at the start, temperatures rose quickly after sunrise and with the dry winter air many runners ‘forgot’ to hydrate themselves appropriately during the race. By km 70, even leader Jack Speed was looking for every bit of shade he could find. The gap to the chasers was big enough, however, for him to relax at the final aid station before tackling the tough last 10k of the course. He finished at the Kalaw Tower landmark under loud applause and appreciation from the local spectators in 10h48. Almost an hour later, Tyler Pun and Thet Paeng Oo crossed the finish line together, closely followed by the first woman and winner Aleta Phelps.

Aleta Phelps hails from Alaska but now lives in Vancouver and was initially engaged in an exciting competition with local Yi Yi Win and Yangon-based Kazakh Altyn King. Yi Yi Win was fastest out of the blocks, but sustained an ever painful injury and could not keep up her pace in the second part. Phelps and King caught up, and eventually Phelps went ahead by herself and approached the men’s duo of Tyler Pun and Thet Paeng Oo.

One day later was the 50k points race, in which we saw a dominant performance by marathon runner Wunna Lin, which nevertheless nearly unravelled in the final 10km. The extra mileage compared to a road marathon caused a significant drop in pace, and Lin saw his 30+ minute advantage over his chasers melt away rapidly. Those chasers were initially a trio consisting of 21-year-old talent Myint Myat, Aung Tun Lin and first female and fellow-marathon runner Myint Myint Aye. Soon after the third checkpoint at km 28, Myint Myat dropped out of the race with severe leg muscle cramps. Also on Saturday the rising temperatures in the morning caused issues for many people. Meanwhile, the French duo of Thibaud Allamand and Mael Rousseau came ever closer and would eventually overtake Aung Tun Lin and Myint Myint Aye. With Lin fading at the front, the question was if the French could still grab victory away from under his nose in the final kilometres. Luckily for the Myanmar runner, the gap he had built up proved sufficient and he won by nine minutes still. Rousseau and Allamand crossed the finish together, immediately followed by Aung Zaw Min, who ran a fantastic second half of the race. Aung Tun Lin settled for fifth, and first woman Myint Myint Aye - also visibly tired from the extra effort - was sixth overall.

Netherlands’ Dorie Meerkerk took second on the podium ahead of France’s Delphine Creatin. Singapore’s Claudia Tan came next and then it was Germany’s Uta Scholz. All are based in Yangon.

Kalaw Ultra Trail Run was a great introduction to the scene in Myanmar, and we are looking forward to the next edition already.

This weekend, runners on the Grandmaster Quest can also score a point at the Santa Ines Mountain Adventure in the Rizal mountains east of Manila in the Philippines. The tough 80km race crosses the summits of Mount Irid and Mount Tukduang Banoi, the two highest mountains in the Rizal area. The event is organised by The Pace Republic and directed by 4-star Grandmaster Rhea Batac.

Santa Ines alternates every year with the Bagtit Ultra event. Two years ago, the long distance race saw some great runs in both the male and female categories, but also showed the technicality of the course. Over 20 river crossings had to be negotiated by the participants. For this year’s edition the course has been amended here and there following runners’ feedback.

Maynard Encormal is back in Santa Ines this weekend. He finished third last time and could be the man-to-beat this year. Also Bhert Orpiada is in with a shot for victory. On the female side we have Grandmaster Cristine Montuya - winner of the other ATM promoted event in Rizal, Sierra Madre Trail Ultra, - Michella Aradanas, Metzy Alson and Krizia Bondad. There’s several other Grandmasters going for an extra point on their record: Jay Delgado, Jose Tindog, Ramsey Villanueva, Jux Castaneda and Ronald Natividad.

This Friday, the flag-off of the 80km at the Kalaw Ultra Trail Run event will mark the first ever points race in Myanmar in our ten year history. The large country bordering China, Thailand, Laos, India and Bangladesh has already been developing a road running scene since the inauguration of the Yangon Marathon in 2013, but in the context of trail running It’s the first year that an event is being promoted internationally. Organised by the Myanmar Ultra Trail Running Association, Kalaw Ultra Trail Run first of all gives local runners the opportunity to showcase their talents against a considerable number of ‘foreign’ runners. Both the 80km on Friday and the 50km categories on Saturday provide points for the ATM Championship ranking, which may lead to qualification for the ATM Season’s “Final” in early October.

Kalaw lies in Shan State and is quite well-known on the backpacker tourism circuit in Southeast Asia. The town has decent accommodation facilities and provides access to the majestic Inle Lake via a network of hiking trails. Some of these will be used this weekend for the run as well. It is dry season meaning most of the trails will be very runable, although there is of course some elevation gain to be conquered. The 80km category has nearly 2500 hm, and the 50km about 1700 hm. For competitive participants this implies a danger of running out of steam towards the end, especially given the 80k has a steep uphill part in the final section to the finish at the Kalaw Tower.

The races are probably wide open in terms of victory and podium contenders. No big names on the start list, as is usually the case for a first international edition in a new destination. We are therefore bound to get to know several new names and faces, including of local Myanmar runners. The 80k starts at 5am local time on Friday, with the 50k at 6am on Saturday.

Internet and mobile connectivity can be sketchy in Kalaw and Myanmar in general, with apps such as facebook and IG also not readily accessible. ATM will be reporting from the event on Friday and Saturday, but note that the livestream may therefore be restricted to our YouTube channel. Videos and other race updates will be uploaded to our Facebook and Instagram pages as soon as possible.

We are delighted to announce that the Philippine Mountain Trail Festival from 1-3 May will be the third Filipino points race event of Season 10 in the Asia Trail Master Championship. ‘PMTF’ is organised by Intrepid Spirit and consists of several branded races, of which H1 - Hardcore 100 Miles - and the Mount Ugo Marathon 47km are relevant for point seekers. Both are classic races in the country for well over a decade and are now under a new management headed by Robert Watson.

H1 is already legendary in South East Asia as being the first 100 Miler in Philippines and, on top of that, one of a selected few established global races with an elevation gain of over 10,000 hm! This is untamed and wild territory in the Cordilleras, yet with a course that follows international standards to test your physical endurance and psychological perseverance. The race starts at the Kayapa Central School at 23:30 on Thursday, 1 May, has 12 aid stations and a cut off time of 44 hours.

There is also a Hardcore 50 Miles race category for those slightly less ambitious or just interested in collecting a Grandmaster point. The 50 Miles is 84 km long and also has well over 5000 metres of elevation gain. The 50 Miles starts on the 2nd of May at 14:00 in the afternoon, and has a cut off time of 22 hours.

Hardcore 100 and 50 Miles particpants must pay special attention to the entry requirements, race regulations including mandatory gears, as there will not be any excuses tolerated. All details can be found on the event page of the Intrepid website, which you can also link to via the button below.

Shorter but equally famous and historical in the Philippines is the Mount Ugo Marathon. This is the second race of the Philippine Mountain Trail Festival that provides points for the ATM Championship ranking. Mt Ugo Marathon is obviously centred around Mount Ugo, already well-known in the Asia Trail Master series, and has a race distance of 47km with nearly 3200 metres of elevation gain. The start is on Saturday morning at 5:30 am and runners have 12 hours of time to complete the course. The summit of Mount Ugo comes roughly halfway into the race. The start and finish venue is the same as for the Hardcore 100 & 50 Miles, the Kayapa Central School. Kayapa lies east of Baguio.

All specifics for the Mt Ugo Marathon can be consulted on the event website, linked below. Registration is open.

The 10th anniversary edition of Tahura Trail in Bandung, Indonesia, saw the ‘older’ established guard comprehensively take the measure of the young guns in the 42km ATM Championship points race. Alessandro Sherpa scored his 7th ever ATM race victory and Vanja Cnops collected her 8th in the women’s category. Both have been around for many years now and behind them were 2015 ATM Champion Arief Wismoyono and 2018 ATM Champion Ruth Theresia. Risqi Kurniawan suffered a leg injury and finished outside the top 25.

The course of Tahura Trail had been completely redesigned for its first edition in five years. Heavy rainfall already in the days preceding the event turned many sections into a severe mudfest, which was certainly not to everyone’s liking or expectation. Luckily, at least on race day there was a pause in precipitation. Tough and technical running conditions, perhaps it was therefore no coincidence that those with more trail experience took the biggest prizes at the end. Sherpa is even a former mountainbiker and Cnops a former national team cross country runner in the typical muddy fields in Belgium. Bandung runners Ruth Theresia and Arief Wismoyono are also among the most technically-skilled trail runners, and in the case of Wismoyono it was even a mightily impressive feat to finish second just about three minutes behind Sherpa. Now over 40, Wismoyono had not looked this fast and competitive in several years. For Sherpa it was his second consecutive victory in Indonesia, after Bali Ultra 50 last August. In third place came Ujang Ahmad Saripudin, a newcomer on the ATM scene. He did great finishing just eleven minutes behind the winner, and nearly fourteen minutes ahead of the likes of Akhmad Nizar, Muhammad Faris from Malaysia, Taofik Hidayat, Mikdarulloh and Sobiri Haerudin. In ninth place we had a great run by Thimo Kilberth, another good old trail runner who exceeded expectations. Consider he finished ahead of Sobari Herdiana and Risqi Kurniawan. The latter, the top favourite before the race, still hung on the leaders early, but then faded away citing pain in his legs. Another former podium placer at Tahura, Margono, also settled for just 23rd place. ATM regulars Luis Alvelais and Abang Jamadi Rosli finished in 13th and 15th, respectively.

Vanja Cnops was, as expected, too fast for the other women. Fitta Emike Sari ran a great race competing with Ruth Theresia for second place. Previously, Sari had already scored a second place in Mantra 116 in 2023, so her performance in the hard conditions in Bandung did not fall out of the blue sky. Theresia ultimately took the upper hand at the end, but Sari came in just a minute later.

The next Indonesian points race on the ATM Championship calendar is BTR in Bali on the second weekend of May. That event, returning to ATM for the first time since 2022, offers 100k and 60k options for runners seeking qualification for the Season 10’s ATM Championship Final in early October.

We are happy to announce a new Candidate Race in Vietnam, organised by the Unique Events & Media team that also brings you Prenn Trail Summit. Brah Yang Trail Summit takes place in Di Linh in Lam Dong Province and features 60km, 35km, 27km and 10km options with the longest category scheduled to start on Saturday night. .

Brăh Yàng Mountain is a place with a lot of spiritual value in the region. The race will go through the wild terrain of Brăh Yàng peak and other large and small mountains in the middle of the vast Di Linh plateau. The trail course will see a lot of green tea hills, but also goes through coffee fields and villages of the K'Ho Sre ethnic group. Those choosing the 60km need to be aware of the elevation gain in the race: 3900 hm, which is quite serious. The highest altitude is 1848m above sea level, so runners should also be mindful of potential chilly conditions.

Information on accommodation options and transportation can be checked on the comprehensive event website, linked below via the button. Important to note for international runners is that you can fly to Liên Khương International Airport in Đức Trọng, which lies between Dalat and Di Linh. From Ho Chi Minh City there is a bus travel time of approx 7 hours, so you might wish to opt for the domestic flight instead.

We are happy to announce Pulag Ultra Trail in Philippines as a new addition to the ATM Grandmaster Quest calendar on 21/22 February. The event, managed by Intrepid Spirit from VJ 100 last December, is a majestic A to B race and has two Grandmaster distances on offer: 132 km and 65 km. The latter is short of 70km, but - as Mantra 65 in Indonesia - has more than 4500 hm making it eligible as a GM point race.

Pulag Ultra Trail 132km starts in Kabayan and finishes in Baguio City. It is an exhilarating journey through the majestic landscapes that embrace Mount Pulag, Mount Awa, Mount Ugo and Mount Bidawan and the myriad of scenic landmarks that grace the path leading to Baguio City. Needless to say this is a pure mountain run you should come prepared for. It’s tough, but the untamed scenery will ease the pain Mount Pulag in particular is famous for its views from above the clouds. Official elevation gain for the 132km is 8827 hm and nearly 4600 hm for the 65km.Along the epic course you will also encounter enchanting villages and iconic landmarks that have stood the test of time. As the website reads: “Their presence will ignite your spirit and fuel your determination, as you draw inspiration from the rich tapestry of history and culture that surrounds you.”

PUT, the official abbreviation of Pulag Ultra Trail, is a late addition to the calendar , so you need to decide quickly if you wish to join the event. Less ambitious runners can also opt for a short 20km category.

The organiser has transportation services on offer, which you can consult via the QR code in the poster announcement below. Runners are also strongly encouraged to check out the event website to discover all details for the races, including the mandatory gear list.

After a long five years interruption, the 10th edition of Indonesia’s most popular trail event in terms of participation numbers is back. Tahura Trail in Bandung was a genuine classic medium distance trail race before the covid crisis, and over 3500 runners will celebrate its return this weekend. Among them are many competitive runners for the 40km as well, hoping to score a podium finish and a good haul of ATM Championship points. Indonesia’s Risqi Kurniawan will face his usual local challengers, but also a.o. Alessandro Sherpa - who has already been 2nd (2020) and 3rd (2018) in this race before. In the women’s 40km, we have local hero and former ATM Champion Ruth Theresia and Singapore-based Vanja Cnops.

Taman Hutan Raya Tahura Ir. H. Juanda is the full name of the park where the event takes place, just outside the city centre of Bandung, one of Indonesia’s biggest cities in West Java. It’s a popular weekend destination where you can just go and relax, or engage in all kinds of outdoor activities. The trail race is not the longest at 40km, also not the toughest, but it’s always been exciting to follow. Weather plays an important role - this year’s edition could be more wet and muddy than the last two in 2020 and 2019 - , but it’s a course where each runner can find sections to his or her liking. It’s varied, but you better still have a solid running pace - as the race’s record indicates. Jeff Campbell won here twice and Mohamed Affindi scored his first ATM race victory here in 2019. Many ATM Champions have won Tahura, but our reigning champions will not. Lunar new year is close and Jeff Campbell and Priya Rai have other priorities in the coming weeks.

However, 2018 Champion Alessandro Sherpa is in with a good shot, although he himself downplays his chances for this Saturday morning. Sherpa had an up-and-down 2024 trail year, mainly due to a stubborn injury. It’s been rather quiet in the past few months, but two weeks ago, Sherpa felt some good vibes again in a road marathon in Malaysia. The competition in Tahura is for real, of course. Not many Indonesian men have actually won the race, and this time it feels like everyone is there. Risqi Kurniawan typically has the edge on medium distance course, but runners like Sobari Herdiana, Sobiri, Margono and Dedy Yusuf will certainly give it their all. And so will Bandung heroes Arief Wismoyono and Taofik Hidayat. Also in the field this Saturday: Luis Alvelais and Thimo Kilberth.

In the women’s 40k race, Vanja Cnops will be looking for her 8th ATM race victory after a winless 2024 in our series. The Singapore-based Belgian should love both the distance and the course in Bandung, so she is the logical top favourite. It’s her first race in Season 10, so she can open her points account with a maximum haul. We are also happy to see Ruth Theresia on the start list of her home race. Still the most successful female runner in our series ever with 11 race wins, and a true ambassador for the sport in Indonesia. Yustina Wardhani is another podium candidate, she was 9th in the 2023 ATM Championship Final.

Asia Trail Master will be reporting live from Tahura Trail all day on Saturday from 5:45 am local time onwards. The 40km is scheduled to be flagged off at 6 am.

Risqi Kurniawan is the top favourite amongst the Indonesian runners

Sherpa returns to Tahura : 3d in 2018, 2nd in 2020, victory in 2025?

Vanja Cnops can add another Indonesian race win to her record this Saturday

We are happy to announce that the Pacific Coast Mountain Trail Festival in General Nakar, Luzon, Philippines is joining the Asia Trail Master Grandmaster calendar in 2025. The event, a Candidate Race last year, will be held on the weekend of 26/27 July and features a 100km race that will provide a Grandmaster point to all finishers. The Pacific Coast Mountain Trail Festival is already open for registration.

Beginning and less ambitious runners can also opt for one of the several shorter distance categories. There is also a kids race. And in fact, this event is a great introduction to trail running. PCMTF is known for its (very) runable terrain and as such as bit of an outcast on the Filipino trail calendar. Last year, we saw several of the country’s marathon and road running scene take part and get a first taste of trail running. As the official event’s tagline reads: “Where the mountains literally meet the sea and everything in between fall nothing short on beauty and charm – from its crystalline streams to placid rivers, from rolling hills to the lush greenery of the forests, tiny hamlets and the exceptional warmth of its people - all these on a one-of-a-kind ultra marathon that is the Pacific Coast Mountain Trail Festival” .

The 100k Grandmaster course is not pancake flat neither, though. There is still 2000 metres of elevation gain to be conquered during the day. The race starts at 4 am on Saturday morning and everyone is expected to be back after 27 hours, i.e. 7 am on Sunday morning.

General Nakar is also relatively uncomplicated to get to from Manila. You can ride a bus or van frm Legarda in Manila going to Infanta Quezon. The fare is approximately Php 350-450. Travel time is 4-5 hours depending on traffic and time of the day. General Nakar lies on the east coast of Luzon island.

Via the facebook page below you can find all details on the event, and you can register online via the button below as well.

Malico Grand Ultra took place for the second time last weekend featuring a 75km race course with a Grandmaster point for all finishers on offer. Brought to you by Mark Caldez of Marcado Trail Quest and the Maharlika Series team of Sierra Madre Trail Ultra, the event took place in Santa Maria West, Pangasinan, in the West of Luzon a little south of Baguio. The 75km is a challenging course with four distinct peaks to conquer, for a total elevation gain of over 4000 hm. Conditions matter, but runners also always learn and this year’s winners were significantly faster than last year. Jordan Bugnay was the rather surprising man on the top step of the podium, winning in 12h32 - well ahead of established ATM competitors Sean Aying and Maynard Encornal. For Sean Aying, finishing Malico meant scoring his 15th GM point , which now makes him a 3-star Grandmaster!

Strongest woman was Ann Jilian Pulanco, who managed to outpace Julieann Morales and Julie Mae Marquez in 16h21. Whenever Grandmaster Pulanco decides to compete and race, she is always a victory contender. In 2023 she also won Sierra Madre. At Malico a year ago, she was preceeded by Michella Aradanas, however. Julieann Morales was 10th in last season’s ATM Championship with three wins inside the Philippines during the season. The first ATM Championship points race of Season 10 is coming up on the first weekend of March in Bukidnon, the Mount Kalatungan Trail Ultra’s 55km race.