R.O.X Trail Run Mapawa has been a popular event in the northwest of Mindanao island in the Philippines for several years, and on 30 October the organisers will increase the race distance to 50k. What's more, the scenic run inside the Mapawa Nature Park joins the 2016 Asia Trail Master calendar! Plenty of other innovations are being planned as well. 

The gateway to the event is Cagayan de Oro, the biggest city in northern Mindanao and a tourist drawcard for plenty of outdoor enthusiasts, not only hikers but also rafters and kayakers. The city has an airport, so you can fly in from any major airport in the Philippines. The Mapawa Nature Park, where the race is held, is just 30 minutes away from Cayagan de Oro. 

The course of the Trail Run Mapawa goes across a series of hills rather than mountains, which makes it different from the other points-scoring races in the Philippines. Nevertheless, the total amount of elevation gain is significant as close to 2000 Hm. Apart from the hills, there are also a few water streams that need to be crossed. Precise numbers will be officially announced in due course. As every year, this event caters for the whole family, as shorter distances are also on offer. 

Stay tuned for more details on the race course, and the opening of registrations.

As of today, our 2016 Asia Trail Master rankings have been put into a new outfit, which will increase the user experience and the search possibilities for runners, coaches, journalists and anybody else wishing to check the current status of the Asia Trail Master 'championship' this year. The system, designed primarily for mobile platforms, has been developed by our partner Race Timing Solutions (RTS) in Hong Kong, one of the absolute references in Asia for both participant registration and time-keeping services. RTS, amongst many others, does time-keeping for the biggest Hong Kong trail races as well as the territory's half marathon road race and triathlon/duathlon events. It is indeed a privilege to have RTS as a partner of the Asia Trail Master series. 

Via the new ranking interface, you can easily filter the total points  ranking by nationality and age. In addition, by clicking on a runner's points total you can also see in a pop-up window in which races that person scored his or her points. 

Now there is also a search box, in which you can put the name of your favourite runner and see where he or she is placed at this point in time. Finally, you can also download the whole ranking into MS Excel. 

Work continues on the interface. In the near future it will be offered in various languages and will incorporate links to the full results of each race in the ATM series. The ability for ranked runners to edit their ATM personal profiles will also be introduced in due course. 

We are happy to announce that HK 168 will be the second points-scoring race in Hong Kong in the 2016 Asia Trail Master series. Already a traditional ultrarunning event on the local territory's race calendar, the 4th edition of HK 168 will be organised on the weekend of 5/6 November. Three race distances qualify for points: 173km, 93km and 63km. 

Organiser Felix Shun from the company XTE is regularly hosting outdoor and trail running events, and not only in Hong Kong. His flagship event, HK 168, has been maturing over the past few years and is a great addition to the Asia Trail Master series. Centre of the event is the Shing Mun Reservoir in the New Territories, even though the long distance race starts all the way east at Pak Tam Chung. HK 168 overs ome f he ost eautiful cenery n ong ong, ncluding emote illages, ncient orests, ature rails, eservoirs nd teep ills. It is a true ultra endurance race with 8200 metres of elevation gain on the 173km. 

An interesting event for the Grandmaster Quest, as two race distances qualify for 1 point as well. 

Registration for the event is already open via this link. Key details on accommodation options can be found on our event cover page and on the event website. 
 

Map of the two longest race distances at HK 168

Razif Yahya, organiser of the Magnificent Merapoh Trail, describes his event scheduled in and around Taman Negara National Park in peninsular Malaysia on 29-30 July.

Registration is still open for the races over 100km, 60km and 30km. Have a look at our event cover page for all details. 

The Cordillera Mountain Ultra on and around Mt Ugo in the Philippines (Luzon) is scheduled for 5 June. You can still sign up for the 50km race now. The event also highlights the Cordillera Conservation Trust, an environmental NGO that definitely deserves your attention. Get some local coffee while you are at it! 

Doi Calbes, local organiser of the 2nd Mount Apo Sky Race on Mindanao in the Philippines, has been compelled to announce the postponement of his event today. The race on the country's highest mountain was scheduled for 23 April, but wide-ranging forest fires have forced the local authorities to shut off the mountain from public access. It is not yet clear when Mount Apo will be re-opened again. 

Mt Apo Skyrace was set to be the first points-scoring race in the Philippines this year. While there is hope that the event can go ahead later in 2016, trail runners can look forward to a number of other Asia Trail Master races in the Philippines this year, including on Mindanao island. 

Stay tuned for more details. 

Our official Asia Trail Master charity partner Operation Smile will be actively taking part in the upcoming Korea 50k event in Dongducheon City, north of Seoul, on 24 April. Amongst others, Korea's own American TV celebrity Tyler Rasch will be taking part in the event, and even run the short distance race to raise funds for Operation Smile. You can also help young children in need of a life-changing surgery.

As of 31 March, participants and friends alike, will be able to trigger support and invite donations from friends, family, colleagues and anyone else for Operation Smile in the context of the Korea 50k event. In order to do so, a special webpage will be launched for you to use and share, as explained in the flyer above. 

Give your participation in the Korea 50k even more meaning. 

If you need more details about the charity, please click on anyone of the images to go to the Operation Smile international website. Or you go to our cover page: 

Operation Smile

Following her superb second place in UTHK last month, jointly with China's Xiao Jing, we felt it was an opportune moment to talk trail running with Tseng Wei Ling from Taiwan. Contrary to Hong Kong, Wei Ling's native island does not yet have too many celebrities on the trail scene. Ironically, she is now also living in Hong Kong, yet very keen to promote the beauty of her home, and assist with the development of the sport, which does face some challenges in Taiwan. Always smiling in race photos, Wei Ling herself just keeps getting better and better in every race she runs. Incredibly dedicated and strong-willed, here's a runner who might just as well go for the Asia Trail Master title by the end of the year! Here's our Q & A with Tseng Wei Ling, and her favourite music to run in the background.

Wei Ling's favourite running tune

Q: Where are you from in Taiwan and what do you do for a living?

WL: I am from Taipei city. It has a basin topography. Lots of hills are around my city.  And Taiwan, the beautiful hometown I was born is also called Formosa. But today I’m a bank officer and work in Hong Kong.

Q: Was running part of your upbringing as a child and teenager?  

As a child and teenager, I often go hiking or trekking in my home country, Taiwan. There are lots of hills and around 260 mountains go above 3000 meters. On weekends, my parents, friends and I used to drive a car and walk into mountains to enjoy peace and nature. No road running, I was trained to become a trail walker, if you like.  

Q: When and why did you decide to take part in trail running competitions?

My first trail running race was the first edition of The North Face 50 km in Hong Kong in December 2013.  When I stood at the finish line after experiencing a sleepless night , strong winds, fog, heavy rain, and a cumulative elevation gain of around 3000 meters, I was not sure it was rain or hot tears in my eyes. I was exhausted but touched. I was able to make it to the finish no matter how tough or how dark it was ahead of me. If I could overcome all unknown and unexpected conditions along the trails, I would become mentally stronger. So afterwards I decided to do more physical training for trail running races. 

Q: Do you also run road marathons? what is your best time on the marathon?

Actually, I haven’t joined any road marathons yet. I was born to love mountains. I have only taken part in trail marathons until now. Maybe one day I will try it but I’m still addicted to trail running.

Q: Do you feel the so-called " runner's high " ? 

Yes. I know why I am running these days, the desire is my motivation to run and run fast. The feel-good brain chemicals released when I do so may have helped me achieve the speed and distances required. I try to push myself hard, but not too hard.  When I find a sweet spot where it is comfortably challenging, I think I feel the so called "runner's high". And, I also feel it when more trail runners are together.

Q: How much do you train? Do you have a coach or do you use a running coaching app?

I go running for 10 km and do core training during weekdays. And on weekends I tend to go trail running for 30 km to 50 km. I wish to enjoy all training. Although I don't have a personal physical coach, lots of senior trail runners are my mental mentors. They always push me to improve myself. 

Q: Do you have a specific objective in trail running, or you just wish to run for fun? Is it easy to combine with work and family? 

I wish I could finish strong in every trail running race. Be mentally and physically stronger, and  then look forward and face the next challenges. It's not easy to combine work and family for lots of trail runners. It is necessary to allocate our times well.

Q: Do you have any sports heroes? If yes, who and what is so special about him / her?

Vegan ultra runner Scott Jurek.  He always breaks all boundaries and never stops exploring even though he has already scored lots of victories in his running career. And, he is known to stay at finish lines cheering until the last runner crosses. What a touching gesture! 

Q: How do you feel about trail running in Taiwan. What is special about running in Taiwan?

Because I live in Hong Kong, I do not have very much experience in it. Trail running in Taiwan is just beginning. Various types of trails are based on different elevations. You might run cross streams or along the rivers or close to waterfalls, run into the forest and see specific kinds of trees, such as Taiwan red cypress, Taiwan white pine, firs and etc. And you might climb rocks by hands or ropes. I think Taiwan is special as it offers still wild and undeveloped trail types.

Q: At present, there is no Taiwanese race on the Asia Trail Master calendar. Which event would you like to see in it?

As mentioned above, most trails in Taiwan are quite wild and undeveloped. I would expect a race with a route that covers mountains above 3000 meters. If that, trail runners could see beautiful sunrise with endless sea of clouds and maybe could run with Sambar deers if  lucky. But this kind of trail running race above 3000m might not be allowed by the government. I know there is the first edition ofThe Beast Trail race held in June in New Taipei City. The route represents the wild and technical trail type in Greater Taipei.

Q: Do you often travel to other countries to take part in trail running events?

I have taken part in several trail running races in Hong Kong mainly, but  I also finished 172km UTMF in Japan in September 2015. And I have signed in UTMB-CCC race this year. Looking forward to it...

Q: Last month, there was the news that a big national park in Taiwan (Yangmingshan National Park) has forbidden trail running with immediate effect on environmental and safety grounds, leading to the cancellation of scheduled races. Do you think more parks will follow and forbid races? 

I hope that won't happen. But how to protect environment during a race and after a race is a very important issue. Trail runners should be taught well. And race organizers and government officials could refer to how Japanese put a lot of effort into ecological planning and protection while holding the big UTMF race. 

Q: How do you select the trail races you run? 

In Hong Kong, I plan to join all ultra trail races. In other countries, I prefer to sign up for popular and classic races.

Q: Which Asia Trail Master races are you planning still for this year? Given your high points score, will you try to get a good final ranking?

There are lots of interesting Asia Trail Master races, such as Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset and Annapurna 100.  I hope I can join them, I need to check with my limited annual leave from work. 

Q: What was your best trail running experience so far?

My favorite part of trail running race is the moment of breaking dawn. It makes me think of being vigorous, fresh and enthusiastic. It makes me keep going ahead.

Q: What was your craziest experience in a  trail running event? 

My first 100 miles race was UTMF in Japan in 2015. The trail was muddy because of pouring rain in the previous day and still scattered rain during the race itself. The cut-off time was very tight in the first half of check points. I tried to speed up my pace to pass through lots of technical sections. But after sunset, I couldn't see the narrow route clearly through thick fog in the forest. It's really dangerous because of chances to fall down off the mountain. I slowed down and waited for someone coming with a brighter light.  It was my first time to feel helpless. And rain became heavier at night. Trails were muddier and slipperier. In addition, trekking poles were forbidden by organizers for the reason of soil protection . So every trail runner needed to be more careful to go downhill. Lots of runners fell on their butts, faces, knees and other body parts. I got an injury at the lateral collateral ligament of knee joint after going downhill dramatically in the first one-third of the 172 km long race. And my pain still increased in intensity when I approached the finish line. I was in a bad situation at that moment. I was still determined to keep going unless I were to miss cut-off time. So, I really wanted to cry when I crossed the finish line after not sleeping for two nights. I learned lots and gained a lot of experience from this race.  

Q: What does your training look like when you have a specific race goal 

I will start training for UTMB-CCC race soon. Although the distance is not my longest race, it's still 6100 meters of positive altitude change in 101 km. No doubt it's very steep up and down, but without any stairs like in Hong Kong. I plan to find similar terrain in Hong Kong and spend weekends running on it. In addition, I plan to spend more time training to hike uphill on a treadmill as steep as it goes at gym, because at CCC I'm actually going to be hiking for almost half of the steep climbs.

Q: In your opinion, what are the biggest issues facing the sport of trail running in the near future? What is it you would not like to happen?

How to protect the environment and nature is an important issue. There is always a lot of litter on the trail after a race. How to prevent that?  Also, the effect of urbanization in Hong Kong is that the government has gradually paved over the ancient trail with concrete in recent years. It looks like an attempt against nature. When we go trail running or hiking, we want to spend quality time on trees and grass, not on city-like sidewalks.  

Q: Is there a race you really NEVER want to do, and why? 

I face all challenges and expect to break through them myself. 

Q: Do you have any tips for race organisers? Things every organiser should pay special attention to?

For race organizers, I would suggest that they provide more detailed race information on the websites as early as possible. The most important thing for overseas participants is to run the right way without spending too much time finding routes. I wish all organizers could provide GPS and mark routes more clearly. 

We are excited to announce the Echigo Country Trail as our first Asia Trail Master points-scoring race in Japan! The colourful event, organised by a fervent international trail runner,  is scheduled for 19 June and will therefore be the final race before the summer break. Runners can look forward to a varied course of 52 km long and  just over 2000 metres of elevation gain. The Echigo Country Trail takes place close to Niigata, in Nagaoka, which itself is north of Nagano, a former Olympic Winter Games host city, and all of this is northwest of Tokyo. 

Hiroaki Matsunaga sees a bright future for his event, which technically has its second edition this year, although the 52km course is brand new. "It is very exciting to be part of an international trail running series, and we welcome runners from all nationalities to come and visit this beautiful but little known mountain area, " says Matsunaga. "Meeting with local people, learning about our lifestyle and tasting our local food, your journey to Nagaoka-Niigata will leave everlasting impressions. After 50km or running, you may want to come back here to live!"

In fact, while the race is on Sunday, it will be more than worthwhile to make your way to Nagaoka and the Oguni Forest Park, the start and finish place, on Saturday. Local booths with traditional cuisine and cultural items will be set up, and in the late afternoon there will be an official opening ceremony and welcome party. 

The race course will lead you between Echigo, Oguni and Ojiya countries on authentic local mountain trails.  The race is set to commence at 6 a.m. and the cut off time is 10 hours later. Along the route, there will be no fewer than six aid stations. Accommodation can be booked and arranged in Oguni, Ojiya and Nagaoka, from where there will also be a shuttle bus to the race start at the Oguni Forest Park. International runners will be able to sign up for the event via Asia Trail Master as of Wednesday. By the way, beginning runners or children could also opt for a 15km short distance or a 2,5km Oguni Kid Race!

Check the very original map of the Echigo Country Trail

After the test edition last year, the popular Gribanovka Ski Resort in Russia's Primorsky Krai is organising the first official Mount Falaza Trail Challenge on 16 October. A hilly race through a forested area over 60, 40 or 16km with maximum 2500 metres of elevation gain. It is the first ever Russian event in the Asia Trail Master series and also the most northern one. Prepare for a new exciting trail running and cultural experience!

Primorsky Krai, also known as Primorye, is a province in the far East of Russia, bordering China and North Korea, and having Vladivostok as its administrative centre. Primorsky means maritime and that is no coincidence as the province also borders the Sea of Japan to the east. Participants will enter the region via Vladivostok, which has international connections by air, sea and land. Worth visiting by itself, of course, runners and their partners can explore the city and stay overnight, before hopping onto the event bus at noon on Saturday. Gribanovka and its ski resort is a 175km or 2 hour bus ride away from Vladivostok. Runners will stay at the resort on Saturday night before the race on Sunday morning. All hotel and transport services can be booked when you sign up for the race. 

The race is centred around Mount Falaza (1279m), a mountain located at the southern end of the Sikhote-Alin range, which is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is an area known for its large biodiversity.  In autumn, the forest shows itself in many colours.  The event hosts at the Gribanovka resort, a favourite skiing destination for regional people in winter, have substantial experience in organising adventure, MTB and ski races. 

You can read more details of the event via our event cover page. Registration for the race goes via our online form. 

Finishers of the 60km and 40km races will score 100 Asia Trail Master finisher points, plus performance points according to their race result. 

We are delighted to officially announce our latest new partnership for the 2016 Asia Trail Master series: Gone Running is the fitting name of our new retail partner. Founded by a trio of passionate athletes themselves, Gone Running is an online and physical store that breathes endurance running - be it trail or road ultras. 

Gone Running was established in 2014 to provide a better online shopping experience for trail and road runners in Asia. In 2015, they also opened their first physical store in Wanchai, Hong Kong.

It's about more than just good prices. We want to offer the best products (gear we use ourselves) as well as knowledgeable advice from top trail and road runners to make sure you get the kit and nutrition that is best for you.  It's for runners, by runners. On offer in our store are products of other Asia Trail Master series'  partners as well, such as RaidLight apparel and gear, Simple Hydration designer bottles and of course, Tailwind nutrition. 

We love our community and believe in giving back. We organise regular running and community events in Hong Kong and beyond, sponsor budding young runners, collect secondhard gear donations, and support some great running-based charities.

By supporting the Asia Trail Master series, Gone Running aspires to reach out to all trail runners on the continent. On a regular basis, runners will be able to score great deals and other benefits via the Gone Running store and social media channels. At selected events, special prizes will be awarded to podium runners to ensure everyone back home can see they have Gone Running! 

More details on our Gone Running partner page. Here you will be able to read everything about new or highlighted products, discount rates and much more. 

We are delighted to announce another fantastic new entry on the 2016 Asia Trail Master series' calendar: Ultra Tu Wenchuan is a 50 km mountain trail in Sichuan, Southwest China. The 2nd edition of the event is scheduled for Sunday, 15 May and is organised by Sichuan Trail, a company managed by people with extensive international running experience. Being not excessively long, the 50km race is ideal for runners who wish to get a taste of mountain trail running. 

The event is the second race in China where Asia Trail Master points can be scored this year, after Tsaigu Tangsi Plus on 16 April. As the gateway to the Tibetan Plateau, Wenchuan is quickly becoming a new hotspot for trail runners. UTWenchuan is not only a race, but also an opportunity to explore an area surrounded by 5000m high mountain peaks and several deep gorges. Runners have never trodden some of these trails before, so this race gives you the chance to explore a new horizon in trail running. And last but not least, this event’s date coincides with the famous Wenchuan cherry harvest. So don’t forget your race shoes and your appetite!

In 2008, Wenchuan was struck by a devastating 8.0 earthquake. In this most deadly earthquake on earth since 1976, 87150 lives were lost, cities are destroyed. Now 8 years have passed and a new Wenchuan has risen up. The race in the mountains of Wenchuan, serves both as a memory of the past and the optimistic striving for the future of the city.

Fantastic high mountain backdrops all along the UT Wenchuan trail

The 2016 version of UT Wenchuan consists of 2 different categories for individual runners: 50km and 23km, with accumulated elevation gain of 3600m and 1650m. The 50km trail is the icon of UT Wenchuan, circling clockwise around the city of Wenchuan. It connects the high mountain passes, Minjiang gorge and ancient villages of Qiang people. It’s challenging, scenic and natural. Finishing this race distance will give you Asia Trail Master points. While the elevation gain is high for a 50km race, note that highest altitude you will reach is 2700 metres above sea level, meaning that the risk for altitude sickness is minimal. Nevertheless, it always helps to arrive at the destination a few days before the race. 

Trail conditions can be relatively rough at times. Local villagers instead of tourists create the majority of our trails, which then offers you a great chance to interact with and get a look into the life of the Qiang people. The 50K course consists of 55% single-track, 35% dirt road/double-track and 10% paved road.  Please check further details on our cover page or the local event website. 

The organisers already have advanced plans to develop the event in the next years, and are going out of their way to assist participants who are coming to join the race. Gateway to Wenchuan is the capital city of Sichuan, Chengdu, which is served by plenty of international airlines as well. From the airport, a new highway links Chengdu with Wenchuan in less than 2 hours. A special runners' bus will depart on Saturday morning the day before the race, and return after the race. Please check all logistics via our cover page. 

It is possible to sign up for UT Wenchuan via us at Asia Trail Master, or via the local event website. The registration fee is, of course, the same.