The second Malaysian ATM points race event of the season takes place in Sarawak, Borneo, this weekend and this for the first time in our series’ history. Silabur Ultra Trail , aka Cave Trail, takes place at Kampung Batu Bedang, approx 1,5 hours drive from Kuching and near the border with Indonesia’s Kalimantan. On the programme are both a 100k long ultra and a 50k medium distance race featuring a number of caves that Sarawak is known for in adventurous travel communities. For once, the list of participants for the 100k is longer and in both the male and female categories we see the top duo of BUTM 100 in early March. Gustin Tiam, Mohd Sulhan, Rejlen James and Adelinah Lintanga will again face off this weekend with start at 10am on Saturday. There’s less elevation gain compared to BUTM, and with several other podium and victory candidates this could turn into an exciting and tight competition.

It’s only been a couple of years that Sarawak is claiming its stake on the Malaysian trail running map. Contrary to its northern neighbours Sabah and even Brunei, events and runners were few and far between. Sally Yap, ‘Alpha’ Siet Fah Lim, Celeste Teo and others have changed that, encouraging event promoters and organisers to build proper trail events, too. Alpha Sports is among those with several events in its portfolio. Silabur was a a Candidate Race last year, and in this season’s “Borneo Year” has been offered a spot on the ATM Championship calendar. The caves around Batu Bedang have attracted quite an internation field with several runners from, a.o. Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong and even India.

Good ol’ Gustin Tiam and up-and-comer Mohd Sulhan may be the men’s favourites on the 100km, but there’s quite a few others who can challenge for a podium result - or more. Wont Kudin, for instance, has already banked a great 4th place in BUTM this season. Phua Cho Ka and Kenneth Mun Keat Yow are two others. In the women’s 100km, it’s all eyes on Rejlen James and the once again in-form Adelinah Lintanga. But Celeste Teo may be very motivated on home soil. Mailin Salungin is another strong and experienced trail runner, who recently won the BDUTM Candidate Race in Brunei. Rachel Pui Hung Chan from Hong Kong was 7th in last year’s ATM Final and 3rd in MMTF 100, ahead of Celeste Teo and Rejlen James - the latter having had an off-day, admittedly. India’s Ashwini Ganapathi from Bengaluru is known as a long ultra specialist, having been part of her country’s team in the Asia-Pacific 24h championships (she ran 181 km!). She was also the only female finisher in the Everest Extreme Ultra in 2022. It will be interesting to see how she fares against Rejlen James and co on the trails in Sarawak.

The 50k for men seems wide open and we are bound to discover some new names this weekend. On the female side, the Lintanga sisters Jessica and Lolita could both eye the highest prize. Both are in good form, as shown already at BUTM with a fourth and fifth place respectively. Singapore’s Dening Lo was a surprising third in Bali Ultra last year and may be their main competitor for the win, along with Kona Liau - second in BUTM 50k and so ahead of the Lintangas in that race. Joy Sim, originally from Sarawak, is still a rather young trail talent who could pull a surprise, too.

ATM will be reporting live from the Silabur event all day on Saturday (100km) and Sunday (50km) on the usual channels.

Adelinah Lintanga has returned to her best level, as shown with a great second place in BUTM 100 in March

Gustin Tiam finally won his ATM race at BUTM 100 in March

Mohd Sulhan is an upcoming trail talent who already was a great 2nd at BUTM 100.

Celeste Teo is from Sarawak and always a podium candidate on the long ultras

We are very happy to announce that the 10th anniversary edition (!) of the Datu Salumay Invitational Trail Run in Mindanao, Philippines, is a new ATM Candidate Race scheduled for the weekend of 9/10 November. ‘DASAL’ ,as the event is commonly known, has grown from what was essentially a local interclub competition to a fully fledged running event that every year attracts hundreds of athletes to Datu Salumay, the venue approximately 80km away from Davao City. The longest race category is 85km, but there’s also 42km, 21km and 12km for less ambitious runners.

In recent months there have been quite a few Candidate Races in this part of Asia, but DASAL is one that already has a decade-long history in itself. The participants of the different categories race through the trails of Datu Salumay, passing by waterfalls, streams, rivers, trees, grasslands, and steep hill ascents and descents. It starts and finishes at the Datu Salumay Elementary School grounds, which is just adjacent to the Syre National Highway. This is a major highway with public transportation available. Participants on the 85km should prepare well, as there’s about 5000 metres of elevation gain in this course. The start is at 2 pm in the afternoon, meaning nearly everyone will also need to run through the night, which at least has the benefit of being cooler. The cut off time is 25 hours.

You can stay up to date via the event facebook page linked below. Registration can also be done easily online via RaceTech.ph .

Last year, Julie Ann Morales was a race winner at DASAL

Vertical To Sky has announced a new event on its roster near Davao City and should in theory please lovers of the more runable trails. Mount Karilongan Trail Marathon is a “Plant & Run” charity race on Sunday, 12 May at Barangay Hall Carmen and is labeled as an ATM Candidate Race. The inaugural edition offers three race categories: 42km trail marathon, 21k trail half marathon and a 10k trail run.

Mount Karilongan is a relatively small mountain at 1102m above sea level, featuring duran fruits, but especially the 1083 steps to ‘God’s Hand’.

The Mt Karilongan Trail Marathon goes in Partnership of EGIP Foundation Inc., the Obu-Manuvu Tribe in Carmen, LGU Barangay Carmen Davao City and Vertical To Sky (V2S) Sports Management. Proceeds of this event will go to the materials and equipment of our Indigenous Obu-Manuvu Forest Guards and for the smart development of their still young eco-tourism project in Mt. Karilongan. The Obu Manuvu are looking to promote environmental awareness and create an additional source of needed income, so they can bring their ancestral traditions back to practice. The area is also included in the recently opened Koontayan ‘to Obu Manuvu Eco Adventure Park.

The trail route covers pavements, stair climbing, single track, dirt roads, river crossing, jungle trail, technical and runnable terrain. It covers 5 minor mountains to climb especially for 42km distance with only 2,000+ meters of elevation gain, which is still a number to reckon with. The start for the 42k is scheduled on Sunday at 4am.

You can find all details of the new event on the website of Vertical To Sky and stay up-to-date via its Facebook page, both linked below.

The 3rd edition of Bali Ultra Trail is set for 3 August and will once again return to Gunung Batur in both the 80km and 50km ATM points race categories. The exciting and popular event is now open for registration. Bali Ultra will be one of the last three events where runners can score points for qualification into the ATM Championship Final at Borneo TMBT Ultra on 14 September.

The race route has again been redesigned after it was not permitted to climb Batur a year ago. Those political issues have now been solved, and the famous volcano and the crater rim are again featured in both the 50 miles (80km) and 50km courses. The other climb, Mount Abang, has not been recovered, however. The new route is essentially an out-and-back from Kintamani across Batur to the northern beach shore. Total elevation gain for the 80km is estimated at 4400hm and for the 50km at 2700hm. Start and finish is still at the Geopark Museum in Kintamani. There’s plenty of boutique-style accommodation and a few bigger hotel resorts in Kintamani. Alternatively, major tourism hub Ubud is not that far away neither and one could take a motorbike or taxi from there, too. The start is more or less at sunrise, 6am local time, so Bali Ultra Trail is a daytime race for the most part. Runners should be aware and prepare accordingly, as Bali obviously gets hot during the day. Running during the day of course means you will enjoy the the great scenery to the maximum.

Registration is open via the official website below.

Shindy Patricia won the 100km women’s race last season

Popular Nami Ishihara was 2nd just under two minutes behind Katrin Herzog last year on the 50km. Ishihara is already on the points table again this season with her 10th place in Izu Trail Journey

Akmad Nizar and Sobari Herdiana: always protagonists in Indonesian trail races

This Saturday we have a new ATM Candidate Race in Ifugao, famous for its lush rice terraces, in the northern part of the cordilleras in the Philippines. The Amuyao Mountain Ultra offers a 50 Miles and a 50K as main race categories.

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, and it’s the mountain that lends its name to the event.

Candidate Races are often a great occasion to get to know new names in the competitive trail scene, and Amuyao 50 looks like it may offer exactly that. There’s not that many races in this part of the Philippines so, as we saw two weeks ago in Jumla Rara Ultra in Nepal, we may be up for a few surprises. On the start list of the 50 miles (85km) race we at least also have two very familiar names: Grandmaster Cheryl Bihag and Romando Cumahling.

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.

Stay tuned for news and updates of the Amuyao 50 event via our ATM facebook and Instagram pages.

Season IX is in full swing and with just under five months to go before the Championship Final at Borneo TMBT Ultra in Malaysia on 14 September, it’s time for a first more detailed look at the country rankings, which lead to qualification for the country teams in the final race. The competition has been hot in the Philippines already, as most of the domestic races have already been concluded and filipinos are also keen travellers. Important to note is that the reigning ATM Champion John Ray Onifa has already scored his wild card for this year’s final by completing the 9 Dragons 50k and Lantau 70. This means Team Pilipinas can have 11 runners, or maybe even 12, if also 2022 champion Arnie Macaneras gets his wild card in the coming months. Macaneras did 9 Dragons 50/50 in February, so one more ATM race finish is sufficient for him. In the battle for points, Maynard Encornal is currently leading the ranking after three solid races including a win at Bagtit Ultra 100. Florence ‘Enciong’ Alave is in second, but 1265 points in four races is probably not going to be enough. Remember this is a ‘best-of-four points system’, so many other competitive runners will be catching up soon. Several relative new names on the board add to the excitement in Philippines, while Sean Aying has again managed to be in the mix, too. On the women’s side, Christine Montuya and Shally Yuson already scored points in four races, and even a substantial amount! Montuya was the upset winner of Sierra Madre Trail Ultra in March, but it’s Julie Ann Morales who has been undefeated in all three of her ATM races this season. While Montuya and Yuson currently can take a breather, the battle for the five top positions promises to be big in the coming months. Moreover, The Punisher in Mindanao on 10 August will be the all-deciding last points race of the season before the ATM Final..

Contrary to the Philippines, trail action in Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan - amongst others - is picking up now. Traditionally, also in Malaysia there is a tight contest between many runners to try and get inside the top five and into Team Malaysia. Especially as this year’s Final is in Sabah, Malaysia. No surprise therefore to see Milton Amat, Wilsen Singgin, Rejlen James already with points on the board. There’s plenty of other East Malaysian talent we are likely to hear much more about in the coming months: Shamiera Auther, Adelinah Lintanga, Yasbie Ismail, Maikol Oswald and good old Gustin Tiam. The next two Malaysian points races are coming soon with Silabur Cave Trail and Tioman 50, and of course UTSG 50 in Singapore is also close by.

In Vietnam, a very competitive men’s team is coming together after two races in the country already. Nguyen Si Hieu has marked this season’s Final dark red in his race calendar, and so no surprise he is leading the points ranking in Vietnam. Nguyen Tien Vo keeps improving and has just celebrated his first ATM victory at Cuc Phuong 100. Also Tu Do is a talent who has become a regular contender in races. On the female side, Loi Luong has put herself on the board and is one of those up & comers in Southeast Asia who could deliver a big surprise in September.

Nepal could be fielding a very strong team for the first time after two events took place in the country, giving local runners the opportunity to score the necessary points and race finishes. Reigning ATM Champion Rashila Tamang has secured her wild card by finishing Lantau 70 and Manjushree Trail 50. From an ATM perspective, she can focus on a full recovery from her thigh injury in order to be back at her best when defending her title at TMBT in September. Rashila could be joined by some other strong female runners, such as Priya Rai in the first place. Priya looked outstanding in both her 50k wins a few weeks ago. On the men’s side, Milan Kulung Rai and Lokendra Rai digested the combo MTR-Jumla Rara better than some of their better-known compatriots and are 1-2 in the points ranking. Also Hong Kong-based Dina Bagale and MTR 100 Miles winner Arjun Rai Kulung are currently qualified.

On the Japanese side, Tomohiro Mizukoshi and Akane Nemoto have already done well to get two solid results in the books. The same applies for Hong Kongers Luis Alvelais, Angie Yan - one of the revelations this season - , Naomi Fung and Kimmy Hong Kiu Leung. John Ellis is reportedly aiming for his wild card as 2019 champion, and Jeff Campbell is soon returning from a prolongued injury break to try and get himself qualified for the third year in a row. The Asia Expat team has seen 2018 champion and 2023 vice-champion Alessandro Sherpa already collecting his wild card, and also last year’s 3rd place Kristian Joergensen has clocked in two results already. As it goes, not all “expats” ranked are actually living in Asia, but in theory there’s a strong team in the making on both the male and female side.

To check the full ranking, please visit our dedicated webpage and the links to the male and female rankings.

The Lam Dong Trail in Dalat, Vietnam, is rapidly becoming one our series’ most popular events towards the end of the year. Held on 9 November, the race through lush pine forests, across several hills and coffee plantations is a textbook example of trail running in its purest form. The event centre and finish line is at the picturesque Valley of Love, located just outside Dalat City, one of the country’s main tourism hubs and known for its mild highland climate.

As the official press release reads, Lam Dong, nestled in the southern reaches of Vietnam's Central Highlands, is a province adorned with majestic mountainous landscapes. It's a convergence of rugged hills and winding trails, offering a picturesque tapestry of natural beauty.

Taking advantage of its terrain and favorable weather in November, Lam Dong becomes the rallying point for thousands of trail running enthusiasts eager to conquer its lofty peaks. Following two successful editions, this year's race promises significant changes and commitments aimed at fostering community health and supporting volunteer efforts to showcase Lam Dong's cultural heritage and natural splendor.

Race-wise, the event programme has five different categories, as described below. As always, ATM Championship and Grandmaster Quest point seekers need to focus on the 75 km race.

• + Health & Wellness Commitment (5km): Designed for the whole family, the 5km trail will be a fun and bonding experience, helping children and adults alike to discover the beauty of Lam Dong together.

• + Nature Restoration Commitment (15km): Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the plateau landscape and winding trails that traverse forests, valleys, and majestic pine-covered hills.

• + Local Culture Preservation Commitment (25km): Setting a common goal for conservation and value enhancement, the natural beauty of Lam Dong through volunteer activities is a special highlight of this event.

• + Personal Limits Breakthrough Commitment (45km): With the goal of building a trail-loving community to share, cheer on, and nurture passion in this discipline.

• + Emotional Connection Commitment (75km): With special challenges awaiting elites, athletes, or newcomers seeking intense sensations on the running trail.

The event has seen some of Vietnam’s greatest trail runners already at the start line. In 2022, Hau Ha and Quang Tran won the female and male races, respectively. Last season, it was Loi Luong and Nhon Trong.

You can find all details and registration facilities on the official website linked below.

Nhon Trong won last year’s men’s LDT 70

Loi Luong was the surprising winner of last year’s female LDT 70

A typical view in Dalat : trails in the pine forest

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