We are happy to announce that Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths in Vietnam returns to the ATM Championship and Grandmaster Quest calendar in 2026, after a one year break. The event is scheduled for its traditional first weekend of April from 3 to 5 April. On the programme are a 100km long ultra and 42km medium distance trail as qualifiers for the ATM Championship points ranking. Runners on the Grandmaster Quest can, besides the 100, also look at the 75km category.

‘CPJP’ quickly developed a reputation as one of the most challenging long rainforest ultras after the corona crisis. The 100km is gruelling, taking participants deep into primary rainforest in the second part of the race. One of those races in which elevation gain does not reflect the toughness of the course. Long ultra runners should also be self-sufficient to a certain degree, as there are large sections deep inside without any mobile signal and participants are required to look out for each other in case of need. In contrast, the 42km category is one of the more runable and technically easier races of our entire ATM Championship calendar. CPJP therefore offers chances for all types of trail runners.

Cuc Phuong is a national park and accommodation is relatively scarse, so you need to plan ahead if you are looking for more than a mattress. Transportation from Hanoi to Ninh Binh or Cuc Phuong directly is relatively easy to arrange in the capital city directly.

Nguyen Tien Vo and Tara Savage were the 100km race winners in 2024, with Nguyen Si Hieu and Akane Nemoto taking top honours on the 42km. Previously, also Hisashi Kitamura won the 42km race in 2023. Big names on the winners’ list in other words.

Another interesting newcomer on Mindanao’s trail scene in the Philippines: the Altra Philippine Ultra Trail 100. Taking place this weekend at the Freedom Park in Zamboanga City, the new event offers a range of distance categories, of which the Philippine Ultra Trail 100 is the flagship race. The event has obtained the ATM Candidate Race label for this first edition.

Zamboanga City is the second largest city in Mindanao, lying in the southwestern tip of the island - almost as close to Sabah in Malaysia as to Davao. It’s a busy port city with also tourism appeal, in particular the Old Spanish Fort stands out, as part of a long historical journey to the city’s present. Zamboanga City is also often referred to as the ‘City of Flowers’.

Both the 100km and 50km distance categories will commence at 4 am on Saturday morning. Total elevation gain for the 100 is estimated at a significant 6300 hm. The 50 km has about 2800 hm. Cut-off time for the 100 is 32 hours, which implies participants at the back of the field will need to keep moving. It’s 16 hours for the 50km runners.

A number of established championship and Grandmaster runners will be taking part in the new event.

Runners on the Grandmaster Quest can look forward again to a trip to Sarawak in Malaysia on Borneo island. Silabur Ultra Trail, aka Silabur 100, aka SUTRA 100, stays on the calendar with a 2026 event schedule of 2/3 May. The distance category to focus on is still the 100km . It’s race with relatively little elevation gain that often gets underestimated. On the other hand, a cut-off time of 33 hours for a 100km with “just” 2500 hm should already ring an alarm bell.

It’s trail running pur sang, this event in Sarawak, about 100km south of Kuching near the border with Indonesia’s Kalimantan province. Jungle and proper caves are on the intinerary. While the weather generally is dry, a rainshower can always occur and obviously expect a significant level of heat - we are deep in Borneo, after all.

Via the event’s facebook page you can stay up-to-date with new developments regarding Silabur 100. Organised by Alpha Sports Events, director Josh is known to always go out-of-his-way to assist runners with their needs. By the way, there is shuttle transportation to the race start venue from Sarawak’s main city Kuching. So, you do not need to stay in Kampung Batu Bedang, but it’s certainly a recommendation to spend a night or two at the local villages, known for their hospitality and support for the event.

One of the tougher Grandmaster Quest events of the season took place near Davao in Philippines last weekend. The Datu Salumay Invitational Trail Run, better known as DASAL has a 80KM race starting at 10:00 AM in Datu Salumay in the Marilog District. With a total elevation gain of 5,500 meters, the race is known as one of 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼’𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 trail races. Also this yeart, DASAL pushed runners to their limits through steep climbs, technical terrain, and cold mountain conditions. Taking the top spots at the finish were ATM Finalists Jevie Cagatin and Shally Yuson from Bukidnon, both familiar faces in the Philippine trail running community. Cagatin finished together with new name Ulyses Esteva in 15h22. Elbert Ligan was third on the podium in 15h52.

Shally Yuson has really put herself on the throne in Mindanao over the past year, and her new victory just underlined this even more. She finished in 22h17, a good hour ahead of Razzil Sumalinog and Angelie Dawa.

DASAL80 continues to highlight the beauty and challenge of Mindanao trails while bringing together runners who share the same passion for endurance and adventure.

With special thanks to Pierre Vincent Pedrosa for the updates.

Heavy rainstorms continue to wreak havoc in Southeast Asia, particularly in Vietnam. This weekend’s Lam Dong Trail in Dalat, was postponed to a later date yesterday as the safety of runners, crew and volunteers could no longer be guaranteed for Saturday. Lam Dong Trail is a popular ATM qualifier for the ATM Championship ranking with its 85km race, which is also valid for runners’ Grandmaster Quest.

As the event committee announced: “Due to the increasingly complex developments of the storm and based on recommendations from local authorities, the Organizing Committee has decided to postpone Lâm Đồng Trail 2025 to ensure the absolute safety of all runners, volunteers, and operational teams.

Updates regarding the new race schedule will be announced as soon as possible on our official channels. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and continued support.”

It is the third cancellation / postponement of trail running events in a month’s time. Early October, also in Vietnam, Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail could not take place following the damage caused by another major typhoon. The event will now just skip a year and return on 3 October 2026. Also in Mindanao, Philippines, the Bislig Ultra got postponed to a new date on 18/19 April 2026.

The new ATM Candidate Race in Thailand’s northern Tak Province, Tulay Trail, left quite an impression. A big field of participants across the various distance categories, and a great event and race organisation. Tak Trail Series has been the new “kids-on-the-block” in Thailand for a while and we are looking forward to having them formally included in our Championship and Grandmaster Quest calendars with one or more of their events in 2026.

Tulay Trail, not entirely unexpected, proved to be a race for the tough guys and girls. Perhaps it was also no surprise then that all 100km podium placers were seasoned ultra trail runners aged above 40. In fact, it was good old Sanya Khancai, now 51, who won the race in 19h31 . The finishing time shows how hard the race was. Yotchai Chaipromma and Wassa Buranrat completed the podium together in 20h22. First female on the 100km was Chayanit Wapetch in 28h46. Kullanit Porrametthanapat was second and Isikarn Thubu third.

Chatchai Wanitthanom and Kunnika Tonsakul won the men’s and women’s 75km races respectively, in 14h21 and 18h00. On the 45km medium distance, Krisada Thongjib and Supamas Patchima taking top honours in 7h56 and. 9h58.

The 5th edition of Ultra Fish N Sheep between Fanling and Po Lam in Hong Kong did not miss its debut in our ATM Championship series. Tougher than expected, the 75km left a mark on the many participants, who nevertheless returned home satisfied thanks to a commendable race organisation. Dominator of the day was Lodewijk Vriens, who scored his second ATM race win of the year after BTR Bali 60k last May. From the Netherlands but based in Hong Kong, Vriens absolutely smashed it from the gun and did not leave co-favourites Jeff Campbell and Wai Hei Ng any chance for victory. Throughout the day, and in ever rising temperatures, the gaps between the top runners just increased ever more. Vriens came into the finish arena in a superb 8h33, half an hour quicker than Jeff Campbell, still our reigning men’s champion after the cancellation of Mu Cang Chai three weeks ago. Wai Hei Ng, one of the revelations of Season 10, was another half hour further back in third. With the new Season 10 Final now scheduled in Hong Kong at the 9 Dragons event, with many of the same trails as Fish N Sheep, Lodewijk Vriens has suddenly propelled himself into a top favourite role.

Behind the top trio, we saw a very solid performance by Nepal’s Santosh Tamang, who continues his comeback in Hong Kong with again clear signs of competitive progress. Tamang was a known race winner a decade ago, and has recently returned to trail running after a long break. Fourth place in Fish N Sheep, that’s a big points haul also with a view to next Season’s Championship Final. In fifth came another HKNTRA athlete, Limbu Yamanath, who was running together with Tamang until cramps hit him badly. In sixth place at the finish was Chin Ching Cheuk.

The women’s race actually had a bit more excitement than the men’s race. Nicole Lau was the fastest starter until and across Tai Mo Shan and the km 20 mark, but then saw Wong Tze Kei edging closer and closer to her. Tze Kei managed to overtake Nicole Lau about halfway into the race and ran towards her first ever ATM race victory in 11h25. Nicole Lau held onto second place over an hour behind, but only narrowly so. Kimmy Leung and Yuen Tze Kwan finished right behind her in three and four. Valerie Chan completed the top 5 a bit later, and Indonesia’s Ruth Theresia took sixth after a solid second half of the race. Cherry on the pie was her Golden Grandmaster title, for finishing 20 ATM ultras.

The next Hong Kong qualifying races for the ATM Championship ranking of Season 11 are The 9 Dragons (50-50 and 50km) and Lantau 70 .

Season 11 continues this weekend with a new entry on our ATM Championship calendar: Ultra Fish N Sheep is the third qualifier or points race event in Hong Kong. Taking place in the New Territories with start in Fanling on Saturday morning 8 a.m., the 5th edition of the popular event introduces a 75km category for both Championship and Grandmaster Quest points.

It’s a pretty serious race with an estimated elevation gain of 4400 hm for the 75km distance. Moreover, after a week of cool weather, the heat is expected to return to Hong Kong this weekend with temperatures reaching 30 degrees celsius. Normal conditions for the average South-East Asian trail runner, but in Hong Kong it remains a topic that circles around in runners’ heads. We could be seeing some surprises on the race leaderboard in other words.

The men’s start list shows some big names including the still reiging ATM Champion Jeff Campbell. It’s been three weeks since the cancellation of the Season 10 Final at Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail , a race for which Campbell undoubtedly had prepared very well for. If he has preserved that form, he should be the logical one to beat on Saturday. However, this year in Hong Kong has also proven that he can be beaten at times. His T8 teammate Wai Hei Ng finished ahead of him at Lantau 70, for instance. One of the most exciting newcomers on the ATM scene in Season 10, Wai Hei Ng also won the 50km at The 9 Dragons in February and may be Campbell’s greatest challenger in the Fish N Sheep race together with Lodewijk Vriens, also Team T8. Vriens was the 50km race winner at this event last year, and also looked impressive in winning Bali’s BTR 60 last May. There’s 275 participants for the 75km race, let’s find out if anyone else can get between these three top runners.

On the women’s side, we will be paying attention to Indonesia’s Ruth Theresia, now based in Hong Kong. Our 2018 ATM Champion has had a decent training block over the past few months and looks ready to finally get that 20th ATM ultra race finish, which would mean her 4th Grandmaster star! If she completes Fish N Sheep 75, she will be the first Indonesian Golden Grandmaster and only the second female in general after Philippines’ Rhea Batac in July 2024. Of course, a strong Ruth Theresia also implies she won’t be far away from the podium and the women’s race win either. Other contenders are expected to be Nicole Lau, third on the 50km last year, Kai Hei Chan, Kimmy Leung and Nikki Han.

ATM will be reporting live from Ultra Fish N Sheep from start to finish. The race starts at 8 am local time.

Top favourite for the men’s race and still reigning ATM Champion: Jeff Campbell

Wai Hei Ng: finished ahead of Jeff Campbell at Lantau 70 and won the 50km at 9 Dragons this year

2018 ATM Champion Ruth Theresia aims for her 20th ATM Ultra finish: the Golden Grandmaster title

BTR 60 race winner Lodewijk Vriens will aim to give Campbell a run for his money

A very promising new ATM Candidate Race takes place this weekend in Thailand: Tulay Trail is part of the much talked-about Tak Trail series in the northwest of the country and has obtained the Candidate Race label with a view to being part of our Championship and Grandmaster Quest calendar next year. Proving the solid reputation of the organising team of RunRun, this weekend’s edition of Tulay Trail has attracted many hundreds of runners already - despite the relative remoteness of Tak Province.

The Tak Trail series’ events aim to elevate the regional trail running scene to international standards and showcase its natural and cultural richness. Tulay Trail offers a number of distance categories with a 100km as the main race. Less ambitious runners can also go for the 75km, 45km, 25km or 8km. Elevation gain and technicality should be taken seriously before signing up. Tulay Trail 100 has an estimated elevation gain of 5500 hm and has a cut-off time of 32 hours at the finish line. The 100 km offers a very nice natural loop with the longest climbing coming immediately after the 3 am start, going from approximately 200m to 1400m above sea level.

The long start lists feature some better known trail runners such as Sanya Khancai, still going strong even though now in his fifties. Several Japanese runners are making it to Tulay, and also France’s Emmanuel Abadie, who scored some great race results in Malaysia a while back. The 50km nearly has 340 runners on the start list. The double digit distance shows over 100 names on the list, with another 65 on the 75km.

Good old Sanya Khancai will be running the 100 km at Tulay

Tokyo’s Taichi Yui won his ATM debut race in Luang Prabang in Laos, the opening event of the new Championship Season 11. A friend of last year’s winner and ATM protagonist Yuta Matsuyama, he controlled the men’s race from start to finish. His time at the finish was 11h28. Yui, born in 1985, says ATM is an objective for him in the coming year with qualification for the Championship Final very much on his mind. The redesigned race in Luang Prabang is receiving praise from runners for its wonderful scenery and fantastic aid stations. While the 2800 metres of elevation gain does not sound too much, the 75km race is another example of ‘numbers can be deceiving’. Less technical and tough than V Trail, yet Luang Prabang also has its share of technical jungle trails with some significant descents.

In second place we had Vietnam's 25-year-old youngster Khanh Dam Quoc in 13h11'. Belgium's Antoine Deligne, in his long ultra debut, scored third place in 13h58. Thailand's Peeramata Chiemchit took fourth and Switzerland's Raffael Alpiger fifth.

The winner of the women’s race was Vietnam's Luong Dong Anh, who finished just ahead of Philippines' Merionne Dimen Elkins in 20h04. Both runners are also new faces on an ATM podium. Nakin Visisombat gave home country Laos a podium on the 75km main distance category with third place. Australia's Liz Colee came back to the finish in fourth.

The next ATM qualifying points race event is V Trail in Vang Vieng, scheduled for 14/15 March 2026. Luang Prabang Ultra Trail will take place on the same weekend of 17/18 October 2026.

We are very excited to announce that the Season 10 Asia Trail Master Championship Final, postponed after the cancellation of Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail due to the devastation caused by typhoon Bualoi , will now be held on 28 February 2026! The place is Hong Kong and the event host is none other than The 9 Dragons! 

We are absolutely thrilled and grateful that RaceBase, in particular Steve Carr and Michael Ormiston, were immediately keen to substitute for the Vietnamese event following the latter’s cancellation. It did not take long for all the pieces to come together and we are convinced the organising team will design and put on a fantastic new race within their existing event programme.  The ATM Championship Final race will be held on a special course of 70km with approx 3800 elevation gain and a separate race start at 1 a.m. The trail will largely follow the default 50 Miles course, but then see a shortcut to bring the distance down to the standard 70-75 km window, as usual for the ATM Final.

The 9 Dragons has been a very popular classic in our Asia Trail Master series since 2018 and has always fostered a solid competition amongst elite runners, while simultaneously never losing sight of the overall event experience for the every-day runner. It will be the first time in ATM’s decade-long history that the Championship title will be decided in Hong Kong. 

All the runners who were qualified for the ATM Final at the Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail two weeks ago, remain qualified for the new Final at the 9 Dragons. The Season 10 points ranking is closed and will not be re-opened. The events taking place as of Luang Prabang Ultra Trail in Laos this weekend all count towards the new Season 11 ranking already. All relevant runners will soon receive details and guidelines for the 9 Dragons event .

Also, in the context of the regular 9 Dragons event, please note  that the 50/50 stage race and Sunday’s 50km remain qualifying points races for the aforementioned Season 11 Championship ranking. Registration for the 50/50 and other open public races is still open. Response has been superb this year, so if you wish to secure a spot for the open public races you better sign up quickly.

In addition, please note that it is also confirmed that Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail in Vietnam will now host the Season 11 ATM Championship Final on 3 October 2026. And last but not least, a priority agreement has been struck with MUTRA to host the Season 12 ATM Championship Final in Myanmar in 2027! For competitive-minded runners, the scene is set for the next two years. This longer horizon gives ATM stability and enables us to work on greater developments to benefit all in the years to come.

John Ray Onifa and Kanako Edamoto won the 50/50 stage race in 2025

Tomorrow, 18 October 2025, Asia Trail Master fully enters its second decade since the inaugural Championship season in 2015. The new Season 11 kicks off in Laos with the Luang Prabang Ultra Trail in the famous UNESCO World Heritage city, also former capital of the country before that honour went to Vientiane. Organised by Green Step, trail running pioneers in Laos and founders of V Trail in Vang Vieng, the event has been redesigned for this year and now features a 75km points race for both the ATM Championship points ranking, which leads to qualification for the Season 11 Final in Vietnam’s Mu Cang Chai on 3 October 2026, and the Grandmaster Quest. 

The 75km race starts at 9 am local time and has a rather modest elevation gain total of 2900 hm. Numbers can be deceiving and certainly in Laos, as everyone who as run V Trail knows. Still, Luang Prabang is known to have friendlier terrain than Vang Vieng and participants with a decent running pace should have the edge on Saturday. 

Starting a new Asia Trail Master season always means opening a new can of runners as well. People one has never heard of before suddenly pop up and claim the spotlights. It won’t be any different this weekend as the 75km start list offers a great mixture of nationalities, but without any big name standing out. We can expect an open race in other words.  Last year, the then-longest distance of 100km was won by Japan’s Yuta Matsuyama and Thailand’s Siriporn Leumathong. Let’s see who comes out on top on Saturday. 

You can follow the action live from Luang Prabang on ATM Facebook and YouTube, with highlights on Instagram.