Ultra Trail SIngapore is on again this weekend, known as the annual ‘most runable’ trail race of the ATM season. It’s also a popular event with a good vibe, and who doesn’t enjoy spending a weekend in Singapore? This year’s edition has been significantly redesigned, however. The ATM Championship Qualifier is now held on Sunday and has been beefed up from 50 to 60km. On Saturday, runners chasing the Grandmaster Quest are already on call, as they have a new 80km on the programme.

The 60km features again reigning ATM Champion John Ray Onifa in his second outing of the current season. That implies he can get his wild card for the next ATM Final at Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail in Vietnam on 3 October. For that he needs to finish, and obviously he would like to do that also in first place. Onifa was scheduled to compete against his fellow countryman Godwin Mirar, but the latter is not starting as he could not get the funds together for a trip to SIngapore. The reality that still hits plenty of elite runners in Asia. A walk in the park then for the ATM Champion? Perhaps not. Singapore is not exactly a trail city and plenty of fast runners have found themselves off course during races here, as markings are not always easy to spot amidst all the concrete and constructions. Keeping your head cool is of the essence. Apart from that, Onifa should also look out for the speed of excellent local marathon runners like Vincent Casanova. Remember, last yeat even Jeff Campbell saw himself beaten by a local. Others who may say a word for the victory and certainly the podium are Kristjan Chapman, Philippe Daniel and Scott Pugh. And if someone has a bad day, Golden Grandmaster Tomohiro Mizukoshi - now age group 50 - will still be there to pick up the pieces.

The women’s 60km race is potentially a bit more open, even though Japan’s Akane Nemoto probably will get most votes as race favourite. On the ATM Final podium three times in a row and winner of a couple of ATM races already, running in Singapore typically suits Japanese runners very well. Last year, her compatriot Chisato Kario also won here. Akane Nemoto has some interesting challengers, though. Local Zoe Tan won Penang Sky Race 50 five weeks ago and that may strengthen her morale for this Sunday. Also Jennifer Lee was good in that race and will be in the mix again. Mia Revilla is also on the start list. Filipino, but based in Singapore. She won BUTM 100 in April and was third in Hardcore 100 Miles a month ago.

ATM will be covering the 60km race on Sunday on our usual channels.

One of the events that is becoming every more popular on our ATM calendar is Prenn Trail Summit in Dalat, Vietnam. Scheduled from 9 to 13 December 2026, trail runners on the Grandmaster Quest will again have no fewer than four categories to choose from in order to collect a new GM point. The longest race category is the 250km mega ultra, but the programme also offers the more traditional 100 Miles, 100km and 75km distances.

Organised by Unique Events & Media that also brings you Brah Yang Trail Summit in March, Prenn has been catching the attention since its inaugural edition back in 2023. Dalat in the southern Central Highlands of Vietnam has no shortage of trail events any more, but Prenn draws appreciation for its emphasis on the basics of trail running, the communities, combined with a solid and pleasant organisation. The event centre, also expo place and finish line for all distance categories, is the Prenn Tea Resort.

The website of the event is incredibly detailed and you can find all you need to know right there. In a nutshell, the 250km race - labeled “The Gods” - has an estimated elevation gain of 11730 hm and a cut-off time of 73 hours. Runners start the adventure at the Kala Lake at lunchtime (13:00) on 10 December . 100 Miles participants also start at the Kala Lake on the 11th at 7 am. They will conquer over 8000 hm and need to complete the distance in 55 hours. Those who thought a few years ago that running in Dalat is ‘easy’ surely have changed their minds by now :-).

The 100km also has a respectable 4500+ hm and 29 hours of cut-off time. Important, this category starts more or less at sunset on Friday at 18:00. The 75km starts at 3 am on Saturday and comes close to 4000hm and a cut-off time has been placed atv 24 hours.

Dalat is accessible by airplane , or you can also arrange overland transport from Ho Chi Minh City. The website also offers lots of options how to reach the Prenn Tea Resort.

We are pleased to welcome the reputed Pokhara Ultra as the fourth Nepalese event on our Asia Trail Master calendar. This year’s edition will be held on the weekend of 5/6 December and for the first time will offer Championship and Grandmaster Quest points. Event venue is Yangjakot, nearby Pokhara, and on the programme are two Championship Qualifier distances, 109km and 55km, and one Grandmaster distance, i.e. 109km.

Pokhara Ultra has been held for many years, but often also using different names. It’s been an iconic event for Nepalese trail running since more than a decade. As the event website reads: “Climb through cloud-kissed forests in Yangjakot, fly across ridgelines above Tangting, and conquer trails where few have set foot - with stunning panoramic views of Annapurna II, Annapurna IV, Lamjung Himal, and the iconic Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) mountain.”

The 109km has an estimated elevation gain of 6250 hm with the highest altitude just under 3000m above sea level. The 55km requires you to overcome more than 3300 hm with the same maximum altitude.

Runners can connect to Pokhara via Kathmandu. Transfer from Pokhara to the event venue is included in the registration fee (but book your seat in advance). Accommodation is primarily homestay-based, but you can also sleep in tents. Check with. website for details.

Please note that there is a registration quota, so do not wait until last-minute to sign up. All details can be found on the website of Pokhara Ultra, linked below. To wet your appetite, you can also check the 2025 event video.

As announced already early this year, Tulay Trail and Soimalai Trail are two new entries in Thailand on our Championship and Grandmaster Quest calendar in 2026. Both events in the Tak Trail series are highly scenic and popular, and you can sign up now. Tulay Trail is scheduled for the weekend of 24-25 October, making it the third ATM Championship Qualifier event in Season XII, after Luang Prabang Trail (Laos) and Ultra Fish’n Sheep (Hong Kong).

On the programme are three relevant distance categories, of which the 100km and 45km are qualifiers for the points ranking. Grandmaster Quest chasers should choose between the 100km and the 75km. Tulay Trail was a very successful ATM Candidate Race last October.

Tulay Trail is organised by RunRun and is part of the Tak Trail series in northern Thailand. The Tak Trail series’ events aim to elevate the regional trail running scene to international standards and showcase its natural and cultural richness. Elevation gain and technicality should be taken seriously before signing up. Tulay Trail 100 has an estimated elevation gain of 6300 hm and has a cut-off time of 34 hours at the finish line. The 100 km offers a very nice natural loop with the longest climbing coming immediately after the 3:30 am start, going from approximately 200m to 1400m above sea level. The start and finish venue is the Ban Mae Chawang School in Tha Song Yang District. The main village, however, is located about 7km before the school. It has several shops and restaurants. Note that the “100km” is actually 108km long. The 45km race starts at 4:30 am and has 2800 metres of elevation.

Tak is rather remote, but worth your effort to travel for a few days. The event organiser will assist international runners to make their journey as smooth as possible. You can contact the relevant team via the event facebook page below, or you can also contact info@asiatrailmaster.com first. There is a domestic airport called Mae Sot, from where you drive about 3 hours to the race village. From Chiang Mai and Bangkok the journey takes longer.

Be quick to register as slots are limited.

The annual ATM appointment on Samal Island off the coast of Davao City in Mindanao saw the 19-year-old Michael Angelo Lorono and Merudin Idsla as fastest male runners on the 80km long course. Strongest female was Ana Fe Gamo, who a month ago also finished first in SIlabur Ultra Trail 100 in Sarawak, Malaysia. The 12th edition of The Punisher was part of the Grandmaster Quest calendar.

No elite superstars on the start list meant that upcoming talents had a great opportunity to show themselves. Lorono and Idsla did that in style, completing the course in a time of 14h30. Joshua Pateno and Rennier Arcenal came next in 15h45.

Ana Fe Gamo took the women’s race win in 15h53 , fifth overall. Jasmin Dela Pena and Devere Galo joined her on the podium.

Golden Grandmaster Mario Yap has come very close to becoming Legend by finishing The Punisher. Mario has already accumulated 480 kilometers (= 480 points) in five different countries. Originally, he had planned to reach the Legend milestone of 500 kilometres at BTR Ultra in Bali two weeks ago, but there he suffered an uncharacteristic DNF. In any case, Mario Yap seems keen to be first!

The Punisher is organised by Vertical To Sky and was one of the pioneering trail running events in Mindanao alongside the Mount Apo Sky Race now well over a decade ago. It remains a great introduction to long ultra trail running given its varied course and easy accessibility from Davao City. Moreover, Samal Island is worth a weekend stay no matter what.

Photos below credited to Vertical To Sky (facebook page)

Trail running in india is growing and we are happy to announce that the Summit Run Lurntsu Circuit has obtained the ATM Candidate Race label for its next edition on 5 December 2026. The event is part of the SUMMIT RUN Series and takes place in the Tehri-Garhwal region in Uttarakhand, Indian Himalayas, a few hours from Delhi in the north of the country. Mussoorie is a well-known hill station and local gateway. The event is organised by Boots & Crampons Pvt. Ltd.

The Summit Run Series currently focuses on shorter trail distances, yet that’s relative as elevation gain is substantial and the altitudes, too. The Lurntsu race measures 42km - making it a trail marathon - and has over 3000m of elevation gain. No walk in the park, in other words, and the cut off time reflects that as well: 14 hours. The 42km race starts at the Deolsari Forest rest house at 4:30 am. The course is run entirely on mountain trails through dense forests, high ridgelines, and two prominent Himalayan summits. After the start, participants will be climbing towards Nag Tibba via the quieter Ontor village side, a lesser-used approach that winds through deep forest before opening out near the summit at just above 3000m altitude. After touching the Nag Tibba temple, the route descends briefly towards the Bhatwari / Shrikot side for about 3 km before turning back up for a second climb towards Nag Tibba top.

From here, the course moves onto one of its defining sections — a long, scenic ridgeline traverse towards the Ghodiappa meadows, gradually gaining elevation towards the second summit of Lunrtsu Peak. After crossing Lunrtsu, runners descend through forest trails back towards Deolsari Forest Rest House, where the finish line awaits.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, 5 December and it is recommended to register with overnight camp stay + meals. If you wish to remain independent, the organisation can recommend some homestay options in villages surrounding Deolsari you can choose from.

For less ambitious runners there is also a 30k and 16k on the programme. Expect mountain trail running pur sang , and bring a sense of adventure. Lurntsu Summit Run aims to become a recognised international trail event and become part of the ATM Grandmaster Quest.

You can find registration and further event details on the website linked below.

The last Malaysian ATM Championship Qualifier this season will be Jagoi Ultra in Sarawak on Borneo Island. Organised by Alpha Sports Events and RD Josh, Jagoi Ultra substitutes on the Championship calendar for their other event Silabur Ultra Trail, held in May. The event features a 70km long race for points, and given the distance is also valid for the Grandmaster Quest.

As always, when proven organisers have several events in their portfolio, we like to alternate between them in order to increase variety in the choice of races that matter for competitive-minded trail runners. In fact, Jagoi was an ATM Candidate back in 2023, before the choice in Sarawak fell on Silabur first.

Sarawak has as much rainforest as Sabah, but in general less elevation to conquer. It makes the races different. Still, it’s not flat either as the course profile of the 70km at Jagoi shows: 2500 hm elevation gain is not nothing. Held out of Kampung Serasot, Bau, runners will do a loop that at one point touches the border with Indonesia’s Kalimantan Province. The Jagoi area lies southwest of Kuching, main city in Sarawak and your gateway to the event. There’s shorter distances available as well on the event programme, but for ATM the 70km is your target.

Jagoi Ultra takes place one week after the classic Borneo TMBT Ultra in Sabah. People with more time on their hands could consider a combo. Plenty of things to see and do in Sabah and Sarawak and why not pass by Brunei while you’re there?

Registration is open via the link below. You can also stay up to date on the latest news via the event’s facebook page.

Just like the current season, the new ATM Championship Season XII (12) will commence with a ‘hidden gem’ : Luang Prabang Trail in Laos on the weekend of 10/11 October 2026. The event, organised by Green Step - also known for V Trail - will again feature a highly scenic 75 km race for points, both for the Championship ranking and for the Grandmaster Quest. Luang Prabang is a large UNESCO World Heritage Site and a wonderful place to spend a few days.

A boutique event on purpose, i.e. the number of participants is strictly controlled to ensure the best possible experience for all trail runners. Registration has just been opened and early bird rates are available.

The 75km course will largely copy the one from last year, which was new and deemed great by the participants. A great mixture of runable and technical parts, the estimated elevation gain of 2100 hm is certainly not excessive. It’s a daytime race initially with an early morning start on Saturday to allow everyone to enjoy the magnificent landscape around Luang Prabang. Of course, it also means it can be hot.

Luang Prabang has plenty of accommodation options in all budget ranges, which you can find easily online. To get there, you could consider a flight to Luang Prabang directly. There’s available options from Thailand (Bangkok and Chiang Mai), Vietnam (Hanoi), China (Kunming, Haikou) and Cambodia (Siem Reap). Alternatively, you fly to capital city Vientiane and take the high-speed train from there (Luang Prabang is a stop on the Vientiane-Kunming network), or a bus.

The event’s facebook page, linked below, provides the latest details as well as the international contact number (whatsapp preferred).

Last year, the 75km race saw the emergence of Japan’s Taichi Yui as race winner. The women’s race was won by Vietnam’s Dong Anh Luong.

Today we have a rather special announcement as for the first time in the history of Asia Trail Master we put the spotlights on Bangladesh! A new destination in Asian trail running highlighted by the Albatross Ultrail, which will be organised for the second time on the weekend of 30 October/1 November and which has received the ATM Candidate Race label. On the programme for runners are three race categories: 100km, 50km and 33km.

Albatross Ultrail was established last year by Run Bangladesh, the country’s leading sports event organiser that also has, amongst others, the Dhaka 25k international road race in its portfolio (accredited by World Athletics). Run Bangladesh has a clear goal to showcase the raw, untapped beauty of the country’s trail terrain to the international community. While Bangladesh is known for its flat terrain, there are hills, in fact, and these hills offer a technical, raw trail experience that should fascinate the international ATM community. The hill sector is known as the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Albatross Ultrail is held in loops of just over 16km, to be done twice (33km), four times (50km) or six times (100km). For the longest distance that results in an estimated elevation gain of 2800 hm. A dedicated and experienced team - RBAN Team - is committed to ensuring international standards are met. The core team consists of endurance athletes and brings over a decade of deeply rooted, hands-on experience to the endurance sports landscape.

Zooming out, Run Bangladesh “revolves around building a functional, highly active societal unit through competition and education. By hosting diverse sporting events and capacity-building sessions, we foster social bonding and drive nationwide campaigns, including our upcoming Run 4 Good Cause initiatives, to create a better, more active Bangladesh.” The company is committed to being a catalyst for positive change and put Bangladesh firmly on the map of international sports tourism.

The event takes place in Southeastern Bangladesh in the northern part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. To get an idea of what it is like, we recommend checking out the videos below as well as the official facebook and youtube channel of Run Bangladesh. To obtain further information, also on logistics, please contact Run Bangladesh via the facebook page or via email on official.runbangladesh@gmail.com .

Trail runners on the Grandmaster Quest now also have a chance to score a point at the rebranded A1 Philippines - Cordillera Mountain Terraces event in Banau, Ifugao, Luzon. Previously known as Amuyao, a Candidate Race in 2024, the event now features a 100 Miles race as longest ultra, alongside a 50 Miles, which still carries the name Amuyao Mountain Ultra 50 Miles. These are the two categories in which a Grandmaster point can be earned.

Less ambitious runners can also opt for shorter categories such as 42km, 25km and 10km.

A new name, but the event will actually already be held for a 10th time in 2026. Scheduled for the weekend of 20-23 August, it is also a fund raising event to support the rehabilitation od Batad Village, which was heavily affected of the landslide caused by the recent typhoon. We are in the heart of the Cordilleras here.

The official event description says it all: “Set in the stunning landscapes of Banaue, Ifugao. Runners will pass through the extreme natural landscapes of the great Ifugao and Mountain Province villages, mountains, and terraces, which were built more than 2,000 years ago and are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It will pass also with the two prominent mountains of Cordillera - Mt. Amuyao and Mt. Napulawan. Brace yourself for rugged trails, breathtaking views of the famous Banaue Rice Terraces, and an unforgettable adventure alongside fellow passionate runners! leave your mark on one of the toughest courses in the Philippines.”

As beautiful as it may be, this is also very tough terrain. Start and finish is at Banaue Ethnic Village. 100 Milers already begin their long journey on Thursday at 15:00 in the afternoon, and are supposed to be back 72 hours later. The 50 milers start at 3 am on Saturday early morning need to return by 15:00 on Sunday as well.

Registration is already open. Via the facebook page below you can get all necessary details. As always for the Cordilleras, coming from Manila or Clark, your first gateway is Baguio.

After the unfortunate cancellation of Point Trail Ultra, which was scheduled again for mid-June, we are happy to announce that we have confirmed a new and substitute Championship Qualifier in Mindanao, Philippines. Marilog Ultra will take over. The event has been on our Grandmaster Quest aready, and in its 4th edition is now ‘stepping up’ to also attract competitive minded runners for their last chance to score points in the Philippines for the ATM Championship ranking that leads to qualification for the Finals in Vietnam on 3 October. Marilog Ultra features a 70km race that needs to be targeted. Obviously, 70km also means it’s valid for runners’ Grandmaster Quest.

The 70km at Marilog is considered quite tough and goes across ondulating terrain for approx 3300 metres of elevation gain and an uphill finish. As quite often in Mindanao, the race has a large nighttime portion. Start is scheduled for Saturday afternoon/evening and the cut-off time is 22 hours later. The 2026 course map will be made available very soon.

Interestingly, 2022 ATM Champion Arnie Macaneras has taken over from Grandmaster Julieann Morales as race director for the event this season. The event is organised by Team BRAD.

Start and finish is MWES Marahan in the Marilog district of Davao, to the west of the main city of Davao. Registration is already open and please note that there is a maxium quota for each race distance, including the relevant 70km.

Further details can be obtained via Team Brad’s facebook page.

Harkor 4: Ultra Trail Balakayo Mountains was held last weekend near General Santos in Mindanao, Philippines, and offered Grandmaster Quest points for finishers of the 75km long ultra. It’s a tough one with considerable elevation gain of over 4000hm, but the beautiful scenery along the ridges make up for the sometimes painful effort. Runners also expressed satisfaction with the aid stations during the event.

Three men set themselves apart at the front of the race. Ronny Jandog, Jeffrey Rivero and Peter Balolong, Jr finished 1-2-3 within 11 minutes of each other. The latter, Peter Balolong Jr , had just become Grandmaster at Silabur in Sarawak, Malaysia, two weeks ago. Winning time for Jandog was 11h04.

Valerie Mae Marcos proved to be the strongest female runner on the Harkor course. She won in 14h32 as 14th overall. Laica Rivas was second and Irene Tan third on the podium.

Fish Tail 100 Ultra in Nepal: the tough mountain trail event near Pokhara in the breathtaking Annapurna region saw Pancha Ram Budha and Anita Rai take the race victories on the 100km in the men's and women's respectively. This is a highly challenging 100km, as the race saw only five official finishers. Pancha Ram Budha crossed the finish line in 20h45, Anita was about two hours later and second overall. Also Surya Raj Rai, Julien Pieters and Edgar Gourdin made it within the tight cut-off time.

The 50km had more finishers, just over half of the participation field. Bishal Rai was clearly the fastest in 8h40. He was flanked on the podium by Buddhi Ram Gurung and Roland Hunter. The women's race went to Anne Mai Baan in 10h57. Elise Witkopf and Jodi Baerg joined the Dutch woman on the podium.

The Fishtail 100 Ultra is more than a race — it is a catalyst for establishing Nepal as a premier destination for trail and ultra running. While Nepal has long been celebrated for mountaineering and trekking, events like the Fishtail 100 Ultra are redefining the country's adventure landscape by introducing a new discipline that combines athletic endurance with Himalayan exploration.

Last week’s Grandmaster Quest event Zamboanguita Mountain Ultra Trail was held with the first Golden Grandmaster Masafumi Yamamoto part of the participant’s field for the 70km long ultra, minimum race distance for a Grandmaster point. Masafumi completed the course and so also began his Trail to Immortality.

Up front, the race was won by Loyd Echalar from Iloilo in a time of 12h04. Only 23 years old, Echalar was 24 minutes ahead of Johnrey Espadon, himself also just 25 years old. Third place on the podium was for the 43-year-old Chuck Paul Mata. Great to see also a youngster in fourth place, JM Esquilarga, 25. Those four were clearly the fastest of the pack.

The women’s race was won by Resie Gaudiano in 16h07. In second, we found Keziah Marieah Loreto and in third place Mary Rose Canete.

The event was organised by Happy Feet, which in the past also held the Mt Talinis Mountain Marathon in Negros Oriental.

Hiroyuki Matsuda and Celine Loubiere claimed the spotlights in Bali last weekend as both trail runners scored their second ATM race victory of the current season. It was a fine day for competitive Japanese runners, as Yutaro Yokouchi won the men’s 60km. The women’s 100km went to South Korea’s Bo Min Park.

After a difficult start of the 105km race, recent BUTM winner Hiroyuki Matsuda joined his compatriot Akihiro Maeda at the front and ultimately had the strongest pace to win in 17h15. Another 500 Championship points in the bag for him this season: he now totals 1750 points in four races, should be sufficient to be part of Team Japan in the ATM Finals in Vietnam on 3 October. Akihiro Maeda took second place in 17h27. India's Grandmaster Shashwat Rao was a solid third place, showing again his competitiveness as a mountain runner. His time is 19h02. Russia's Igor Zaytsev grabbed fourth after a strong second half in 19h58. Rounding up the Top 5 was Italy's Silvio Pesce in 20h26. In sixth we have the first Indonesian runner, Sobiri Haerudin in 20h37. Shortly behind him are his compatriots Muhammad Abdul Majid, Rachmat Septiyanto and Yusuf Aprian. Yandi Yoko Bumi made it into the top 10. Quite a surprise that none of the local stars made it into the top five of what is now arguably the biggest Indonesian trail event.

The women's 100km race was won by Korea's Bo Min Park. She took over from local runner Dian Pradina during the night and stayed ahead of the rest by roughly one hour. It's her first ATM race victory. Ang Yee Mei from Malaysia claimed second place. Metzi Joy Alson and Alison Gauthier were competing for podium, eventually coming in together. Ruth Theresia was running third until she made a bad tumble at km 79, following which she retired from the race. Former Mantra race winner Henny Sutanda finished in fifth place.

Another Japanese victory on the 60K today: Yutaro Yokouchi won the race in 8h17, ten minutes ahead of France's Dorian Houzu. Indonesia's newcomer on the international scene, Putra Julio Ekdo Badayu, showed a lot of promise with third place on one of his first longer trail races. His time, 8h34 - so well in contention. Sobari Herdiana was fourth, Surasaka Somboon fifth.

Celine Loubiere has become a victory and podium candidate everywhere she starts and she showed again why. From France but based in Hong Kong, Loubiere was fastest on the 60K in a time of 11h01. Forty minutes ahead of Philippines' Trisha Reyes. Earlier this year, Loubiere also won the 50km at 9 Dragons and took a 3rd place in Lantau 70 to boot. One of the best performing female athletes in our series this season, she is basically assured of qualification for the Championship Finals in Vietnam on 3 October. For Trisha Reyes, these are the first 450 points of the season. Last year, she was 3rd in the 50km of 9 Dragons. Thailand's Phitchanana Mahachot scored third place on the podium. Elsa Ng from Malaysia was fourth and Jana Lindstrom from South Africa fifth.

Record participation numbers this weekend for BTR Ultra in Bali, Indonesia. The event now firmly established itself as the most popular trail running event in Indonesia offering race categories that suit both the long ultra and technical trail adepts and the beginning young newbies. The 100km and 60km categories are once again qualifiers for the ATM Championship and the 100km also offers a point for runners’ Grandmaster Quest.

Looking at the start list for the 100km, we could have quite an open race for the victory. Then again, just like last year’s Roberto Cain III and Man Yee Cheung, someone might just accelerate early during the night already (race starts Friday evening). The usual local Indonesian competitors are present, such as long ultra specialist Rachmat Septiyanto, Sobiri Haerudin, Yusuf Aprian and Taofik Hidayat. On a good day, anyone of them could walk away from Bali with the race win - especially Septiyanto. However, on paper there’s at least two interesting challengers: Japan’s Hiroyuki Matsuda and Central Java’s Risqi Kurniawan. Matsuda was the impressive race winner of BUTM 100 in Sabah, Malaysia, last month and sits fourth in the overall ATM points ranking this season. He is ensuring himself of a spot on his country’s team for the Championship Finals in Vietnam in October. Kurniawan has been unbeatable in Indonesia on the medium distances from 40 top 70k, roughly speaking. He has been a bit away from the spotlights in the last two years, though. Now attempting to do the 100 in Bali, injury-prone Risqi could either blow the entire field away or suffer a reality check. Another known dark horse is India’s Shashwat Rao. Shashwat loves tough and technical mountain terrain and has proven to be very competitive on his day.

BTR Ultra 100 is obviously also on the Grandmaster Quest calendar, and one Golden Grandmaster is already looking to score the recently introduced new milestone for trail runners who have scored their fourth star. Mario Yap from Philippines can Become Legend this weekend! After securing his 4th Grandmaster star for 20 long ultra finishes under ATM at the VTM event at the end of January, Mario immediately embarked on the new Trail to Immortality challenge. Since early March, he ran and finished races in five countries and collected 400 points for 400 official kilometres ran. This weekend in Bali, Mario can add another 100 to make it 500 : the milestone for earning the title of ATM Legend.

The women’s 100km start list features 2018 ATM Champion and Indonesia’s only Golden Grandmaster so far, Ruth Theresia. Based in Hong Kong now, Ruth Theresia suffered a DNF in Bali last year and, first of all, aims to set that straight this weekend. Several other victory contenders, though. Her compatriots like former Mantra winners Henny Sutanda and Sianti Candra, for instance. Philippines’ Metzi Joy Alson could get in the mix for podium at least, as well as Siao Ai Lim, Ang Yee Mei and Tamae Harada.

The 60K Men has some big international guns on the list, along with a strong Indonesian line-up spearheaded by Akhmad Nizar, Dedy Yusuf and Sobari Herdiana. Let’s see what they can do against Japan’s Yutaro Yokouchi and Russia’s Navil Shaimukhametov. Heat and humidity may play a role here, but these two’s sheer running pace is beyond any doubt. Plenty of other podium and top five contenders who are well-known on the ATM circuit, such as Golden Grandmaster Tomohiro Mizukoshi, Alex Tilley, Luis Avelais.

The women’s 60K has Aurore Dacier on the start list, but she will reportedly not be competing. That opens the door for other victory candidates such as another Hong Kong-based French woman: Celine Loubiere. Winner of the 9 Dragons 50km and third in Lantau 70 already this ATM season. Thailand’s Phitchanan  Mahachot always remains a strong competitor, and Philippines’ Trisha Reyes is not to be underestimated. From Malaysia, Halimatun Sa’adiah and Lolita Lintanga can aim for a top result. Local Indonesian runners who may have ambition for podium are Fitta Emike Sari andSri Wahyuni. There’s over 800 runners on the 60k start list, so we may of course discover some new talents as well!

Trail running has been booming in Mindanao since a few years. Not only are there now several good events, but also a huge number of runners - some of whom even have reached elite status. Think of Arnie Macaneras, Godwin Mirar, Kik Suello, Roberto Cain III, Jomarc Ferrer, Shally Yuson, Kim Flores, Julieann Morales and many others. Initially, events got established in Davao and later in Bukidnon, but recently we also observe several new organisations popping up near General Santos City in the south of the large island of Mindanao, which is actually closer to Sabah on Malaysian Borneo than to Luzon (Manila). F’Lomlok Trail Run is the latest new addition to the trail calendar and the event has applied for ATM Candidate Race status for its inaugural edition on 5/6 September.

Organised by Lady Justice Endurance Events, F’Lomlok turns around Polomolok and Mount Matutum. On the programme are several race distance categories, of which the 70km is the longest. Goal of the organising team is indeed to have that longest race included in the Grandmaster Quest calendar going forward. Furthermore, the event aims to position itself as a recognized and sustainable destination race by continuously attracting local and international trail runners, while promoting eco-tourism and community involvement within the municipality of Polomolok.

Mount Matutum stands out in the landscape and is a remote volcano, the highest point in the South Cotabato region. The peak is 2286m above sea level. Trail runners cannot go to the peak but will run on the slopes of the volcano. Elevation gain for the 70km is estimated at over 3100 hm and the route is nearly entirely offroad. The race director points out that proper trail running footwear is a must for this course. Start and finish is set at the Landan Elementary School at the Landan Barangay in Polomolok. Cut off time is 21 hours with the start set for 15:00 in the afternoon (Saturday).

Less ambitious runners can also opt for shorter distances, such as 42km, 25km, 15km and 5km.

General Santos City is the nearest airport (30km fron Polomolok) and there are also bus services from Davao and a few other places.

Registration goes via the form linked below.

The 7th edition of Jumla Rara Ultra in remote western Nepal was held in sunny conditions and saw Kalpana Budha take her second consecutive victory at the age of barely 18. In the men’s 54km race, Dhira Bahadur Budha was quickest also for the second time after 2024. Both trail runners are locals, but given the strength of the competition it remains a strong acccomplishment underlying their natural talent. Dhira Bahadur Budha and Kalpana Budha were already leading the race at the highest mountain pass of the day, Chuchhemara, before the descent to Rara Lake.

The winning time was 6h09’08” . Homlal Sheshtra came second just two minutes later. Sheshtra was also second in The Manjushree Trail Race 50km last month. In third place on the men’s podium was the winner of MTR 50, Gopal Tamang in 6h13, showing how tight it was at the front. Chandra Rawat was fourth in 6h24 and Milan Rai fifth in 6h27.

Kalpana’s winning time was 7h07’12”, eleven minutes ahead of MTR 50 race winner Sunsari Rokaya. Quite a turnaround from a month ago, when Rokaya was far ahead and Budha suffered from muscle cramps. Sandeva Budha once again managed to get on the podium as well in third place with 7h38. Showing progress, as she ended the race ahead of Rajya Laxmi Rawal, who was second in MTR 50. Puspa Sherma was fifth, and 100 miles specialist Nirmala Rai sixth. Incidentally, the MTR 100 Miles race winner Ang Furba Sherpa came eighth.

The ATM Qualifier with the highest altitude and in the most remote location of the season: Jumla Rara Ultra in the far west of Nepal is on again this weekend with a strong start list featuring many of the country’s biggest names in trail running. Those who ran Manjushree Trail Race last month can at least already fulfill the minimum requirement of two ATM race finishes during the season to qualify for our Championship Finals in October. And indeed, even the MTR 100 Miles winners Arjun Rai Kulung and Ang Furba Sherpa are scheduled to race between Jumla and Rara this weekend, alongside other favourites such as Gopal Tamang, Dhira Bahadur Budha, Homlal Shehstra, Chandra Rawat, Nirmala Rai, Kalpana Budha, Rajya Laxmi Rawal and MTR 50 sensation Sunsari Rokaya.

The race takes runners from Jumla to Rara across high mountain passes that lead to over 4000 metres above sea level. The finish after 54 tough kilometres is at the majestic Rara lake.

Last year, the race was won by Dhal Bahadur Budha and Kalpana Budha.

Meanwhile a traditional event in the ATM series, Silabur Ultra Trail in Sarawak, Malaysia, featured on our Grandmaster Quest calendar last weekend. The 100 km race attracted a lot of runners from several countries, many with the objective of scoring another Grandmaster point. A large group of 30 runners from Davao in Mindanao, Philippines, even made the trip over to Borneo Island. Quite a few chose Silabur as their mandatory international event, necessary to complete each level of the Grandmaster Quest. And a few also became an official ATM Grandmaster, as separate announcements show on our socials.

The 100 km race in itself saw two runners reaching the finish line together as ‘winners’: Azmil Saripudin and Azman Salama did the course in a time of 14h29. Silabur is not known for its elevation, but the heat of day is slowing a lot of people down. The passage through the famous cave complex always comes as a welcome and cooling relief. I Hsaing Huang was third on the podium just five minutes later.

Joyce Yong Hie Ying was quickest woman last weekend in a time of 18h32. Eight minutes faster than Ana Fe Gamo. Noor Hafizah Zubaidi took third spot on the podium.

Silabur Ultra Trail is starting a rotation scheme with Jagoi Ultra by the same organiser, Alpha Sports Events, for a place on the ATM Championship calendar. This season, it’s Jagoi Ultra 70 early September that also gives runners a chance to score ATM Championship points alongside a Grandmaster Quest point. In fact, Jagoi will be the last championship qualifier in Malaysia this season before the Final in Vietnam on 3 October.